|
Physics Courses
Astronomy
107. Descriptive Astronomy. 4 cr. hrs.
An historical, non-mathematical treatment of astronomy and an examination of its contribution to human understanding of our place in the physical universe. One required night time laboratory period per week.
Physics
111. College Physics. 4 cr. hrs.
The general principles of mechanics, waves, sound, heat and electricity, with discussions of some practical applications. Problems and laboratory work are emphasized. For science majors: mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, pre-health. One laboratory period each week. Fall semester. (Will not apply toward physics major requirements.)
112. College Physics. 4 cr. hrs.
The general principles of light, optical instruments, atomic structure and nuclear physics with a discussion of some practical applications. For science majors: mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, pre-health. One laboratory period per week. Spring semester. (Will not apply toward physics major requirements.)
213. General Physics. 5 cr. hrs.
Competence in calculus is required in this course. Course includes mechanics, sound, and heat. One laboratory period per week. Fall semester.
214. General Physics. 5 cr. hrs.
Competence in calculus is required in this course. Includes electricity, magnetism, light and optics. One laboratory period per week. Spring semester.
306. Applied Electronics. 4 cr. hrs.
An introductory course emphasizing the applications of solid state devices such as diodes, thyristors, transistors, sensors, and linear and digital integrated circuits. May be continued as projects in Independent Study and Research or as PHY 406, Microcomputers. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Fall semester. One laboratory period per week.
316. Atomic and Nuclear Physics. 3 cr. hrs.
A course in modern physics. Includes introduction to special relativity, x-rays and spectra, radioactivity, nuclear reactions, and other topics of importance to modern physics and chemistry. Prerequisites: PHY 214 and MAT 200.
317. Atomic and Nuclear Physics Laboratory. 1 cr. hr.
To follow or accompany PHY 316. Three hours laboratory work per week for each credit hour.
318. Heat and Thermodynamics. 3 cr. hrs.
Includes study of temperature, thermodynamic systems, work, first and second laws of thermodynamics and entropy. A brief introduction to statistical mechanics and kinetic theory. For students of physics, chemistry and engineering. Prerequisites: PHY 214, MAT 200.
322. Optics. 3 cr. hrs.
An advanced course in light. Includes a study of lenses, reflectors, prisms, spectrometers,
ruled gratings, spectra, interferometers, diffraction, polarization and electromagnetic theory of light. Prerequisites: PHY 214 and MAT 200.
332. Analytical Mechanics (Statics). 3 cr. hrs.
Concerned with basic concept of force systems, conditions of equilibrium, structures, distribution of forces, centroids, effects of friction, moments of inertia and the principle of virtual work. Methods of the calculus and graphical analysis, including vectorial representation, will be freely employed. Prerequisite: MAT 200.
346. Advanced Modern Physics 4 cr. hrs.
Applies Schroedinger theory of quantum physics to the hydrogen atom, multi-electron
atoms, angular momentum quantization, optical excitations, molecular structure, and atomic and molecular spectroscopy. Building on this foundation the course then emphasizes solid-state (condensed matter) physics including crystal structure, free-electron model of metals, band theory, semiconductors, and dielectrics. May also include other topics in solid state or materials science of interest to professor. Prerequisite: PHY 316.
351H-358H. Research Experience. 1 cr. hr.
A detailed study of some specific problem or experiment in physics, history of physics, reading from current literature of physics. Available each semester.
406. Microcomputers: Architecture and Interfacing. 4 cr. hrs.
Provides an introduction to the electronics hardware of microcomputers. The microcom-
puter will be considered as a system and also its functional blocks (CPU, memory, control, and input/output) examined individually. There will be some laboratory work in interfacing. Also listed as CST 406. Prerequisite: PHY 306. Spring semester.
415. Electricity and Magnetism. 4 cr. hrs.
Electrostatics, magnetism, resistance, capacitance, inductance, electromagnetic induction, electric circuits. Maxwell’s equation and field theory. Prerequisites: PHY 214 and MAT 201.
416. Electronic Measurements. 1 cr. hr.
Measurement of parameters of interest in laboratory and industrial research: temperature, pressure, light, magnetic fields, linear and angular displacement. Includes introduction to data acquisition and interfacing with microcomputers. Prerequisites: PHY 306 and consent of instructor. Three laboratory hours per week.
443. Classical Mechanics 4 cr. hrs.
An intermediate course in classical mechanics. This course begins with a critical discussion of Newton’s laws of motion. Other topics include conservative forces, the forced harmonic oscillator, complex number application to the solution of linear differential equations, Fourier Series applications, vector algebra, elements of vector analysis, integration and differentiation of vectors, motion under a central force, coupled harmonic oscillators, rotating coordinate systems, LaGrange’s equations, and an introduction to tensors.
444. Quantum Mechanics 4 cr. hrs.
This course is designed to follow 443. The concept of a wavefunction is introduced via solution of the Schrodinger equation. The Schrodinger equation is solved for numerous
examples including an infinite square well, a harmonic-oscillator potential, a delta-function potential, and a finite square well. A rigorous development of the hydrogen atom extends the treatment of quantum-mechanical systems to three dimensions. Approximation methods include perturbation theory, the variational principle, the WKB approximation, the adiabatic approximation, and scattering.
|
