Course Descriptions
Courses in Astronomy
1100. Observational Astronomy
An introduction to telescopes, the apparent movements of the sun, and constellations. Special facilities include the 14-inch telescope and the Planetarium. The course includes lectures, discussions, demonstrations, and laboratory experiments. Offered at night only. One 75-minute period per week including lectures, discussions, demonstrations and laboratory experiments. On demand
1101. Introduction to Astronomy Laboratory
Prerequisite or corequisite: Astronomy 1301 or 1311. A laboratory course designed to accompany Astronomy 1301. Students will do projects which involve a variety of activities in data acquisition and analysis which tie concepts discussed in the classroom to real-world experiences. Students will do these projects in the open laboratory, the planetarium, and the observatory. F,S,Su
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1301. Introduction to Astronomy
An introductory astronomy course in which students will learn about the process of science by studying the various methods by which we have learned our place in the cosmos. Students will study specific examples of the kinds of observations which can be made and the inferences drawn from them. Examples will emphasize how we have obtained our knowledge of the universe and the certainty of various parts of that knowledge. This course, together with the associated lab, Astronomy 1101, will satisfy four hours of the science core curriculum requirement. F,S,Su
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1311. Cosmos
A survey of the changing concepts of the origins and evolution of the universe and life and of our place in it, from the early Greeks to the present, based on the television series, “Cosmos.” Includes treatments of the historical development of astronomy, of the physical forces that determine the evolution of the planets, stars, and universe, and of the history and future of space exploration. Astronomy1311 plus 1101 fulfill the four credit hours of the core curriculum requirement of a laboratory course in physical science for students enrolled before Fall 1991. Three hours lecture per week. On demand
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2101. Intermediate Astronomy Laboratory
Prerequisite: Astronomy 1101. Corequisite: Astronomy 2301. The 14-inch telescope and accessories to be available for student use when the sky is clear and elementary courses do not have priority. Two to three hours laboratory per week. On demand
2301. Intermediate Astronomy
Topics in astronomy and astrophysics for the student with a mathematical background. Emphasis on photometry, spectroscopy, and properties of stars. Three hours lecture, one hour optional discussion per week. On demand
Courses in Physics
1300. Physics and Society
A general education course with no mathematics prerequisite designed for the nonscience major but open to all students. It considers the relationship of physics and astronomy to various aspects of societal problems. Physics 1300 plus Physics 1100 fulfill the core curriculum requirement of a laboratory course in physical science for students enrolled before Fall 1991. Three hours lecture per week. On demand
1100. Physics and Society Laboratory
Prerequisite or corequisite: Physics 1300. Designed to examine some experimental aspects of topics discussed in Physics 1300. Two hours laboratory per week. On demand
1310. Physical Concepts
Prerequisite: Mathematics 0301 or equivalent. A one-semester course for students in programs of the health related professions. An introduction to the concepts of mechanics, properties of matter, heat, sound, electricity and magnetism, light, and atomic and nuclear physics. Three hours lecture per week. S, on demand
1110. Physical Concepts Laboratory
Corequisite or prerequisite: Physics 1310. Designed to examine some experimental aspects of topics discussed in Physics 1310. Two hours laboratory per week. S, on demand
1311. Introduction to Physics
A one-semester survey of the major topics of physics, designed for the student who plans to take Physics 1321 or Physics 2321 but has not had high school physics or the equivalent. Does not meet the laboratory science requirement. Three hours lecture per week. On demand
1320. Musical Acoustics
An introduction to the acoustical foundations of music and speech. Covers the generation and analysis of tones produced by the various musical instruments and the voice, acoustic characteristics of the speech signal, noise pollution, laboratory demonstrations, and acoustical measurements. Physics 1320 and 1120 fulfill the core curriculum requirement of a laboratory course in physical science for students enrolled before Fall 1991. Three hours lecture per week. S
1120. Musical Acoustics Laboratory
