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The physics curriculum is designed to provide
well-rounded preparation in classical and modern physics. The
successful completion of this program will prepare the graduate to
gain admission to one of the better graduate programs in physics or
a related scientific field, or to secure employment in a technical,
scientific, or engineering setting.
A grade of "C-" or higher must be obtained in
each freshman- and sophomore-level science course that is required
for this major or minor; these courses are numbered 100 through 300
in each discipline. A grade-point average of 2.0 or higher is
required in all courses required for the major.
Students who are interested in scientific
illustration are encouraged to consider the Scientific Illustration
Tracks that are offered within the art major.
Major
The requirements for a major in physics are as
follows: College Physics I and II taken after or concurrently with
Calculus I and II (preferably in the freshman year); Classical
Mechanics I and II taken after or concurrently with Calculus III
(suggested for the sophomore year); Thermal and Statistical Physics;
Modern Optics; Modern Physics I and II; Electricity and Magnetism I
and II; Mathematical Physics; and Special Topics in Theoretical
Physics or Special Topics in Experimental Physics. Examination is
generally required to transfer credit for any of these courses. The
degree awarded is the Bachelor of Science.
Minor
A minor in physics is offered to provide
students with an opportunity to strengthen and broaden their
educational credentials either as an end in itself or as an
enhancement of future employment prospects. The requirement for the
physics minor is three lecture courses numbered PHY 202 or higher
plus at least one physics laboratory course at the 300 level or
above.
The following courses are offered in Physics:
| PHY 101, PHY 102. General Physics I, II |
4 plus 4 hours |
An introductory course without
calculus. Fundamental aspects of mechanics, heat, light, sound,
and electricity are included. The text will be on the level of
Serway and Faughn, College Physics. Three lectures and three
hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisite: MAT 103; PHY 101
must precede PHY 102. Corequisites: PHY 101L and PHY 102L.
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| PHY 201, PHY 202. College Physics I, II |
5 plus 5 hours |
Introductory physics with calculus.
Subject matter is the same as in general physics but on a level
more suited to physics majors, engineering majors, etc. One year
of calculus as a prerequisite is preferred, otherwise calculus
must be taken concurrently. The text will be on the level of
Halliday, Resnick, and Walker, Fundamentals of Physics.
Prerequisite: PHY 201 with a grade of "C-" or higher must
precede PHY 202. Corequisites: PHY 101L and PHY 102L.
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| PHY 101L, PHY 102L. Introductory Physics
Laboratory I, II |
1 plus 1 hour |
Introductory physics laboratories
to accompany PHY 101, 102, 201 and 202.
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| PHY 211, PHY 212. Classical Mechanics I, II |
4 plus 4 hours |
This is the student’s first
introduction to theoretical physics. Lagrangian and Hamiltonian
methods are developed with Newton’s laws of motion and applied
to a variety of contemporary problems. Emphasis is placed on
problem work, the object being to develop physical intuition and
facility for translating physical problems into mathematical
terms. The text will be on the level of Analytical Mechanics by
Fowles. Prerequisites: MAT 132 and PHY 202 with a grade of "C-"
or higher in each course. A grade of "C-" or higher must be
earned in PHY 211 before taking PHY 212.
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| PHY 232. Fundamentals of Electronics |
4 hours |
This course is designed primarily
for science majors and dual degree engineering students.
Coverage includes DC and AC circuits, semi-conductor devices,
amplifiers, oscillators, and digital devices. The intent is to
provide a working understanding of common instrumentation in
science and technology. Prerequisite: PHY 102 or PHY 212 with a
grade of "C-" or higher.
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| PHY 232L. Electronics Laboratory |
1 hour |
The laboratory component of PHY
232.
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| PHY 331, PHY 332. Electricity and Magnetism I,
II |
4 plus 4 hours |
A thorough introduction to one of
the two fundamental disciplines of classical physics, using
vector calculus methods. After a brief review of vector
analysis, the first semester will treat electrostatic and
magnetic fields and provide an introduction to the special
theory of relativity. The second semester will develop
electrodynamics, including Maxwell’s equations, the propagation
of electromagnetic waves, radiation, and the electromagnetic
theory of light. The treatment will be on the level of the text
of Reitz, Milford, and Christy. It is recommended that MAT 241
be taken concurrently. Prerequisites: MAT 233 and PHY 202 with a
grade of "C-" or higher in each course; PHY 331 must precede PHY
332.
