Undergraduate Courses

1404 Light, Vision and Optics
A conceptual course on the physics of light, optics, photography, vision, color, and other visual phenomena.

1405 General Physics for B.A. Students TCCNS: PHYS 1410
Concepts and historical development of physics; selected topics. (Not applicable to major in physics.) (3-2)

1407 Acoustics for Students of Music, Psychology, and Speech
Physics of sound and sound production including the nature of sources of sounds. Introduction to the primary instrumentation used in recording, reproduction, and analysis of the physical properties of sound, and a study of the principal physical properties of architectural acoustics. (3-3)

1408 General Physics for Natural and Behavioral Sciences I TCCNS: PHYS 1401
Prerequisite(s): MTH 1304 or equivalent.
The fundamentals of mechanics, heat, and sound with emphasis on physical concepts, problem solving, notation, and units. (PHY 1408 and 1409 satisfy premedical, predental, and liberal arts requirements, but are not applicable to majors in physics or chemistry.)

1409 General Physics for Natural and Behavioral Sciences II TCCNS: PHYS 1402
Prerequisite(s): PHY 1408 or 1420.
The fundamentals of electricity, magnetism, light, and modern physics with emphasis on physical concepts, problem solving, notation, and units. (PHY 1408 and 1409 satisfy premedical, predental, and liberal arts requirements, but are not applicable to majors in physics or chemistry.)

1420 General Physics I TCCNS: PHYS 2425
Prerequisite(s): MTH 1321 or concurrent enrollment.
Principles and applications of mechanics, wave motion, sound, and heat with emphasis on fundamental concepts, problem solving, notation, and units. (3-3)

1430 General Physics II TCCNS: PHYS 2426
Prerequisite(s): PHY 1408 or 1420; MTH 1322 or concurrent enrollment.
Principles and applications of electricity, magnetism, light, and modern physics with emphasis on fundamental concepts, problem solving, notation, and units. (3-3)

1455 Descriptive Astronomy
A survey of the fundamentals of astronomy along with a summary of the historical development of the science as related to the development of man, demonstrated through presentation of the leading facts concerning the solar system, including the planets, asteroids, meteoroids, and comets. (3-3)

1V95 Special Research Problems in Physics 1 to 3 sem. hrs.
Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor.
A minimum of three hours of work per week will be required for each semester hour of credit. May be repeated once for credit.

2135 Basic Electronics Laboratory
Prerequisite(s): PHY 1430.
Principles and applications of electrical circuits and electronics for physical science majors. (0-3)

2350 Modern Physics
Prerequisite(s): PHY 1430 and MTH 3325 or concurrent enrollment.
Special relativity, introduction to quantum mechanics, atomic and molecular structure, nuclear physics. (3-0)

2360 Mathematical and Computational Physics
Prerequisite(s): PHY 1430 and MTH 3325 or concurrent enrollment.
Topics normally include matrices and vector calculus, coordinate transformations, numerical solutions using Matlab and Mathematica, chaos and fractals, special functions defined by solutions to differential equations. (3-0)

2455 Foundations of Astronomy
Prerequisite(s): PHY 1420 and MTH 1321.
The physical and mathematical foundations of modern astronomy with an emphasis on techniques, history, and the development of our current picture of the universe. Topics range from galaxies to stars, planets, planetoids, and comets.

3175 Intermediate Physics Laboratory I
Prerequisite(s): PHY 2350 and 2360.
Study of experimental planning, data analysis, and elementary error analysis. Experiments include the Millikan oil-drop experiment, the determination of the Faraday constant, bubble chamber photographic measurements, the study of GM counters, and radioactive half-life determination. (0-3)

3176 Intermediate Physics Laboratory II
Prerequisite(s): PHY 3175.
Continuation of PHY 3175 with emphasis on nuclear counting and measurements. (0-3)

3305 History of Invention and Technology
History of invention and technology including biographical study of scientists. Does not apply toward a major or minor in physics.

3320 Intermediate Classical Mechanics
Prerequisite(s): PHY 2360 and MTH 3325, or consent of instructor.
Topics normally include vectors, linear transformations, Newtonian mechanics for a single particle, linear and nonlinear oscillations, Euler's equation, Lagrangian and Hamiltonian dynamics, central forces, and orbital motion. (3-0)

3330 Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism
Prerequisite(s): PHY 2360 and MTH 3326 or concurrent enrollment; or consent of instructor.
Topics normally include electrostatics, Laplace's equation, method of images, multipole expansion, magnetostatics, and Maxwell's electromagnetic field equations. (3-0)

3350 Topics in Astronomy
Prerequisite(s): PHY 2455 and MTH 1322 or concurrent enrollment.
Topical study of currently active research areas in astronomy and astrophysics, with a detailed review of the process of obtaining and analyzing data. This course provides an opportunity to engage in a thorough study of a current topic in contemporary astronomy research.