Prerequisite or corequisite: Physics 1320. Laboratory facilities are available for determining the pitch of musical sounds; filtering music; speech; sine, square, and triangular waves; analyzing the spectrum of sounds; determining one’s threshold of hearing; electronic synthesis of sounds; studying noise pollution; and measuring reverberation time. Two hours laboratory per week. S
1321. Elementary Physics I
Prerequisite: Mathematics 0301 or equivalent, high school physics or Physics 1311 or equivalent, or consent of instructor. An introduction to the fundamental principles underlying the foundations of classical and modern physics. Physics 1321 is an algebra-based course designed for majors in the life sciences, preprofessional students, and engineering technology students but is open to any student who meets the prerequisites. Physics 1321 and 1121 meet the core curriculum requirement of a laboratory course in physical science for students enrolled before Fall 1991. Three hours lecture, one hour optional discussion per week. F,S,Su
1121. Elementary Physics I Laboratory
Prerequisite or corequisite: Physics 1321. Two hours laboratory per week. F,S,Su
1322. Elementary Physics II
Prerequisite: Physics 1321. Continuation of Physics 1321. Three hours lecture, one hour optional discussion per week. F,S,Su
1122. Elementary Physics II Laboratory
Prerequisite or corequisite: Physics 1322. Two hours laboratory per week. F,S,Su
1381. Applied Physics I
Prerequisite: Mathematics 0301 or equivalent. An introduction to the fundamental principles underlying the foundation of classical physics and the application of those principles to technical problems. This is a noncalculus course designed for students in technical areas, such as engineering technology or architecture, but open to any student who meets the prerequisites. Physics 1321 will also satisfy engineering technology requirements. Three hours lecture, one hour optional discussion per week. On demand
1181. Applied Physics I Laboratory
Prerequisite or corequisite: Physics 1381. Two hours laboratory per week. On demand
1382. Applied Physics II
Prerequisites: Physics 1381, 1181. A continuation of Physics 1381 with applications in electricity and magnetism, optics, and modern physics. Three hours lecture, one hour optional discussion per week. On demand
1182. Applied Physics II Laboratory
Prerequisite or corequisite: Physics 1382. Two hours laboratory per week. On demand
2321. Physics for Scientists and Engineers I
Prerequisites: Mathematics 1304 or 1451. A calculus-based introduction to the fundamental principles underlying the foundation of classical physics and modern physics and the applications of those principles in science and engineering. Physics 2321 includes topics in mechanics and thermal physics. Physics 2321, 2322, 2121, and 2122 fulfill the requirements for the information science program and the systems engineering program. Physics 2321, 2322, and 3323 along with Physics 2121, 2122, and 3123 form a three-semester lecture/laboratory sequence of courses for students majoring in physics, astronomy, chemistry, computer science, engineering, geology, information science, mathematics, and systems engineering. Three hours of lecture and one hour optional discussion per week. Three credit hours. F,S,Su
2121. Physics for Scientists and Engineers I Laboratory
Prerequisite or corequisite: Physics 2321. Two hours laboratory per week. One credit hour. F,S,Su
2322. Physics for Scientists and Engineers II
Prerequisites: Physics 2321, Mathematics 1305 and 1452. Continuation of Physics 2321 for students majoring in physics, astronomy, chemistry, computer science, engineering, geology, information science, mathematics, and systems engineering. Topics include electricity, magnetism, optics, relativity, and quantum physics. Three hours of lecture, one hour optional discussion per week. Three credit hours. F,S,Su
2122. Physics for Scientists and Engineers II Laboratory
Prerequisite or corequisite: Physics 2322. Two hours laboratory per week. One credit hour. F,S,Su
2391. Cooperative Education Work Experience I
Prerequisite: consent of department chairperson. Corequisite: Physics 1321, 1121 or Physics 2321, 2121. Designed to enhance college education through career exploration in astronomy, engineering physics, or physics. A minimum of nine hours work per week. The exact number of hours will depend on the nature of the work experience and will be specified by a contract. On demand
3323. Physics for Scientists and Engineers III
Prerequisites: Physics 2322 or 1322, Mathematics 2306 or 2453. An in depth treatment of topics in relativity and quantum physics for students majoring in physics, astronomy, chemistry, computer science, engineering, geology, information science, mathematics, and systems engineering who desire a greater understanding of the fundamental principles that form the basis of our modern technology. Three hours of lecture and one hour optional discussion per week. Three credit hours. F
