[ Physics ]

Course Offerings

2009–2010

One unit of course credit equals four semester hours.

January Term
Astronomy
Physics


JANUARY TERM

PHY 251/451 Research Topics in Physics
Plays a special role in the physics department curriculum, providing a time when a student working on a major project—at the accelerator lab, at the observatory, at Argonne Laboratory, at Fermilab, or elsewhere—has an opportunity to draw this work together with a full-time concentrated effort. (Limited to physics students who have previously been involved in research activities.) Any student planning to register for this course must confer with the instructor prior to registration. May be repeated for credit.

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ASTRONOMY

AST 212 Introduction to Astronomy
A general introductory laboratory science course for non-science and science majors. An understanding, appreciation, and working knowledge of astronomy and its technological, environmental, and social impact in the past, present, and future. Understanding of the scientific method is developed through laboratory and field investigations with some evening observing time required. Fall Term, Spring Term, Summer Term.

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PHYSICS

PHY 101 Physical Science
For the non-science major, a non-mathematical introduction to the facts, methods, and philosophy of the physical sciences. Provides insight into the modern technological world. Material is drawn from physics, astronomy, and chemistry with extensive use of videotapes, films, and field trips. Laboratory expands upon ideas developed in class. Spring Term.

PHY 111 Introductory Physics I
A broad quantitative background in basic physics appropriate for students in biology, geography, prephysical therapy, speech pathology, and nursing. Mechanics of particles, rigid bodies, and fluids; the concepts of energy and momentum; and heat and thermodynamics with related laboratory work. Prerequisite: background in algebra and trigonometry at the level of MTH 121 and MTH 132. Fall Term, Summer Term.

PHY 112 Introductory Physics II
A continuation of PHY 111. Electricity, magnetism, light, optics, and elementary modern physics with related laboratory experiments. Prerequisite: PHY 111. Spring Term, Summer Term.

PHY 121 General Physics I
A thorough quantitative understanding of basic physics for students in science, mathematics, computer science, physics, or engineering programs. Vectors, kinematics, laws of mechanics, force, energy, momentum, and fluids with related laboratory experiments. Corequisite: MTH 151. Fall Term.

PHY 122 General Physics II
A continuation of PHY 121. Waves, oscillations, heat and thermodynamics, electricity, magnetism, light, and optics, with related laboratory experiments. Prerequisite: PHY 121. Corequisite: MTH 152. Spring Term.

PHY 212 Introduction to Astronomy
See AST 212.

PHY 221 General Physics III
A continuation of PHY 122. Advanced motion, elasticity, sound, dielectrics, magnetic materials, AC circuits, physical optics, atomic spectra, with related laboratory experiments that include both analytical and numerical computation projects. Prerequisites: PHY 122 and MTH 152.

PHY 301 Atomic Physics
Atomic phenomena and structure, wave mechanical view of matter, radiation quanta, quantum mechanics of hydrogen and helium atoms, atomic masses and isotopes, and special relativity. Includes laboratory. Prerequisites: PHY 122 and MTH 152. Fall Term, 2009-2010.

PHY 302 Nuclear and Particle Physics
Particle accelerators, radiation detection, elementary particles and nuclei, fundamental forces, basic scattering theory, symmetries, and conservation laws. Includes laboratory. Prerequisites: PHY 122 and MTH 251. Spring Term, 2009-2010.

PHY 311 Analytical Mechanics
Physical and analytical aspects of mechanics using vector calculus: dynamics of particles and systems, work, energy,  momentum, constrained motion, moving coordinate systems, and Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations. Includes laboratory. Prerequisites: PHY 121 and MTH 341. Fall Term.

PHY 312 Electricity and Magnetism
Development and application of electromagnetic field theory: electric and magnetic fields, scalar and vector potentials, dielectrics, magnetic materials, and Maxwell’s equations. Includes laboratory. Prerequisites: PHY 122 and 311, MTH 341. Spring Term.

PHY 313 Thermodynamics
Nature of heat, thermal radiation, specific heats, gas laws; Maxwell-Boltzmann, Bose-Einstein, and Fermi-Dirac distributions; and classical thermodynamics. Includes laboratory. Prerequisites: PHY 122 and MTH 251. Fall Term, 2010-2011.

PHY 414 Modern Optics
Geometrical and physical optics, polarization, coherence, interference, diffraction, Fourier optics, and fundamental optical phenomena. Electromagnetic theory of light is stressed. Includes laboratory. Prerequisites: PHY 312 and MTH 341. Fall Term.

PHY 421 Quantum Theory
Quantum theory is developed and applied to simple systems from the point of view of Schroedinger’s wave equation and Heisenberg’s matrix mechanics. Interpretation of the wave function, Hermitian operators, eigenstates, symmetry, angular momentum, spin, isospin, degeneracy, and approximation methods. Prerequisites: PHY 302, 311, and MTH 341 (MTH 342  preferred). Spring Term, 2009-2010.

PHY 440 Special Topics in Physics
Half or full course
Faculty and advanced physics students study a specific topic chosen for its particular experimental, theoretical, philosophical, technical, or scientific interest. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

PHY 492 Independent Study
Half or full course
Enables science majors capable of independent work to pursue specialized or advanced topics by doing independent reading, assigned work, or structured laboratory activities. May be repeated for credit. Permission of the supervising instructor required prior to registration.

PHY 494 Independent Research
Half or full course
Enables science majors capable of substantial independent work to plan and execute a physics research project for credit. Specific literature research and laboratory activities must be carried out. May be repeated for credit. Permission of the supervising instructor required prior to registration.

PHY 495 Honors Independent Research
Half course
This course affords Honors Program students the opportunity to design and implement a significant research project in the field of physics culminating in an appropriate public dissemination of the research methods and findings. This research must build upon previous course work taken within the major or minor, facilitating faculty supervision and guidance. Repeatable for credit. Permission of the faculty supervisor and the Director of the Honors Program required prior to registration. Fall Term, January Term, Spring Term, Summer Term.

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