Physics
Physics Catalog
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Description
of the Physics Program
Typical course of study in physics
Health Physics Minor Requirements
General Science
Course List
Description of the Physics Program
The Department of Physics, Geology, and
Astronomy offers the bachelor of science degree with majors in geology and
physics and participates in programs leading to the Bachelor of Science
degree in secondary natural sciences. The department also offers minors in
geology, physics and health physics.
The physics program has a strong emphasis in Mathematics and is recommended for students with a career interest in Physics as a profession or in teaching Physics or in pursing graduate studies.
As a fundamental science, Physics is required in the training of students in many disciplines. To accommodate students in disciplines that do not emphasize a strong Mathematics background, the curriculum also offers algebra-based Physics.
The Astronomy program is augmented by
observations at the University's Jones Observatory. This off-campus
observatory is also used for demonstration purposes for the community at
large.
Physics Major (B.S.)
General Education (see pages 22-24 for list of approved courses)
- Category A: 2 approved courses in written communication in the English language (6 hours)
- Category B: 3 approved courses: one from humanities, one from fine arts, and one from either (3 hours each)
- Category C: 2 approved behavioral or social science courses (6 hours)
- Category D: 1 approved physical or natural science course other than physics with laboratory (4 hours; approved related courses below will apply)
- Category F: 1 approved mathematics course (3 hours; approved related courses below will apply)
- Category G: 1 approved perspectives course (3 hours)
- Exercise Science, Health and Leisure Studies
021 plus one additional semester exercise science activity.
Major and related courses
- One of the following two options: 1. Two semesters of French or German 2. Computer Science 118 or Engineering 124
- Mathematics F150, 160, 212, 245, 255
- Chemistry D121, 122
- Physics 230 (or 103 and 104)
- Physics 231 and 232
- Physics 341, 342, and 411
- 6 hours from Physics 381r, 382r, 481r, and 482r
- 30 additional hours from physics, astronomy, chemistry, engineering, and mathematics at the 200 level or above or from geology and biology or other fields with prior approval by the department.
- At least 30 hours of physics and astronomy at the 300 and 400 level 2.0 average in all physics courses
- Electives to complete 128 hours
-
Physics Minor
- Required courses: Physics 230 (or 103 or Engineering 103 and 104), Physics 231, Physics 232 (or 104).
- Elective courses: A planned program of at least 12 hours of physics at the 300-400 level selected with the prior approval of the department.
- Minimum 2.0 average in the minor.
- 19 hours of physics including:
- A. One of the following introductory options: 103 and 104; or 230, 231, and 232; or Engineering 103, 104, Physics 231, and 232.
- B. Physics 441, 442, 482r and 3 hours from 318, 412, 419, or departmentally approved special projects.
- Minimum 2.0 average in the minor.
Health Physics Minor
Typical course of study in physics (B.S.)
First semester Second Semester
FRESHMAN
Chemistry D121 4 Physics 230 4
Mathematics F150 4 Chemistry 122 4
General Education Category A 3 Mathematics 160 4
General Education Category B 3 General Education Category A 3
Elective 3 EHLS 021 1
Total 17 Total 16
SOPHOMORE
Physics 231 4 Physics 232 4
Mathematics 212 3 Mathematics 255 3
Mathematics 245 3 General Education Category B 3
General Education Category B 3 General Education Category C 3
General Education Category C 3 Computer Science 118 or
Engineering 124 3
EHLS Activity 1
Total 16 Total 17
JUNIOR
Physics 341 4 Physics 342 4
Physics Electives 5 Physics Elective (300 level
or above) 4
General Education Category G 3 Elective 3
Physics 381r 2 Physics 382r 2
Foreign Language* 3 Foreign Language* 3
Total 17 Total 16
SENIOR
Physics 411 4 Electives 12
Physics 481r 2 Physics Electives 3
Electives 8
Total 14 Total 15
TOTAL HOURS 128
*Select a computer class (1 semester) or a foreign language (2 semesters).