3123. Physics for Scientists and Engineers III Laboratory
Prerequisite or corequisite: Physics 3323. Three hours laboratory per week. One credit hour. F
3260. Laboratory Techniques in Nuclear Physics
Prerequisite: Physics 2322. An introduction to the equipment and laboratory techniques of experimental physics: accelerators, vacuum systems, particle optics and kinematics, detection and analysis of nuclear radiations, and electronic instrumentation. Two hours lecture, one hour optional discussion per week. On demand
3300. Mathematical Methods of Physics
Prerequisite: Mathematics 2306. Review of vector calculus, differential equations of physics, and techniques of solution. Fourier series, statistics, probability, error theory, partial differentiation, and functions of a complex variable. Three hours lecture, one hour optional discussion per week. F
3311. Mechanics I
Prerequisites: Physics 2321, Mathematics 2306. Concepts of Newtonian mechanics, dynamics of particles and systems of particles, gravitation, vector analysis, dynamics of rigid bodies, moving coordinate systems, continuous media, small oscillations, and the methods of Lagrange and Hamilton. Three hours lecture, one hour optional discussion per week. F, odd years
3312. Mechanics II
Prerequisite: Physics 3311. Continuation of Physics 3311. Three hours lecture, one hour optional discussion per week. On demand
3315. Teaching Physics in the Secondary School
Prerequisite: consent of instructor. A study of physics laboratory experiments and demonstrations available for secondary school physics courses. Three hours lecture per week. On demand
3320. Physics of the Earth
Prerequisites: Physics 2322; Chemistry 1401 or 1403. Fundamental problems in solid earth geophysics: precession, wobble, and tidal friction; seismology and the internal structure of the earth; origin of the geomagnetic field; physical properties of mantle materials; and radioactivity and the age of the earth. Three hours lecture, one hour optional discussion per week. On demand
3330. Medical Physics
Prerequisites: Physics 1321, 1322 or 2321, 2322. The applications of the concepts, methods, and principles of physics to the diagnosis and treatment of human disease. Three hours lecture per week. On demand
3130. Medical Physics Laboratory
Prerequisite or corequisite: Physics 3330. Approximately 18 hours of hospital time supplemented by laboratory work in the Physics Department with a 1.3 MV Van de Graaff accelerator and other equipment. Three hours laboratory per week. On demand
3350. Electronics
Prerequisite: Physics 2322, or 1322 and consent of the instructor. An introduction to digital circuit concepts and basic systems. Digital measurements, switching concepts and logic, flip-flops and multivibrators, counters and registers, digital and analog digital systems. Nine hours laboratory per week. S
3380. Astronautics
Prerequisites: Physics 2321, 2121, Astronomy 1301, 1101. The development of astronautics with emphasis on the extension of aviation into aerospace and the impact of the space age on our society and culture. An introduction to the fundamentals of rocket and space vehicle development, propulsion, dynamics, transfer orbits, and space navigation. Three hours lecture per week. On demand
3391. Cooperative Education Work Experience II
Prerequisites: major in physics, junior standing, and consent of department chairperson. Further work experiences to enhance college education through an internship in astronomy, engineering physics, or physics. A minimum of nine hours work per week. The exact number of hours will depend on the nature of the work experience and will be specified by a contract. On demand
4190. Seminar
 Presentation of selected papers by students, faculty members, and invited speakers at weekly departmental meetings. Discussions, analysis, and implications of theoretical and experimental studies in the physical sciences. One hour per week. F,S
4111, 4211. Advanced Laboratory I
Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Advanced experiments to acquaint the student with the problems and techniques of research activities. Equipment such as a 14-inch telescope, a 17-inch heliostat, audio spectrum analyzers, and a 1.3 MV Van de Graaff accelerator are available for student use. The advanced laboratory exposes the student to modern research techniques and provides many traditional laboratory experiences. Three to six hours of laboratory per week. F,S
4112, 4212. Advanced Laboratory II
Prerequisite: Physics 4111 or 4211. Continuation of Physics 4111 or 4211. Three to six hours laboratory per week. F,S
4100, 4200, 4300. Independent Study
Prerequisite: consent of chairperson. Individual research by the advanced student. Topics determined on the basis of faculty interests and availability. One to three hours per week per credit hour. The exact time and nature of the experience will depend on the particular subject of the independent study and will be agreed on at the beginning of the term by the student and the instructor. On demand
