Physics

An interdisciplinary physical science course that covers the main educational topics in chemistry, physics, and earth science. This course is designed for elementary education majors but may be taken by any student to fulfill a natural science elective general education requirement. No prior knowledge of science is assumed.

An interdisciplinary physical science lab that provides hands-on experimentations in the main educational topics of chemistry, physics, and earth science. This lab is designed for elementary education majors, but may be taken by any student to fulfill general education requirements. No prior knowledge of science is assumed. Fee: Additional fee required.

A descriptive study of modern astronomy for the general student with an emphasis on the structure and dynamics of stars, galaxies and the universe. The sun, planets and other objects in our local solar system will also be considered.

A laboratory course taught in conjunction with PHYS1060. Observational and laboratory activities are included, some in the evenings. 

A comprehensive non-calculus-based approach to the fields of physics. Designed for students whose career goals are architecture, business, physical therapy, science education, and pre-medicine. Emphasis is placed on problem solving. Topics covered include mechanics, heat, thermodynamics and sound.

The laboratory uses the discovery approach to physical principles. The laboratory will cover basic labs in mechanics, wave motion and heat.

A comprehensive non-calculus-based approach to the fields of physics. Designed for students whose career goals are architecture, business, physical therapy, science education, and pre-medicine. Emphasis is placed on problem solving. Topics covered include electricity and magnetism, light and optics and modern physics.

The laboratory uses the discovery approach to physical principles. The laboratory will cover basic labs in electricity and magnetism, light and optics. Fee: Additional fee required.

A comprehensive calculus-based examination of the fields of physics. Designed for science students whose career goals are in engineering, physics, chemistry, medicine, and veterinary science. Topics covered include mechanics, thermodynamics, wave phenomena and fluid mechanics.

The laboratory uses the discovery approach to physical principles. Selected experiments from the fields of mechanics, wave motion and heat will be performed. Fee: Additional fee required.

A comprehensive calculus-based examination of the fields of physics. Designed for science students whose career goals are in engineering, physics, chemistry, medicine and veterinary science. Topics covered include electricity and magnetism, light and optics.

A comprehensive calculus-based examination of the fields of physics. Designed for science students whose career goals are in engineering, physics, chemistry, medicine and veterinary science. Topics covered include electricity and magnetism, light and optics. Fee: Additional fee required.

Basic ideas of quantum theory which led to the Rutherford-Bohr model of the atom, elementary quantum mechanics using Schrodinger's equation with applications to atoms, molecules, nuclei and elementary particles will be studied. Topics include: atomic and molecular spectra; ionic and covalent bonds; theory of alpha, beta and gamma decay, and quantum statistics of Bose and Fermi particles.

This course is designed to provide students with experience in experimental research techniques used in modern physics. Emphasis is placed on experimental methods and procedures and the relationship among various observable quantities and data analysis. Experiments performed will include determining electron charge to mass ratio, lattice spacing determination using low-energy electron diffraction, nuclear decay rate measurements, spectroscopy, and others pertaining to topics covered in class. Fee: Additional fee required.

A vector calculus-based study of the laws of Gauss, Biot-Savart, Ampere and Faraday; application of the equations of Laplace and Poisson to boundary valued problems. Development of Maxwell's equations for electric and magnetic fields. Electromagnetic properties of materials. Wave equation, plane waves and Lorentz force law. Polarization, Poynting's vector, transmission lines, waveguides, and antenna radiation.

An introduction to the physics of the solid state of matter. Topics include crystal structure, lattice vibrations and electronic band structure of crystals, electrical, optical, and thermal properties of solids, transport and other non-equilibrium phenomena in uniform and non-uniform solids.

A beginning course in quantum mechanics which starts with the postulates and derives Schrodinger's equation from physical optics principles. Several simple systems are studied and the properties of eigenfunctions are used to introduce matrix methods and operator theory. Emphasis is placed on mathematical formalism with applications to atomic systems.