- 101 Introduction to Astronomy-The Solar System
- 102 Introduction to Astronomy-Stars to Galaxies
- 199r Special Projects
- 300r Advanced Astronomy Laboratory
- 401 Solar System Astrophysics
- 498r Individual Studies
- 499r Group Studies
Physics Course List
- 103 General Physics - Mechanics
- 104 General Physics - Electromagnetism and Optics
- 199r Special Projects
- 230 Principles of Physics - Mechanics and Heat
- 231 Principles of Physics - Electricity and Magnetism
- 232 Principles of Physics - Optics and Modern Physics
- 303 Basic Electronics
- 304 Electronic Circuits
- 307 Optics
- 310 Introduction to Thermal Physics
- 318 Radiation Physics and Introductory Health Physics
- 341 Classical Mechanics
- 342 Electricity and Magnetism
- 381r Methods of Experimental Physics
- 382r Classical Physics Laboratory
- 400r Physics Seminar
- 411 Atomic Physics: An Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
- 412 Nuclear Physics
- 414r Advanced Modern Physics
- 419 Introduction to Nuclear Reactor Physics
- 424 Instrumentation, Interfacing, and Microcomputers
- 425 Computer Based Materials Development in Science
- 430 Physics of Living Systems - Hemodynamics
- 441 Radiation Dosimetry
- 442 Radiation Biology
- 481r Atomic Physics Laboratory
- 482r Nuclear and Health Physics Laboratory
- 495r Departmental Honors
- 497r Research
- 498r Individual Studies
- 499r Group Studies
Astronomy Course Catalog Copy
- 101 Introduction to Astronomy-The Solar System (4 with lab, 3 without)
- Descriptive and conceptual. The structure,
nature, and origin of the solar system. Optional 2-hour laboratory
illustrates concepts of practical astronomy. On demand. Lecture 3
hours.
- 102 Introduction to Astronomy-Stars to Galaxies (4)
- The nature of stars and galaxies; the
evolution and structure of the observable universe with an emphasis on
understanding the experimental foundations of the science. Fall
semester. Lecture 3 hours, laboratory 2 hours. Prerequisite: two years
of high school algebra or Mathematics 106. Corequisite: Astronomy 102
laboratory.
- 199r Special Projects (1-4)
- Individual or Group Studies. Maximum credit 4
hours. On demand.
- 300r Advanced Astronomy Laboratory (1)
- Laboratory techniques in astronomy.
Applications of spectroscopy, optics, modern photographic techniques,
and photometry to observational astronomy. Extensive use of the
University's observatory. Every semester. Maximum credit 2 hours.
Prerequisite: Astronomy 101 or 102 or permission of instructor.
- 401 Solar System Astrophysics (3)
- Application of basic physical laws to the
problem of the origin and evolution of the solar system. Solar
structure and energy sources, radiative transfer, the solar magnetic
field, the interplanetary medium, celestial mechanics, comets,
meteors, asteroids, the planets, and their satellites. On demand.
Prerequisite: Physics 342 or permission of instructor.
- 498r Individual Studies (1-4)
- On demand.
- 499r Group Studies (1-4)
- On demand. GENERAL SCIENCE COURSES
- 111 The Physical Environment: Atoms to Galaxies (4)
- Explores physical science in three ways:
physical science in its historical and sociological significance, the
process of science, and the present content of scientific fact and
theory. Topics include physics, chemistry, geology, and astronomy.
Fall semester. Lecture 3 hours, laboratory 2 hours. Prerequisite: 2
units of college preparatory mathematics or Mathematics 106.
Physics Course Catalog Copy
- 103 General Physics - Mechanics (4) Fall, Spring, Summer
- An algebra-based introduction to forces
and uniform motion, conservation principles, sound, and the law of
thermodynamics, with applications to problems of modern science
and technology. Required in pre-medical, pre- dental,
pre-pharmacy, and physical therapy programs. Fall semester.
Lecture 3 hours, laboratory 2 hours. Prerequisites: 3 units of
college preparatory mathematics.
- 104 General Physics - Electromagnetism and Optics (4) Fall, Spring, Summer
- An algebra-based introduction to classical
electricity and magnetism, optics, and the concepts of modern
physics. Required in pre-medical, pre-dental, pre-pharmacy, and
physical therapy programs. Spring semester. Lecture 3 hours,
laboratory 2 hours. Prerequisites: 3 units of college preparatory
mathematics, Physics 103 or permission of instructor.
- 199r Special Projects (1-4)
- Individual or group projects. On demand.
Maximum credit 4 hours.
- 230 Principles of Physics - Mechanics and Heat (4) Fall (evening), Spring (day)
- A calculus-based introduction to the laws
of classical dynamics, kinematics, and thermodynamics, with
applications to simple physical systems. Offered both fall and
spring semesters. Lecture 3 hours, laboratory 2 hours. Corequisite:
Mathematics 160 or permission of the instructor.
- 231 Principles of Physics - Electricity and Magnetism (4) Fall, Spring, Summer
- A calculus-based introduction to electric
and magnetic fields, electric currents, electromagnetic induction
and waves. For all engineering students. Fall semester. Lecture 3
hours, laboratory 2 hours. Prerequisites: Engineering 103 and 104,
or Physics 104 or Physics 230; Mathematics 150, 160; or permission
of the instructor.
