Physics
Courses
PHY 1001: College Physics I (4 cr.)
This course is the first half of the two-semester, non-calculus based general physics sequence, intended for students in life science, pre-health programs, and students interested in understanding the physical world and developing analytic reasoning and quantitative analysis skills. Topics include: kinematics, dynamics, Newton’s Laws, circular motion, work and energy, linear momentum, rotational kinematics and dynamics, simple harmonic, fluids, temperature, heat and heat transfer, ideal gases, thermodynamics, waves and sound, interference. There is an accompanying laboratory. Prerequisite: High school Algebra and Basic Trigonometry. (Fall)
PHY 1002: College Physics II (4 cr.)
This course is the second half of the two-semester, non-calculus based general physics sequence. Topics include: electric force and electric field, electric potential energy and electric potential, direct-current circuits, magnetic force and magnetic field, magnetic induction, electromagnetism, alternating- current circuits, electromagnetic waves and light, geometrical optics, wave optics, and introduction to special relativity, quantum physics (particle-wave duality), atomic and nuclear physics. There is an accompanying laboratory. Prerequisite: College Physics I. (Spring)
PHY 1003: University Physics I (4 cr.)
This course is the first half of the two-semester, calculus based general physics sequence, which is a required introductory course for physics majors and minors. It is also intended for students interested in natural sciences and engineering, to build up their understanding of physical science and develop their analytic reasoning and quantitative analysis skills. Topics include: kinematics in one, two and three dimensions, Newton’s Laws and their applications, work and energy, system of particles and conservation of linear momentum, rotational kinematics and dynamics, angular momentum, gravity, elasticity, fluids, oscillations, wave motion, superposition, wave-particle duality and quantum physics, heat and temperature, kinetic theory, thermodynamics, thermal properties and processes. There is an accompanying laboratory. Pre/corequisite: Calculus I or the equivalent. (Fall)
PHY 1004: University Physics II (4 cr.)
This course is the second half of the two-semester, calculus based general physics sequence, which is a required introductory course for physics majors and minors. Topics include: electrostatics, electric current and direct-current circuits, electrical conduction, magnetic field, magnetic induction, alternating-current circuits, Maxwell’s Equations and electromagnetic waves, geometrical optics, wave optics, and an introduction to modern physics that includes quantum mechanics, relativity, and structure of matter. There is an accompanying laboratory. Prerequisite: University Physics I and Calculus I or the equivalent. Pre/corequisite: Calculus II or the equivalent. (Spring)
PHY 1008: Introduction to Physics and Astronomy I (3 cr.)
This is the first half of the two-semester introductory physics and astronomy sequence intended for liberal arts students. It provides a conceptual survey of general and modern physics and astronomy, illustrating the modes of thought and the breadth of perspectives provided by the scientific way of thinking. It also exposes the students to logical reasoning and analytical deduction. Topics include: mechanics: linear and nonlinear motion, Newton’s laws of motion, momentum and energy, rotation, gravity; properties of matter; heat and thermodynamics; Apparent motions of celestial objects; gravitation and planetary orbits; earth and the solar system. This course satisfies the College science requirement but does not fulfill the physics requirement for admission to medical school. Prerequisite: High School Algebra. (Fall)
PHY 1009: Introduction to Physics and Astronomy II (3 cr.)
This is the second half of the two-semester introductory physics and astronomy sequence intended for liberal arts students. Topics include: sound; electricity and magnetism; light; atomic and nuclear physics; relativity; stars and stellar evolution; environment and grouping of stars; galaxies and beyond; basic cosmology. This course satisfies the College science requirement but does not fulfill the physics requirement for admission to medical school. Prerequisite: Introduction to Physics and Astronomy I. (Spring)
PHY 2010: Mechanics (4 cr.)
This course presents a rigorous treatment of classical mechanics at a level beyond the general physics survey. Topics include: Newtonian mechanics, oscillations and resonance, conservative forces and potential energy, central forces, non-inertial frames of references, rigid body motion; an introduction to Lagrange’s formulation of mechanics, coupled oscillators, normal modes, special relativity, and relativistic kinematics. Prerequisites: University Physics I & II or the equivalent, and Calculus I & II or the equivalent.
PHY 2021: Electromagnetism (4 cr.)
This course presents a rigorous treatment of classical electromagnetism at the level beyond the general physics survey. Topics include: Electrostatics and magnetostatics, Laplace’s equation and boundary-value problems, electro-magnetic waves, multipole expansions, dielectric and magnetic materials, Faraday’s Law, AC circuits, Maxwell’s equations, Lorentz covariance, special relativity. Prerequisites: University Physics I & II, and Calculus I & II or the equivalent.
