101 Survey of Physics for Non-Science Majors (formerly PHY-17)
GER: NW (Empirical Study of the Natural World)

A philosophic and conceptual examination of selected fundamental principles of physics. No prior knowledge of physics is assumed. Some historical and biographical material is included. Helps satisfy the pre-fall 2008 general education requirement in natural sciences. 4 credits.

104 Energy—of Man, Creation and Calories (formerly PHY-14)
GER: NW (Empirical Study of the Natural World), NE (Humans and the Natural Environment)

The concept of energy treated from the broadest possible perspective. Emphasis on the four laws of thermodynamics and the four black-hole analogs. With this foundation the various thermodynamic aspects of energy are treated as they relate to a variety of areas, including the impact of energy on environmental aspects of human life. Helps satisfy the pre-fall 2008 general education requirement in natural sciences. 4 credits.

105 Descriptive Astronomy (formerly PHY-15)
GER: NW (Empirical Study of the Natural World); Prerequisite: high school algebra

Apparent motion of the Sun, Moon and planets; the birth of modern astronomy; properties of light and its detection; the Sun and the Solar System; the structure, properties and evolution of stars; galaxies and cosmology. Helps satisfy the pre-fall 2008 general education requirement in natural sciences. 4 credits.

111 General Physics I (formerly PHY-11)
GER: NW (Empirical Study of the Natural World)
Prerequisite: high school calculus. MTH-150 or (140 and 141) strongly recommended

The basic concepts and laws of classical mechanics. Measurement and units, vectors, kinematics, Newton's laws of motion, work and energy, systems of particles, collisions, rotational kinematics, torque and angular momentum, rigid body statics and dynamics, simple harmonic motion, gravitation, and mechanics of solids and fluids. Helps satisfy the pre-fall 2008 general education requirement in natural sciences. 4 credits.

112 General Physics II (formerly PHY-12)
GER: NW (Empirical Study of the Natural World)
Prerequisite: PHY-111 and MTH-141 or 150. MTH-151 strongly recommended

The basic concepts and laws of classical electricity and magnetism. Electrostatic and magnetostatic forces and fields. Gauss' law, electric circuits, Amperee's law, Faraday's law, electric and magnetic properties of matter, time-varying fields, Maxwell's equations and electromagnetic waves, and geometrical optics.
Helps satisfy the pre-fall 2008 general education requirement in natural sciences. 4 credits.

113 General Physics III (formerly PHY-13)
Prerequisite: PHY-111

Introduction to thermodynamics and wave motion. Temperature, The First Law, kinetic theory, The Second Law, sound, electromagnetic waves, super-position, interference, diffraction and polarization. 4 credits.

241 Introduction to Modern Physics (formerly PHY-20)
Prerequisite: PHY-112

Special theory of relativity, particle nature of electromagnetic radiation, waves and wave nature of matter, the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, historical models of the atom, Schroedinger’s equation and its application to one-dimensional systems, quantum theory of the hydrogen atom, electron spin, many-electron atoms, and introduction to nuclear physics. Should be enrolled with MTH-160. 4 credits.

311 Classical Mechanics I (formerly PHY-26)
Prerequisite: PHY-112

Kinematics and dynamics of particles and systems of particles, oscillations, introduction to Lagrangian and Hamiltonian dynamics, central force motion, motion in non-inertial reference frames, and dynamics of rigid bodies. Should be enrolled with MTH-255. 4 credits.

312 Classical Mechanics II (formerly PHY-42)
Prerequisite: PHY-311

An advanced treatment of topics studied in the first classical mechanics course, plus gravitation, coupled oscillations, mechanics of continuous media, the one-dimensional wave equation, and relativistic kinematics and dynamics. 4 credits.

321 Electromagnetic Theory I (formerly PHY-21)
Prerequisite: PHY-112

Development of the microscopic and macroscopic Maxwell equations. Electrostatic forces and fields, dielectrics, potential theory, magnetostatic forces and fields, time-varying fields and magnetic properties of matter. Should be enrolled with MTH-255. 4 credits.

322 Electromagnetic Theory II (formerly PHY-44)
Prerequisite: PHY-321

A continuation of the first course on electromagnetic theory. Application of Maxwell’s equations to radiating systems, and properties of electromagnetic waves in vacuum and matter. Radiation theory and relativistic electrodynamics. 4 credits.

331 Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics (formerly PHY-41)
Prerequisite: PHY-241 is recommended

Laws of heat and thermodynamics, kinetic theory of gases, introduction to statistical mechanics. 4 credits.

421 Optics (formerly PHY-32)
Prerequisite: PHY-321

Geometrical optics, properties of light, coherence, interference, diffraction, optics of solids, optical spectra, Fourier optics, and lasers. 4 credits.

431 Electronics (formerly PHY-23)
Prerequisite: PHY-112

Theory and applications of active and passive circuits containing resistors, capacitors, inductors, transistors and integrated circuits. Course is laboratory-oriented. Students build and analyze circuits involving these components in
various applications, including active and passive filters, transistor amplifiers, operational amplifiers, power supplies and digital circuits. 4 credits.

432 Experimental Methods in Physics (formerly PHY-35)
Prerequisite: PHY-241

Experiments in classical and modern physics designed to give practice in the art of making precise measurements and manipulating experimental apparatus. 4 credits.

441 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics (formerly PHY-30)
Prerequisite: PHY-241

Introduction to quantum formalism, the simple harmonic oscillator, angular momentum, the hydrogen atom, spin and indistinguishable particles, and applications. Should be enrolled with MTH-255. 4 credits.

442 Quantum Mechanics (formerly PHY-45)
Prerequisite: PHY-441

Duality of matter and radiation, state functions, linear momentum, the Schroedinger equation, systems of particles, angular momentum and spin. 4 credits.

451 Introduction to Astronomy and Astrophysics (formerly PHY-47)
Prerequisite: PHY-241, 311, and 321. Recommended: PHY- 441.

Survey course in introductory astronomy and astrophysics for science majors. Gravitation and orbital motion; evolution and structure of the solar system, galaxy, and universe; stellar classes, structure and evolution. Laboratory activities include numerical simulations of various cosmological and stellar models, the study of spectrographic data, and astronomical observations. Credit is not normally granted for both PHY-105 and 451. 4 credits.

452 Nuclear Physics (formerly PHY-39)
Prerequisite: PHY-441

Particle in a potential well, the nuclear force and structure, the deuteron, complex nuclei, nuclear decay, compound-nucleus and direct reactions, experimental methods and applications. 4 credits.

461 Teaching Methods and Materials in Physics (formerly PHY-60)
Prerequisite: department permission. 4 credits.

502 Research (formerly PHY-85)

Guided experimentation or theoretical research on selected topics. Potential for publication of results or presentation of findings at professional meetings. Variable credit.

504 Directed Independent Study (formerly PHY-80)

Study of selected topics designed to instill deeper understanding of areas of physics beyond formal course work.