- 232 Principles of Physics - Optics and Modern Physics (4) Fall, Spring, Summer
- A calculus-based survey of principles of
optics, and of the early conceptual advances in 20th-century
physics: the Bohr atom, quantum theory, relativity, nuclear
physics and elementary particles. For all engineering students.
Spring semester. Lecture 3 hours, laboratory 2 hours.
Prerequisites: Engineering 103 and 104, or Physics 103 and 104, or
230; Mathematics 150, 160; or permission of the instructor.
- 303 Basic Electronics (4)
- Review of simple DC and AC circuitry;
applications of diodes, transistors, and operational amplifiers;
introduction to digital electronics using TTL integrated circuits
and their applications. Spring semester. Lecture 3 hours,
laboratory 2 hours. Prerequisites: Physics 103 and 104, or Physics
231; Mathematics 160; or permission of the instructor.
- 304 Electronic Circuits (4)
- The theory and use of basic electronic
instruments for electrical measurement or control. Multi-stage
amplification, feedback, oscillators, and digital/logic circuitry
treated with permission of the instructor.
- 307 Optics (4)
- Geometrical and physical optics, including
reflection, refraction, interference, diffraction, and
polarization; introduction to theory of spectra. Spring semester
every other year. Lecture 3 hours, laboratory 2 hours.
Prerequisites: Physics 230, 231, 232 (or 103, 104); Mathematics
160; or permission of the instructor.
- 310 Introduction to Thermal Physics (4)
- The laws of thermodynamics, kinetic
theory, and statistical mechanics through the macroscopic
description and microscopic theory of thermal phenomena. Spring
semester every other year. Prerequisites: Physics 230, 231, 232
(or 103, 104). Corequisite: Mathematics 255; or permission of the
instructor.
- 318 Radiation Physics and Introductory Health Physics (3)
- An introduction to ionizing radiation, its
production and interaction with matter, its biological effects and
its measurement. Radiation protection practices and regulatory
guidelines. The uses of radiation and radioisotopes in biology,
chemistry, environmental sciences, and medicine. Benefits and
hazards of nuclear energy. Nuclear weapons and the effects of
nuclear warfare. On demand. Prerequisite: 104 or 232, or
permission of the instructor.
- 341 Classical Mechanics (4) Fall
- An introduction to the dynamics of
particles and continuous media; Newton's law of motion,
conservation laws, generalized coordinates, Lagrange's equations,
and the principle of least action; the mechanics of continuous
media, wave motion, sound, hydrostatics, rotational and
irrotational flow, the equation of continuity, Laplace's equation.
Fall semester. Lecture 3 hours, recitation 2 hours. Prerequisites:
230, 231 or 103 & 104, or permission of the instructor.
Corequisite: Mathematics 245 or 255.
- 342 Electricity and Magnetism (4) Spring
- Basic laws of electromagnetism, electric
and magnetic properties of materials, Maxwell's equations,
boundary value problems, electromagnetic waves. Spring semester.
Lecture 3 hours, recitation 2 hours. Prerequisite: 341 or
Mathematics 245 255, or permission of the instructor.
- 381r Methods of Experimental Physics (2)
- An introduction to experimental design and
techniques. Introduction to timing and timing coincidence
measurements, measurement of thermodynamic properties, and
electrical and magnetic measurements. Fall semester. Maximum
credit 4 hours. Lecture 1 hour, laboratory 2 hours. Prerequisites:
230, 231, 232 (or 103, 104); Mathematics 245, 255, or permission
of the instructor.
- 382r Classical Physics Laboratory (2)
- An advanced laboratory course emphasizing
the measurement and analysis of the properties of classical
physical systems in optics, mechanics, electricity and magnetism,
thermodynamics and materials science. Spring semester. Maximum
credit 4 hours. Lecture 1 hour, laboratory 2 hours. Prerequisites:
230, 231, 232 (or 103, 104); Mathematics 245, 255, or permission
of the instructor.
- 400r Physics Seminar (1)
- A study of reporting and review for
physics research, including the abstracting of published reports.
On demand. Maximum credit 2 hours.
- 411 Atomic Physics: An Introduction to Quantum Mechanics (3)
- Elements of atomic theory with emphasis on
atomic structure, radiation processes, spectroscopic analysis,
crystal structure, and wave phenome- na. Fall semester.
Prerequisites: 230, 231, 232 (or 103, 104); Mathematics 245, or
permission of the instructor.
- 412 Nuclear Physics (3)
- The theory of nuclear structure; nuclear
radiation characteristics; the interaction of radiation with
matter; nuclear binding forces; the control and use of nuclear
radiation. Spring semester. Prerequisites: 230, 231, 232 (or 103,
104); Mathematics 245, or permission of the instructor.
