282 Principles of Physics Laboratory - Optics and Modern Physics (1)
Laboratory to accompany Physics 232. Experiments investigate geometrical optics, interference and diffraction and radioactivity, with emphasis given to error analysis. Every semester. Two hours per week. Corequisite: Physics 232 or approval of the head of the department. Laboratory/studio course fee will be assessed.
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 103/183 and 104/184, or 231/281; Mathematics 161/162; or approval of the instructor. Laboratory/studio course fee will be assessed.
304 Electronic Circuits (4)
Theory and use of basic electronic instruments for electrical measurement or control. Multistage amplification, feedback, oscillators, and digital/logic circuitry treated with varying emphasis. On demand. Lecture 3 hours laboratory 2 hours. Prerequisite: Physics 303 or approval of the instructor. Laboratory/studio course fee will be assessed.
307 Optics (4)
Basic aspects of geometrical and physical optics, including interference, diffraction, and polarization; optical systems; wave equations and superposition; laser basics. Fall semester alternate years. Lecture 3 hours, laboratory 2 hours. Prerequisites: Physics 230/280, 231/ 281, 232/282 or Physics 103/183, 104/184; Mathematics 161/162; or approval of the instructor. Laboratory/studio course fee will be assessed.
310 Introduction to Thermal Physics (4)
Laws of thermodynamics, kinetic theory, and statistical mechanics with applications to basic thermodynamic systems. Fall semester alternate years. Lecture 3 hours, recitation 2 hours. Prerequisites: Physics 230 /280, 231/281, 232/282; or Physics 103 /183, 104/184; Mathematics 161/162. Corequisite: Mathematics 255; or approval of the instructor. Lab- oratory/studio course fee will be assessed.
318 Radiation Physics and Introductory Health Physics (3)
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: Physics 104/184 or 232/282; or approval of the instructor. Laboratory/studio course fee will be assessed.
341 Classical Mechanics (4)
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: Physics 230/280, 231/281 or 103/183, 104/184; or approval of the instructor. Corequisite: Mathematics 245 or 255. Labora- tory/studio course fee will be assessed.
342 Electricity and Magnetism (4)
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: Physics 341; Mathematics 245, 255; or approval of the instructor. Laboratory/studio course fee will be assessed.
398 Methods of Experimental Physics I (3)
Experimental methods based on classical physics experiments, selected from such topics as as harmonic motion, gravitation, measurement of thermodynamic properties, electrical and magnetic measurements, optics, thermodynamics, and materials science. Fall semester. Lecture 1.5 hours, laboratory 3 hours. Prerequisites: Physics 230/280, 231/281, 232/282; or Physics 103/183, 104/184; Mathematics 245. Corequisites: Physics 341 or 342, 307 or 310; or approval of the instructor. Laboratory/studio course fee will be assessed.
399 Methods of Experimental Physics II (3)
Experimental methods based on modern physics experiments, selected from such topics as atomic emission and absorption spectra, the Franck-Hertz experiment, the Stern-Gerlach experiment, quantum optics, electron-spin resonance, nuclear magnetic resonance, X-ray diffraction, and nuclear radiation measurements (utilizing Geiger-counters and multichannel analyzers). Spring semester. Lecture 1.5 hours, laboratory 3 hours. Prerequisites: Physics 230/280, 231/281, 232/282; or Physics 103/183, 104/184; Mathematics 245; or approval of the instructor. Cumulative limit of 4 hours. Laboratory/studio course fee will be assessed.
400r Physics Seminar (1)
Reports and reviews of selected physics research, including the abstracting of publications. On demand. Enrollment limited to juniors or above or approval of the instructor. Cumulative limit of 2 hours.
411 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics (3)
Basic elements and principles of quantum physics: probability waves, the Schrodinger equation, expectation values and operator formalism, the hydrogen atom, radiation processes. Fall semester. Prerequisites: Physics 230/280, 231/281, 232/282; or Physics 103/183, 104/184; Mathematics 245 or 255; or approval of the instructor.
412 Nuclear Physics (3)
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: Physics 230/280, 231/281, 232/282; or Physics 103/183, 104/184; Mathematics 245 or 255; or approval 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 approval of the instructor. Cumulative limit of 9 hours.
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: Physics 412 or equivalent, or approval of the instructor. Laboratory/studio course fee will be assessed.
424 Instrumentation, Interfacing, and Microcomputers (3)
Interfacing instruments, measuring devices, and controls to mini and microcomputers. Includes 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. On demand. Lecture 2 hours, laboratory 2 hours. Prerequisites: Physics 104/184, 232/282 or equivalent; Computer Science 110 or equivalent; or approval of the instructor. Laboratory/studio course fee will be assessed.
425 Computer-Based Materials Development in Science (3)
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: Computer Science 102 or equivalent. Enrollment limited to juniors or above or approval of the instructor.
430 Physics of Living Systems (3)
Introduction to basic biophysical processes occurring at the cellular level. Emphasis on energy transformations, and experimental techniques of biophysics. On demand. Prerequisites: Physics 230/280, 231/281, 232/282, 310; or approval of the instructor.
441 Radiation Dosimetry (3)
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: Physics 104/184 or 232/282, or approval of the instructor. Laboratory/studio course fee will be assessed.