3372 Introductory Quantum Mechanics I
Prerequisite(s): PHY 2370, MTH 2311 and 3326 or concurrent enrollment.
Postulates of quantum mechanics, operators in Hilbert space, superposition principle and compatible observables, time development, conservation theorems, one- and three-dimensional bound and unbound state problems, identical particles, time-independent perturbation theory, variational principle. (3-0)

3373 Introductory Quantum Mechanics II
Prerequisite(s): PHY 3372.
WKB approximation, time-dependent perturbation theory, adiabatic approximation, scattering, Klein-Gordon equation, Dirac equation, supersymmetric quantum mechanics. (3-0)

3455 Observational Astronomy
Prerequisite(s): PHY 2455.
Fundamentals of practical sky observing including visual, photographic, and photometric techniques using local telescopes and CCD cameras. Introduction to the methods for finding and identifying celestial objects, making observations, and operating an observatory, telescopes, and related equipment.

4150 Instructional Observing
Prerequisite(s): PHY 3455.
A 1-hour course for senior-level students who have taken PHY 3455 Observational Astronomy. The course gives students the experience of teaching astronomy techniques and assisting on observing nights for the PHY 3455 class in an instructional capacity. Students will satisfy the requirements of the course by assisting during other organized observational activities such as campus outreach events.

4195 Senior Physics Research I
Prerequisite(s): Senior standing.
Preparation and delivery of a proposal under the direction of a faculty member, and research into one of the areas of that member's specialization. The areas of current research include: experimental atomic, molecular, nuclear, quantum-optical, solid state, space, and environmental physics; or theoretical atomic, molecular, nuclear, quantum-optical, solid state, space, and elementary particle physics. (0-2)

4196 Senior Physics Research II
Prerequisite(s): Senior standing and PHY 4195.
Continuation of PHY 4195 including presentation of research results. (0-2)

4322 Advanced Topics in Classical Physics
Prerequisite(s): PHY 3320 and 3330.
Continuation of PHY 3320 and 3330. Topics normally include: dynamics of systems of particles: rigid-body motion; coupled oscillations; the wave equation in one dimension; gauge transformations; electromagnetic waves in conductors and nonconductors; dispersion; multiple radiation; Linard-Wiechert potentials; relativistic electrodynamics. (3-0)

4340 Statistical and Thermal Physics
Prerequisite(s): PHY 3372 and MTH 3326.
Topics normally include: basic probability concepts; macroscopic thermodynamics; statistical thermodynamics; kinetic theory; quantum statistics.(3-0)

4350 Introduction to Stellar Structure and Evolutions
Prerequisite(s): PHY 2455; and MTH 3326 or concurrent enrollment.
A quantitative study of the physics of stars and stellar systems. Topics include the observed properties of stars and the physics underlying those properties, radiation and stellar spectra, the interior structure of stars, the life cycles of stars, white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes.

4351 Introduction to Modern Cosmology
Prerequisite(s): PHY 4350 and MTH 3326.
An introduction to modern cosmology including observational cosmology, Newtonian gravity, relativistic cosmological models, thermal history of the universe, dark matter and dark energy, inflationary models, the origin of the light elements, structures in the universe, and the cosmic microwave background radiation. The principles of Einstein's general theory of relativity and observations in experiments will also be covered.

4360 Computer Models in Physics
Prerequisite(s): PHY 3320, 3372, and CSI 3324.
Application of contemporary computer methods to the solution of physics and engineering problems. Theory and applications of finite difference equations. Deterministic, discrete, and continuous models. Computer graphics. Waves in classical and quantum physics. Monte Carlo calculations, electric circuits, partial differential equations in physics and engineering. (3-0)

4372 Introductory Solid State Physics
Prerequisite(s): PHY 3373.
Topics normally include: crystal structure; reciprocal space; elastic and thermal properties; electronic structure; the Fermi surface; elementary semiconductor physics; dielectric and magnetic properties of solids. (3-0)

4373 Introductory Nuclear and Particle Physics
Prerequisite(s): PHY 3373.
Topics normally include: nuclear structure and models; angular momentum and isospin; conservation laws and discrete symmetries; electromagnetic and weak interactions; quark model; nuclear and particle astrophysics. (3-0)

4374 Introduction to Relativistic Quantum Mechanics
Prerequisite(s): PHY 3372, 3373.
Dirac's equation, its covariance properties, its solutions; Foldy-Wouthuysen transformation and exact results; propagator theory; applications in various areas of physics.

5155 Advanced In-Situ Instrumentation Techniques
(Cross-listed as ENV 5155)
Prerequisite(s): PHY 4155, 4350, and concurrent enrollment in 4351.
Computer modeling and instrument design and development of detectors for the in-situ measurement of physical and dynamic characteristics of dust in interplanetary space and planetary ring systems. (0-3)