PHY 101. CONCEPTUAL PHYSICS 4 sh
This course provides an introduction to the major ideas in
both Classical and Modern Physics. Students will be
introduced to experiments of the ancient Greeks, Renaissance
Scholars and Classical Natural Philosophers. The formulation
of gravitational and mechanical theories, thermodynamics, the
particle nature of matter, and aspects of elementary
electromagnetism will be included. Twentieth century
perspectives including the theory of relativity, quantum
mechanics and chaos will be studied. Laboratory included.
PHY 102. INTRODUCTION TO ASTRONOMY 4
sh
Astronomy examines the nature of light, astronomical
instruments and our attempts to understand the origin of our
solar system and its constituents: the Sun, the planets,
asteroids, comets and meteors. Laboratory included. Offered
fall and spring.
PHY 103. INTRODUCTION TO GEOLOGY 4 sh
This geology course includes a study of the nature and
origin of rocks and minerals, evolution of the landscape,
plate tectonics, coastal dynamics and geologic time.
Laboratory included. Offered fall and spring.
PHY 110. ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT 4
sh
This course provides an introduction to energy concepts and
the basic modes of energy production and use, focusing on
environmental problems that are a consequence of such
activities. Laboratory included. Offered fall and spring.
PHY 111, 112. GENERAL PHYSICS I AND II (each
semester) 4 sh
Designed for students majoring in the biological and/or
health-related sciences, this survey of classical and modern
physics includes mechanics, waves, heat, electricity,
magnetism, optics, and atomic and nuclear physics. Labs
included. Prerequisite: MTH 111 or placement exemption.
Prerequisite for PHY 112: PHY 111. PHY 111 offered fall; PHY
112 offered spring.
PHY 113, 114. GENERAL PHYSICS I AND II WITH CALCULUS
(each semester) 4 sh
This survey of topics in classical physics is designed for
students majoring in math, physics or chemistry, or planning
to transfer into an engineering program. Topics include
kinematics, dynamics, thermodynamics, electrostatics,
electrodynamics and waves. Labs included. Prerequisite for
PHY 114: PHY 113. Corequisite: MTH 121. PHY 113 offered fall;
PHY 114 offered spring.
PHY 117-118. FRESHMAN PHYSICS LAB
This one-year sequence of laboratory experiences accompanies
either PHY 111-112 or 113-114. PHY 117 (which must be taken
at the same time as PHY 111 or 113) covers mechanical systems
and thermodynamics. PHY 118 (which must be taken at the same
time as PHY 112 or 114) explores the world of electricity and
magnetism as well as geometrical optics. PHY 117 is taught in
fall, PHY 118 in spring. Corequisite PHY 111-112 or 113-114.
PHY 211. CIRCUIT ANALYSIS 3 sh
This course is an introduction to the theory, analysis and
design of electric circuits. Studies include circuit
parameters and elements: voltage, current, power, energy,
resistance, capacitance, inductance. Also included is the
application of Kirchhoff's laws to simple and complex
circuits and the study of the steady-state and transient
response of circuits to pulse, step, and periodic inputs.
Prerequisites: MTH 221 and PHY 114. Corequisite: EGR/PHY 212.
PHY 212. CIRCUIT ANALYSIS LAB 1 sh
This course involves laboratory application of concepts and
principles discussed in EGR/PHY211. Corequisite: EGR/PHY 211.
PHY 213. INTRODUCTION TO MODERN PHYSICS 4
sh
A continuation of 113 and 114, this course provides further
study of wave dynamics, special relativity, early quantum
mechanics, wave mechanics, and an introduction to solid state
and nuclear physics. Laboratory included. Prerequisite: MTH
221. Offered fall.
PHY 301. CLASSICAL MECHANICS AND DYNAMICAL SYSTEMS 4
sh
In this introduction to Lagrangian and Hamiltonian
treatments of classical mechanics, students explore
variational principles, conservation laws, contemporary
approaches to dynamical systems and topics in chaos theory.
Laboratory included. Prerequisite: PHY 114. Offered spring of
alternate years.
PHY 302. STATISTICAL MECHANICS AND THERMODYNAMICS 4
sh
Study covers statistical methods, the concept of the
ensemble and statistical averages, and explores
thermodynamics using a theoretical progression from
statistical analysis to thermodynamic variables. In-depth
studies include conservation laws and thermodynamical
variables such as entropy and free energy. Laboratory
included. Prerequisite: PHY 301.
PHY 305. STELLAR ASTRONOMY 4 sh
Stellar astronomy involves study of the universe beyond the
solar system, including stars, clusters, stellar evolution,
variable stars, Milky Way and other galaxies, quasars, and
cosmological models. Satisfies non-laboratory General Studies
requirement. No credit for physics major or minor.
Prerequisite: MTH 111 or higher. Offered winter.
PHY 310. ENGINEERING THERMODYNAMICS 4
sh
Introduction to the concept of energy and the laws governing
the transfers and transformations of energy. Emphasis on
thermodynamic properties and First and Second Law analysis of
systems and control volumes. Integration of these concepts
into the analysis of basic power cycles is introduced.
Prerequisites: MTH 321 and PHY 114.
PHY 311. CLASSICAL ELECTRODYNAMICS 4
sh
Classical electrodynamics involves the study of
electrostatics (including image methods and electric fields
in the presence of dielectric media), vector analysis,
continuity conditions for field quantities at interfaces, and
magnetism and magnetostatics. Laboratory included.
Prerequisite: PHY 213. Offered fall of alternate years.
PHY 312. ELECTRICITY, MAGNETISM AND FIELD THEORY 4
sh
This course includes Maxwell's equations and
continuation of electrodynamics and explores the natural
connection of field theory and electrodynamics, and basic
mathematical tools, including tensor analysis. By experiments
and numerical simulation, students investigate
electromagnetic radiation and fields. Laboratory included.
Prerequisite: PHY 311. Offered spring of alternate years.
PHY 411. QUANTUM MECHANICS 4 sh
Study of quantum mechanics includes basic mathematical
underpinnings of quantum formalisms and treats several basic
problems, including Hydrogen-like atoms and lasers, in depth.
Laboratory included. Prerequisite: PHY 301. Offered fall of
alternate years.
PHY 412. RELATIVITY AND COSMOLOGY 4
sh
This course begins by examining fundamentally
electrodynamical problems out of which special relativity was
born. Students read Einstein's original paper and study
the classical paradoxes in depth. Discussion of cosmological
problems includes black holes, galactic red shift and early
universe theory. Some aspects of the general theory of
relativity are also introduced. Prerequisites: PHY 311 and
312.
PHY 471. SPECIAL TOPICS IN PHYSICS 4
sh
These contemporary topics include, but are not limited to,
chaos theory and nonlinear dynamics, solid state and
condensed matter physics, optics, advanced quantum mechanics,
and particle physics. Prerequisite: permission of the
instructor.
PHY 499. RESEARCH 1 sh
This semester-long supervised research project involves
experimental, numerical or theoretical investigation of a
single problem, culminating in a detailed report describing
the methods, results and analysis performed, including a
publication style abstract of the research. Senior majors
only. Offered fall, winter and spring.
