Physics Course Catalog
The Department of Physics offers a rigorous and well-balanced program of courses leading to a bachelor of science degree in Physics.
The faculty is active in research with current areas of interest focused on astrophysics, computational physics, statistical mechanics,
field theory and mathematical physics. Students majoring in Physics have an excellent opportunity to become involved in ongoing research projects.
101 Principles of Physics
Prerequisites
Computational skills requirement or equivalent.
Frequency
Fall, Spring, occasional summer sessions.
Description
A one-semester introduction to the fundamental principles of Physics, their experimental basis, and applications.
For students who need an introductory course in Physics. Not open to students with credit in PHYS 105 or 201.
3 hours lecture, 1 hour discussion weekly
4 credit
105 College Physics I
Prerequisites
MATH 113, 114 or equivalent.
Frequency
Fall. 0-3 sections. Number of sections determined by permanent staff availability.
Description
Mechanics, heat, and sound. Not recommended for students majoring in physical science or engineering. Not open to students with credit
in PHYS 201.
3 hours lecture, 1 hour discussion, 3 hour lab weekly.
5 credit
106 College Physics II
Prerequisites
PHYS 105.
Frequency
Spring. 0-3 sections. Number of sections determined by permanent staff availability.
Description
Electricity, magnetism, light and modern Physics. Not open to students with credit in PHYS 202.
3 hours lecture, 1 hour discussion, 3 hour lab weekly.
5 credit
110 Introduction to Astronomy
Prerequisites
Computational Skills Req. or equivalent
Frequency
Fall, Spring, occasional summer sessions.
Description
Astronomy for non-scientists. Largely non-mathematical. The solar system, stars
and stellar evolution, galaxies and cosmology.
3 hours lecture weekly.
3 credit.
201 General Physics
Prerequisites
MATH 221. We recommend one year of high school Physics or PHYS 101.
Frequency
Fall day course, 2-3 sections, staffing available).
Description
Calculus-based study of mechanics (kinematics and dynamics), heat and sound. For physical science majors and engineering majors.
3 hours lecture, 1 hour discussion, 3 hour lab weekly.
5 credit.
202 General Physics II
Prerequisites
PHYS 201, MATH 221, 222.
Frequency
Spring (primary offering, day course, two sections).
Description
Calculus-based study of electricity and magnetism, light and optics. For physical science and engineering majors.
3 hours lecture, 1 hour discussion, 3 hour lab weekly.
5 credit.
205 Modern Physics
Prerequisites
PHYS 201, 202
Frequency
Fall of every year.
Description
Special Relativity, elementary quantum theory, the great experiments of the early half of the 20th century. Applications of quantum concepts.
3 hours lecture weekly.
3 credit.
241 Programming Languages
Prerequisites
PHYS 201, 202, MATH 221, 222.
Frequency
Alternating Falls (05, 07, 09, 11).
Description
Programming language fundamentals and syntax for Fortran95, C, Perl, LaTeX, HTML, and CGI scripts. Numerical algorithms for calculus and linear algebra.
3 hours lecture/lab
3 credit.
205 Modern Physics
301 Classical Mechanics
Prerequisites
PHYS 201, MATH 317 or concurrent registration or consent of instructor. PHYS 250 or consent
of instructor.
Frequency
Alternating Fall semesters (04, 06, 08, 10).
Description
Vector analysis, conservation laws, planetary motion, rigid-body dynamics, free and forced oscillations.
Normal coordinates, moving coordinate systems, generalized coordinates, Lagrangians and Hamiltonians, small amplitude oscillations.
4 hours lecture weekly
4 credit.
302 Electricity and Magnetism
Prerequisites
PHYS 202, MATH 317 or concurrent registration or consent of instructor. PHYS 307recommended, or consent of
instructor.
Frequency
Alternating fall semesters (03, 05, 07, 09).
Description
Electrostatics, magnetostatics, boundary value problems. Maxwell's equations with basic applications, introduction to radiation phenomena.
4 hours lecture weekly
4 credit.
Text
The Theory of the Electromagnetic Field by David M. Cook, 34.95.
303 Computational Physics
Prerequisites
PHYS 205, MATH 223, PHYS 241 or consent of instructor.
Frequency
Alternating fall semesters (03, 05, 07, 09).
Description
An introduction to computational Physics with applications to classical mechanics, electromagnetism, and
quantum Physics. Monte-Carlo methods, introduction to molecular dynamics.
3 hours lecture weekly.
3 credit.
306 Advanced Experiments in Physics
Prerequisites
PHYS 205, PHYS 241 or consent of instructor.
Frequency
Alternating spring semesters (04, 06, 08, 10).
Description
Advanced experiments in optics, atomic, molecular, solid state and nuclear Physics.
4 hours lab weekly
3 credit.
Mathematical Methods in Physics
Prerequisites
MATH 221, 222, 223 or consent of instructor.
Frequency
Alternating fall semesters (04, 06, 08, 10).
Description
Introduction to theory of functions, constructive theorems (Weirrstraus factor theorem, Mittag-Leffler theorem), complex variables, methods of integration, integral transformation and differential equations, analysis, special functions with applications.
4 hours lecture weekly.
4 credit.
Text
Special Functions & Their Applications, N. N. Lebedev, 14.95.
Complex Analysis with Applications, Richard A. Silverman, 12.95.
Theory of Functions, Parts I and II, Konrad Knopp, 12.95.
403 Statistical Physics
Prerequisites
PHYS 205. PHYS 307 recommended, or consent of instructor.
Frequency
Alternating spring semesters (03, 05, 07, 09).
Description
Introduction to equilibrium statistical mechanics and its applications. Thermodynamics. Micro-canonical ,canonical, and grand canonical
ensembles. Transport theory. Partition functions. Quantum statistics, density matrix and grand ensemble, Fermions and Bosons, Phase transitions.
4 hours lecture weekly.
4 credit.
Text
Statistical Physics, Gregory H. Wannier, 19.95.
or
Elementary Statistical Physics, Charles Kittel, 14.95.
441 Quantum Physics I
Prerequisites
PHYS 205, MATH 301 or 317 or concurrent registration or consent of instructor. PHYS 307 or consent of
instructor.
Frequency
Alternating spring semesters (04, 06, 08, 10).
Description
The origins of quantum mechanics, free particle in wave mechanics, particles in one-dimensional potentials;
axiomatic foundations of quantum mechanics. The evolution of quantum states with time, particles in three dimensions,
angular momentum theory, central potentials, spin and the exclusion principle.
4 hours lecture weekly
4 credit.
Text
Quantum Mechanics, Albert Messiah, 29.95.
495 Senior Seminar
Prerequisites
Junior or senior standing
Frequency
Fall, Spring.
Description
A directed study of one of the current topics in Physics.
1 credit.
499 Independent Study
Prerequisites
Consent of instructor.
Frequency
Occasionally.
Description
By special arrangement with instructor.
1-3 credit.
Other text/reference recommendations
Calculus and physics
Modern Calculus and Analytic Geometry, Richard A. Silverman, 39.95.
Classical mechanics (301)
Theoretical Mechanics of Particles and Continua, Alexander L. Fetter, John Dirk Walecka, 34.95
General reference
Pauli Lectures: 6-Volume Set, Wolfgang Pauli, 51.00