- 414r Advanced Modern Physics (3)
- One topic selected from biophysics,
elementary particles, quantum mechanics, relativity, solid state
physics, statistical mechanics, or superconductivity. Emphasis on
the relation of the assumptions and predictions of the theories to
the experimental evidence. Consequences of the theories illustrate
the nature of physics and its applications in modern science. On
demand. Prerequisites: Physics 341; Mathematics 245, 255; or
permission of the instructor. May be taken a maximum of three
times.
- 419 Introduction to Nuclear Reactor Physics (3)
- Nuclear reactions and radiation; fission
processes, neutron diffusion, reactor design variables, reactor
materials and shielding, reactivity coefficients. On demand.
Prerequisite: 412 or equivalent, or permission of the instructor.
- 424 Instrumentation, Interfacing, and Microcomputers (3)
- Interfacing instruments, measuring
devices, and controls to mini and microcomputers. Including
voltmeters, counters, timers, temperature, and other sensors,
CRTs, floppy-disks, keyboards, music synthesizers, and control
devices such as relays, thermostats, stepper motors, oscillators,
and power supplies. Considers standard S100, IEE-488, and RS232C
bus structures. Survey of microcomputer applications. Projects
involving interfacing instruments with microcomputers. Spring
semester. Lecture 2 hours, laboratory 2 hours. Prerequisites: 104,
232 or equivalent; Computer Science 110 or equivalent, permission
of the instructor.
- 425 Computer Based Materials Development in Science (3)
- The basic principles and practice of
developing computer based materials for science education.
Projects to be chosen from a pool of topics in a specific area of
science. Each module to include documentation, a tutorial, a
pretest, a post test, explanatory material, a question set, a
problem set, a graphics segment, etc. Modules to be prepared to
publication standards. Prerequisite: CPSC 102 or equivalent or
permission of the instructor. Enrollment limited to juniors or
above or permission of the instructor.
- 430 Physics of Living Systems - Hemodynamics (3)
- A study of the physical properties and
nature of the cardiovascular system. Topics include steady flow,
viscous properties of blood, properties of the vascular wall,
pulsatile pressure and flow, the normal hemodynamic state,
vascular impedance, wave reflection, wave propagation, cardiac
dynamics, methods of measurement, recording and analysis of data.
Spring, alternative year. Prerequisites: Physics 230, 231;
Mathematics 255 or permission of the instructor.
- 441 Radiation Dosimetry (3)
- An introduction to the theory and
methodology of determining exposure and dose from ionizing
radiation. Topics include: radioactivity and radioactive decay
processes; the interaction of ionizing radiation with matter;
exposure, dose and KERMA; cavity chamber theory; and
instrumentation for radiation and dose measurement. On demand.
Prerequisites: 104 or 232, or permission of the instructor.
- 442 Radiation Biology (3)
- The molecular effects of ionizing
radiation and the relationship between molecular events and the
acute and chronic effects of ionizing radiation. The human data
base for estimates of the effects of low levels of ionizing
radiation. Risk assessment of exposure to populations. On demand.
Prerequisites: 104 or 232, or permission of the instructor.
- 481r Atomic Physics Laboratory (2)
- An advanced laboratory on experimental
methods used in atomic physics. Laboratory experiments may be
chosen from a menu of experiments that includes emission and
absorption spectra of atoms and atomic ions, the Franck-Hertz
experiment, the Stern-Gerlach experiment, electron-spin resonance,
and nuclear magnetic resonance. Analysis of experimental results
will be used to study theoretical models of physical processes.
Fall semester. Maximum credit 4 hours. Lecture 1 hour, laboratory
2 hours. Prerequisites: 230, 231, and 232 (or 103, 104);
Mathematics 245, or permission of the instructor.
- 482r Nuclear and Health Physics Laboratory (2)
- A laboratory course in nuclear physics
emphasizing the use of modern detection and counting equipment.
Laboratory exercises include radiation dosimetry, radioisotope
techniques, neutron scattering, gamma-gamma correlation, and the
study of nuclear radiation detection. Spring semester. Maximum
credit 4 hours. Lecture 1 hour, laboratory 2 hours. Prerequisites:
230, 231, 232 (or 103, 104, 318); Mathematics 245, or permission
of the instructor.
- 495r Departmental Honors (1-3 hours per term, 4 hours for the two terms)
- On demand. See "Departmental
Honors," page 27.
- 497r Research (1-4)
- On demand.
- 498r Individual Studies (1-4)
- On demand.
- 499r Group Studies (1-4)
- On demand.