PHY 2030: Quantum Physics (4 cr.)
This introduction to quantum physics includes the following topics: the basic principles of the quantum theory, the time-independent and time-dependent Schrodinger equations, eigenvalue equations, the theory of measurement, uncertainty principle, energy levels in potential wells, reflection and transmission by potential barriers, the harmonic oscillator, the hydrogen atom, and other applications to atomic, molecular, and nuclear physics. Prerequisites: University Physics I & II, and Calculus I & II or the equivalent.
PHY 2040: Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics (4 cr.)
This course covers the formal treatment of thermodynamics and statistical physics beyond the introductory level in the general physics survey. Topics include: Thermodynamics, kinetic theory, methods of statistical mechanics, energy and entropy, Boltzmann, Fermi, and Bose distributions, ideal and real gases, blackbody radiation, chemical equilibrium, phase transition, ferromagnetism. Prerequisite: Quantum Physics.
PHY 3010: Advanced Mechanics (4 cr.)
This course offers an advanced formal treatment of classical mechanics following PHY 2010 Mechanics. Topics include: Calculus of variations, Hamilton’s Principle, Lagrangian formulation of mechanics, Hamilton’s formulation of mechanics, rigid body, coupled oscillations and normal modes, canonical transformations, Hamilton-Jacobi theory. Prerequisites: Calculus III, Differential Equations or the equivalent, and Mechanics or the equivalent.
PHY 3020: Quantum Mechanics (4 cr.)
This course provides a formal treatment of non-relativistic quantum mechanics following PHY 2030 Quantum Physics. Topics include: the formulation of quantum mechanics in terms of state vectors and linear operators, three-dimensional spherically symmetric potentials, the theory of angular momentum and spin, time-independent and time dependent perturbation theory, scattering theory and identical particles. Prerequisites: Calculus III, Differential Equations or the equivalent, Mechanics or the equivalent, and Quantum Physics.
PHY 3030 Electrodynamics (4 cr.)
This course offers a rigorous treatment of classical electrodynamics following PHY 2021 Electromagnetism. Topics include: Electrostatics; magnetostatics, quasi-stationary phenomena, and Maxwell’s equation; Special mathematical methods for problems in electrostatics; Electromagnetic waves and boundary value problems; Potentials and gauge transformations; Radiation from charge and current distributions, including multipole expansion of the field, and the field of moving charges. Prerequisites: Calculus III, Differential Equations or the equivalent, Mechanics or the equivalent, and Electromagnetism.
PHY 3040: Mathematical Methods of Physics (4 cr.)
This course covers the necessary mathematics for treatment of advanced physics topics. Topics include: complex analysis, partial differential equations, integral equations, Green’s functions, special functions, boundary problems, Fourier and other transforms, group theory and representations. Emphasis is placed on applications to physical problems. Prerequisites: Calculus III or the equivalent, and Differential equations or the equivalent.
PHY 3050: Solid-State Physics (4 cr.)
This course is a rigorous introduction to solid-state physics. Topics include: crystal structures, properties of periodic lattice, electrons in metals, band structure, transport properties, semi-conductors, magnetism, and superconductivity. Prerequisites: Electromagnetism, Quantum Physics, & Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics, or equivalents.
PHY 3060 Statistical Mechanics (4 cr.)
This course provides a rigorous treatment of both classical and quantum statistical mechanics following PHY 2040 Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics. Topics include: Fundamentals of statistical mechanics; theory of ensembles; quantum statistics; imperfect gases; cooperative phenomena. Prerequisites: Electromagnetism, Quantum Physics, & Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics, or equivalents.
PHY 3080: Summer Research Internship (3 cr.)
This course, recommended to be taken during the junior-senior summer, provides opportunities for students to engage in actual research at neighboring research institutes/ facilities to supplement the academic-year theoretical course and to fulfill the experimental training needed for physics majors. Prerequisites: Mechanics, Electromagnetism, Quantum Physics, & Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics, or by approval by the Department.
PHY 3090: Supervised Readings & Research Seminar (3 cr.)
This course is for physics majors. It includes readings in a selected field of physics under the supervision of a faculty member with written reports and periodic conferences with the instructor. Presentations and discussions of the motivation and techniques as well as difficulties and unsolved problems are the main focus of the individualized instruction. Prerequisite: Written permission of the faculty member who agrees to act as supervisor and the permission of the department.