Physics and Astronomy Courses

PHYS 001, 002. General Physics. 5 crs. ea. These lecture/laboratory/recitation course deals with mechanics, heat, sound, (in PHYS 001) light, electricity and magnetism, and modern physics (in PHYS 002), and are algebra-based. Prerequisites: algebra, trigonometry.

PHYS 003. Mathematical Methods for General Physics. 3 crs. Review and applications of basic mathematics encountered in General Physics 001, 002, 007 and 009. Problems and practical work will be stressed. Not open for credit for students taking General Physics 013, 014, and 015.

PHYS 007. Physics for Allied Health Students. 5 crs. This lecture/laboratory/recitation course treats the topics of general physics, with emphasis on examples for nursing and allied health students.

PHYS 008. Physics for Architecture Students. 5 crs. Lecture/recitation course treats mechanics, gravity, sound, thermodynamics, fluids, electricity, magnetism, light, optics, waves, and some modern physics topics with emphasis on topics of interest to architecture students.

PHYS 010, 011. General Astronomy I, II. 3 crs. each semester. Two-semester course. First Semester: Emphasis on the Solar System. Historical attempts to explain the observed phenomena of the sky. Techniques of contemporary astronomical science. Physical nature of the sun and planets. Life beyond Earth. Current ideas about the origin, age and fate of the Solar System. Second Semester: Emphasis on stars and galaxies. Determination of the distribution and the motions of stars and galaxies in space, their physical properties and their life histories. Violent cosmic phenomena. Expansion of the universe. Search for extraterrestrial intelligence. Two hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory each week. Prerequisites: algebra, and trigonometry.

PHYS 012. The Astronomical Universe. 4 crs. Survey course for non-science majors. Historical development of astronomy, structure of the solar system, properties of planets and comets, recent advances in the exploration of space, the sun and its characteristics, origin and age of the solar system. Introduction to telescopes, spectroscopy and electromagnetic radiation. Life and death of stars, structure of galaxies, cosmology of the universe. Results of space age astronomy. Three hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory each week.

PHYS 013. General Physics for Science and Engineering Students. 3 crs. This lecture/recitation calculus-based course deals with mechanics, heat and sound. Pre- or Coreqs.: MATH-156.

PHYS 014. General Physics for Science and Engineering Students. 3 crs. This lecture/recitation calculus-based course covers electricity and magnetism, light, and optics. . Pre- or Coreqs.: MATH-157.

PHYS 015. Introduction to Modern Physics. 3 crs. This lecture/recitation calculus-based course covers modern physics topics. Prerequisite: PHYS 014 and MATH-156, MATH-157.

PHYS 023, 024, 025. General Physics for Science and Engineering Students Laboratory. 1 cr. ea. Laboratory courses to accompany General and Modern Physics courses PHYS 013, 014, and 0l5 respectively.

PHYS 026. Observational Astronomy. 2 crs. Astrophotography; Use of the telescope and auxiliary instrumentation. Photoelectric photometry, spectroscopic observations. One lecture and one evening of observing each week, weather permitting. Prerequisites: algebra, trigonometry, and a previous course in astronomy.

PHYS 030. Astronomy for Scientists and Engineers. 3 crs. The celestial sphere and its phenomena. Gravitation. Review of our understanding of the physics of members of the solar system, stars, and galaxies. Large-scale properties of the observable universe. Coreqs.: General Physics, Calculus.

PHYS 084, 085. Directed Readings in Honors for Sophomores. 1 cr. ea.

PHYS 088, 089. Directed Readings in Honors for Juniors. 1 cr. ea.

PHYS 092, 093. Senior Departmental Honors. 3 crs. ea.

PHYS 154, 155. Introduction to Digital Computer Programming. 3 crs. ea. Presents the basic concepts applicable to computers in general and coding of actual problems. Prerequisites: MATH-007 and consent of instructor.

PHYS 174. Introduction to Biophysics. 3 crs. Topics considered include the levels of organization within biological systems, flow of energy in living things with an introduction to the thermodynamic systems utilized in biological research; and an introduction to the physical techniques used in the study of biological systems. Prerequisites: PHYS 001 and PHYS 002 or PHYS 013 and PHYS 014.

PHYS 175. Thermodynamics. 3 crs. Introduces the laws of thermodynamics and applications, along with kinetic theory and statistical mechanics. Prerequisites: PHYS 002 or PHYS 013 and MATH-157 and MATH-159.

PHYS 176. Optics. 3 crs. Explores refraction, optical instruments, interference, diffraction, and polarization. Prerequisites: PHYS 002 or PHYS 013 and MATH-157 and MATH-159.

PHYS 178, 179. Electricity and Magnetism. 3 crs. ea. One-year intermediate level course that covers electrostatics, magnetostatics, electric circuits, Maxwell’s equations and electromagnetic waves. Prerequisites: PHYS 002 or PHYS 014, and MATH-156, MATH-157, and MATH-159. 

PHYS 180, 181. Electronic Physics. 3 crs. ea. This lecture/laboratory course provides a solid background in analog and digital electronics and instrumentation. The first semester involves mostly analog electronics and the second semester mostly digital electronics.

PHYS 182, 183. Physical Mechanics. 3 crs. ea. This one-year course examines particle and rigid body dynamics, central forces, vector analysis, oscillatory motion, and Lagrangian mechanics. Prerequisites: PHYS 001 or PHYS 013, and MATH-156, MATH-157, MATH-159.

PHYS 186. Observational Techniques. 3 crs. The use of a modern research telescope and its accessories. Time, coordinates, star charts and catalogues. Astronomical photography. Photoelectric photometry. Spectroscopic observations. Data reduction techniques. Two lectures and an observing or laboratory session each week. Prerequisites: An introductory astronomy course, General Physics, calculus.

PHYS 187. Senior Seminar. 1 cr. Presentations by faculty and students of reviews of recent research in physics and astronomy.

PHYS 190, 191. Quantum Physics. 3 crs. ea. Presents atomic, molecular, solid-state, and nuclear physics, along with elements of relativity and quantum theory. Prerequisites: PHYS 183 and MATH-156, MATH-157, MATH-159.

PHYS 192, 193. Introduction to Mathematical Physics. 3 crs. ea. Treats vectors and tensors, linear transformations, complex variables, calculus of residues, partial differential equations of physics, Green’s functions, Strum-Liouville theory, orthogonal functions, and Fourier transform methods. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. 

PHYS 194, 195. Experimental Physics I and II. 3 crs. ea. Research training including data reduction and error analysis for physicists. Topics include instrumental and statistical uncertainties, propagation of error, probability distributions, method of least squares, curve fitting, and experimental design. Selected experiments in mechanics, heat, optics, electricity and magnetism, atomic and nuclear physics, and electronics, and computer programming. Technical writing skills for the production of scientific publications and reports are emphasized. The course PHYS 194 is the same as PHYS 702 Experimental Physics WRTG. Prerequisite: PHYS 013/014.

PHYS 196. Senior Thesis. (1) cr. ea. Research problems for senior physics majors. Prerequisites: PHYS 194 and senior status in physics.