A course designed to meet the needs of the preprofessional student and the science major as well as providing an introduction to physics for all students. Topics covered include mechanics, optics, thermodynamics, sound, electricity and magnetism, electronics, and selected areas of modern physics. Lecture and laboratory. Prerequisite: MTH 107 or 108 (or equivalent).
A calculus-based introduction to physics. Topics include mechanics, optics, thermodynamics, sound, electricity and magnetism, electronics, and selected areas of modern physics. Lecture and laboratory. Successful completion of these courses allows a student to describe important definitions and relationships for each topic, describe experimental observations that support theory, use modern data collection and analysis techniques, and execute calculations using theoretical relationships studied. Prerequisites; MTH 235, 236 (may be taken concurrently).
A study of the interaction of charged particles with electric and magnetic fields. The topics which are studied include fields due to stationary charges or steady currents, basic dielectric properties of materials, the vector potential, Faraday's law, the motion of charged particles in fields, basic magnetic properties of materials, Maxwell's equations, and an introduction to electromagnetic waves. Completing the course allows the student to describe important definitions and relationships for each topic studied, describe the experimental observations that suggest or support the descriptions, make predictions using classical electromagnetic theory in each of the areas studied, and use analytical and numerical techniques to aid in the solution of problems posed by electromagnetic theory. Prerequisite: PHY 201, 202 (or 107, 108); MTH 235, 236, 237, 238, or permission. Offered alternate years.
A study of the classical mechanics of a particle, systems of particles, and rigid bodies. The course includes study of particle dynamics, central force problems, Lagranigian and Hamiltonian formulations of mechanics, and the description of rigid body motion. Experimental work in selected areas is performed. Completing the course allows the student to describe important definitions and relationships in each area studied, discuss the importance of classical mechanics to contemporary physics and engineering, work problems in each of the areas studied, and design and carry out experiments testing descriptions and relationships in selected areas. Prerequisite: PHY 201, 202 (or 107, 108); MTH 235, 236, 237, 238, or permission. Offered alternate years.
A study of temperature, heat and work, the laws of thermodynamics, entropy, the Carnot cycle, and introduction to statistical mechanics. Experimental work in selected areas is performed. Completing the course allows the student to describe important definitions and relationships for each of the topics covered, discuss experimental evidence for each relationship or law, design and carry out experiments in selected areas, and do calculations involving theoretical relationships studied. Prerequisite: PHY 201, 202 (or 107, 108); MTH 235, 236, 237, 238, or permission. Offered alternate years.
A survey of geometric and physical optics. The course includes study of the nature of light, production and measurement of light, lenses, mirrors, lens systems, aberration theory, interference phenomena, optical interferometry, and diffraction phenomena. Experimental work in selected areas is performed. Completing the course allows the student to design simple optical systems, recognize limitations due to aberrations, analyze a variety of interference and diffraction phenomena using appropriate analytical and numerical techniques, and design and perform experiments in selected areas. Prerequisite: PHY 201, 202 (or 107, 108); MTH 235, 236, 237, 38, or permission. Offered alternate years.
An introduction to fundamental principles of physics used in describing molecules, atoms and nuclei. The course includes study of special relativity, introductory quantum mechanics, and applications of these theories. Experimental work in selected areas is performed. Completing the course allows the student to describe important definitions and relationships in each of the areas studied, understand historically important experiments which suggested each of the major theories, and perform calculations which apply the major theories discussed. Prerequisite: PHY 201, 202 (or 107, 108); MTH 235, 236. Offered alternate years.
Statics is a study of forces and movements of forces on rigid bodies in equilibrium, and is a fundamental course for all engineering students. The course includes a detailed examination of the forces and movements acting on various structures from both an experimental and theoretical standpoint. Computer-modeling packages will be used to provide students with a working knowledge of important tools for problem solving and drafting software to help visualize the projects. Both analytical and numerical solutions will be developed and used to enhance the students' problem-solving skills. Upon successful completion of the course, students will have produced a free-body diagram of an object, analyzed free-body diagrams and solved force problems using vector algebra, determined the loads (forces) on elements of a structure (e.g., a bridge) and how those loads are transmitted to other elements of the structure, demonstrated facility in numerical problem solving, and demonstrated the ability to gather and analyze data in elected areas of the topics covered. Prerequisite: PHY 201 or 107. Offered alternate fall terms.
A study of AC and DC circuits, solid state devices, and digital logic devices. Elements of network analysis are introduced. Basic building blocks of modern analog and digital circuits including diodes, transistors, op amps, logic gates, analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters are studied. All topics are developed through extensive laboratory experience. Completion of the course allows the student to design, build, and debug circuits that solve instrumentation problems arising in physical measurements. Prerequisite: PHY 201, 202 (or 107,108). (Cross-referenced with IST 325.) Offered alternate fall terms.
A course designed to integrate mathematics into a coherent foundation for problem solving for upper-level physics and engineering course. Topics include Laplace and Fourier transformations, Fourier series, vector operators, ordinary and partial differential equations, and orthogonal functions. Emphasis is given to the solution (analytical and numerical) of problems from both physics and engineering. Completion of the course allows the student to define important aspects of each mathematical topic, to describe the relevance of each topic to physics and engineering problems, and to work both formal and physics/engineering problems involving each topic.Prerequisite: PHY 201, 202 (or 107, 108); MTH 236. (Cross-referenced with MTH 435.)
The most recent course was Quantum Mechanics.
All physics majors complete a research project that encourages them to integrate knowledge from previous coursework. The chosen project is designed to promote understanding of basic research methods by their application. In this course, students become familiar with possible areas of research in the department, practice methods of doing a literature review, and learn about the expectations for the senior project. Students will choose a research topic, write a research proposal, and complete a literature search. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to discuss the steps require to plan a research project, will have produced a literature search summarized in a bibliography, and will have written a research proposal. Prerequisite: Physics Major and junior standing. Offered spring term.
This course is a continuation of physics 395. Students perform the required experimental and/or theoretical research for their senior project. Upon completion of this course, students will have produced an organized record of the required experimental and/or theoretical research for their senior project. Prerequisite: PHY 395. Offered fall term.
This course completes the three semester sequence for developing, conducting, and reporting the senior project. In this capstone course, students write the senior thesis and create an oral presentation about the research project. Students are encouraged to present the research at an offcampus meeting. Upon completion of this course, students will have gained experience in producing a scientific paper and presenting their research in a public forum. Prerequisite: PHY 495.