4310/5310. Statistical Thermodynamics
Prerequisites: Physics 2322, 3323. A microscopic, unified approach to thermodynamics and statistical mechanics with applications to ideal gases, including blackbody radiation and conduction electrons, magnetic systems, the Debye model, and chemical and phase equilibria. Three hours lecture, one hour optional discussion per week. S, even years or on demand
4321/5321. Electromagnetism I
Prerequisite: Physics 2322. Includes the Coulomb and Gauss laws, the Poisson and Laplace equations and solutions in several coordinate systems, electric and magnetic energy, AC and DC circuits, Ampere’s and Faraday’s laws, the vector potential, Maxwell’s equations, and the propagation of electromagnetic waves. Three hours lecture, one hour optional discussion per week. F, even years
4322. Electromagnetism II
Prerequisite: Physics 4321. Continuation of Physics 4321. Three hours lecture, one hour optional discussion per week. On demand
4331/5331. Modern Physics I
A more detailed treatment of the topics of Physics 3323. Relativity, quantum mechanics, statistical physics, atomic and nuclear physics, and elementary particles. Three hours lecture, one hour optional discussion per week. S, odd years
4332. Modern Physics II
Prerequisite: Physics 4331. Continuation of Physics 4331. Three hours lecture, one hour optional discussion per week. On demand
4340. Solid State Physics
Prerequisite: Physics 3323. Structure of crystals, dispersion relations, specific heat, phonons, electric and magnetic properties of insulators and metals, band theory of metals, insulators and semiconductors, superconductivity. Three hours lecture, one hour optional discussion per week. On demand
4350. Quantum Mechanics
Prerequisite: Physics 3323. Concepts and history of quantum mechanics, experimental basis, the uncertainty principle, the Schrodinger equation with applications to simple systems, the hydrogen atom, perturbation theory, the interpretations of quantum mechanics, symmetry principles. Three hours lecture, one hour optional discussion per week. On demand
4360/5360. High Energy and Nuclear Physics
Prerequisite: Physics 3323. Properties of the nuclei, nuclear structure and stability, quark-gluon structure of hadrons, thermodynamics of large ensembles of hadrons, nuclear reactions, instrumentation and accelerators. Three hours lecture, one hour optional discussion per week. On demand.
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4370. Advanced Theoretical Physics
Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Topics vary with the experience and interests of students. Some possible topics are scattering of waves, plasma physics, atmospheric physics, fluid dynamics, and quantum optics. Three hours lecture, one hour optional discussion per week. On demand
4375. Planetarium Management
Prerequisites: Astronomy 1301, 1101, consent of instructor. Administration, supervision, and management of planetariums in schools, colleges, museums, and other situations, involving such topics as role and scope, personnel, budgets, publicity, planning, and use of planetariums in the contemporary scene. Especially recommended for planetarium directors. Three hours lecture per week. On demand
4376. Planetarium Technology
Prerequisites: Astronomy 1301, 1101, consent of instructor. Production and presentation of programs at all levels using the Planetarium and its auxiliary equipment. Special emphasis on planetarium astronomy, programming, operations, maintenance of equipment, and the technical aspects of the planetarium field. Especially recommended for those planning to enter into a planetarium career. Three hours per week. On demand
4380/5380. Wave Motion and Optics
Prerequisite: Physics 2322. The wave equation and solutions, wave propagation, coherence, interference, diffraction, polarization, refraction and reflection, dispersion, the interactions of light with matter, Huygens’ principle, optical instruments, quantum optics. Three hours lecture, one hour optional discussion per week. On demand
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4289, 4389, 4489. Undergraduate Research
 Prerequisites: consent of department chairperson, junior or senior standing, compliance with approved guidelines (available from chairperson). Trains the student to analyze, plan and conduct experimental work on a research problem. Frequent conferences and a study of research literature with a final report are required. This course may extend over two semesters. The student is expected to spend four to six hours per week for each hour of credit earned. The exact hourly commitment per week will depend on the nature of the project and will be agreed on in advance by the student and the instructor. F,S,Su
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