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| PHY 333. Thermal and Statistical Physics |
4 hours |
The purpose of this course is to
provide physics, engineering, and chemistry majors with a
fundamental understanding of heat and the equilibrium behavior
of complex systems. Topics will include the zeroth, first and
second laws of thermodynamics with applications to closed and
open systems; microcanonical and canonical ensembles for
classical and quantum systems, with applications to ideal gases,
specific heats, blackbody radiation, etc.; the kinetic
description of equilibrium properties. Text will be on the level
of Kestin and Dorfman or Zemansky. Prerequisites: MAT 132 and
PHY 202 with a grade of "C-" or higher in each course.
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| PHY 333L. Thermal and Statistical Physics
Laboratory |
1 hour |
Laboratory work will emphasize
classic experiments such as the ballistic pendulum, hard sphere
scattering, the Millikan oil drop experiment, the Michelson
interferometer, etc. Emphasis also will be placed on measuring
fundamental constants such as the speed of light, h, G, e and
e/m. Corequisite: PHY 333.
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| PHY 335. Introduction to Modern Optics |
4 hours |
A standard intermediate-level
optics course which will treat the basics of wave theory and the
electromagnetic origin of optical phenomena, geometrical optics,
physical optics including Fourier optics, Fraunhofer and Fresnel
diffraction, and dispersion. The course will conclude with some
consideration of current topics such as holography, quantum
optics, and non-linear optics. Text will be on the level of
Jenkins and White or Hecht. Prerequisites: MAT 241 and PHY 202
with a grade of "C-" or higher in each course.
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| PHY 335L. Modern Optics Laboratory |
1 hour |
This laboratory accompanies course
PHY 335.
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| PHY 421, PHY 422. Introduction to Modern
Physics I, II |
4 plus 4 hours |
For physics, engineering, and
chemistry majors, this is a one-year sequence that discusses the
most important developments in 20th-century physics. The first
semester will review special relativity and treat the
foundations of quantum physics from a historical perspective;
the quantum theory of one-electron atoms will be developed. In
the second semester, there will be a treatment of many-electron
atoms, molecules, and solids, with an introduction to nuclear
and elementary particle physics. The text will be on the level
of Eisberg and Resnick, Quantum Physics. Prerequisites: PHY 202
and PHY 332; PHY 421 must precede PHY 422.
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| PHY 421L, PHY 422L. Modern Physics Laboratory
I, II |
1 plus 1 hour |
Laboratory work will emphasize
modern physics in areas such as microwave optics,
superconductivity, measurements of magnetic fields, electron
spin resonance, the Franck-Hertz experiment, laser optics, etc.
Corequisites: PHY 421and PHY 422.
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| PHY 423. Mathematical Physics |
4 hours |
This course will examine a variety
of mathematical ideas and methods used in physical sciences.
Topics may include: vector calculus; solutions of partial
differential equations, including the wave and heat equations;
special functions; eigenvalue problems; Fourier analysis and
mathematical modeling, particularly numerical computer methods.
Text will be on the level of Arfken or Matthews and Walker.
Prerequisite: MAT 241 with a grade of "C-" or higher.
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| PHY 431. Special Topics in Theoretical Physics |
1-5 hours |
Topics to be chosen in accordance
with the student’s interest include Laser Physics, Plasma
Physics, Theory of the Solid State, Nuclear and Particle
Physics, Astrophysics, and Cosmology.
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| PHY 441. Special Topics in Experimental Physics |
1-5 hours |
Topics to be chosen in accordance
with the student's interest in experimental physics.
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| PHY 499. Independent Study in Physics |
1-5 hours |
Supervised study of a topic of
interest to the student, which is not treated in the regularly
scheduled course offerings. Prerequisite: Submission of a
proposed outline of study that includes a schedule of meetings
and assignments approved by the instructor, the division chair,
and the Provost and Senior Vice President prior to registration.
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