110 “Beam Me Up, Einstein”: Physics
Through Star Trek
Can you really learn physics
watching Star Trek? This course says “yes.”
Students consider such Star Trek staples as warp
drive, cloaking devices, holodecks, and time
travel, and learn what the principles of physics
tell us about these possibilities—and what these
possibilities would mean for the principles of
physics. Anyone who has ever enjoyed a science
fiction book or movie will find that using Star
Trek offers an excellent context for learning
about a variety of topics in physics, including
black holes, antimatter, lasers, and other exotic
phenomena. (Offered annually)
Typical readings: L. Krauss, The Physics of Star
Trek; R. March, Physics for Poets
112 Introduction to Astronomy
This course
offers a survey of the celestial universe, including
planets, stars, galaxies, and assorted other
celestial objects which are not yet well
understood. The Big Bang cosmological model is
thoroughly explored, as are the various
observational techniques employed to collect
astronomical data. (Offered annually)
140 Principles of Physics
This is a one-semester
survey course in physics with laboratory, which
makes use of algebra and trigonometry, but not
calculus. It is designed particularly for architectural
studies students, for whom it is a required
course. It also provides a serious, problem-solving
introduction to physics for students not wishing
to learn calculus. The following topics are
included: mechanics (particularly statics, stress,
and strain), sound, and heat. This course satisfies
the physics prerequisite for PHYS 160. (Offered
annually)
Typical reading: Hecht, Physics
150 Introductory Physics I
This is a calculusbased
first course in mechanics and waves with
laboratory. Prerequisite: MATH 130 Calculus I
(may be taken concurrently). (Offered annually)
Typical reading: Young and Freedman, University Physics
160 Introductory Physics II
This course offers a
calculus-based first course in electromagnetism
and optics with laboratory. Prerequisites: PHYS 150 and MATH 131 Calculus II (may be taken
concurrently). (Offered annually)
Typical reading: Young and Freedman, University Physics
240 Electronics
This course offers a brief
introduction to AC circuit theory, followed by
consideration of diode and transistor characteristics,
simple amplifier and oscillator circuits,
operational amplifiers, and IC digital electronics.
With laboratory. Prerequisite: PHYS 160.
(Offered alternate years)
262 Applied Photonics
This course surveys new
optical technologies widely used to control light,
with an emphasis on generation, detection, and
imaging. These include new techniques in
microscopy relevant to biological applications
and nanotechnology, applications of lasers in
micromanipulation, optical trapping, quantumdots,
and fluorescence imaging of cells and single
molecules. Prerequisites: PHYS 160 and MATH
131 Calculus II or permission of the instructor.
(Offered alternate years)
Typical reading: Saleh and Teich, Fundamentals
of Photonics; Greulich, Micromanipulation by
light in Biology and Medicine
270 Modern Physics
This course provides a
comprehensive introduction to 20th-century
physics. Topics are drawn from the following:
special relativity; early quantum views of matter
and light; the Schrödinger wave equation and its
applications; atomic physics; masers and lasers;
radioactivity and nuclear physics; the band
theory of solids; and elementary particles.
Prerequisites: PHYS 160 and MATH 131
Calculus II. (Offered annually)
Typical reading: Serway, Moses, and Moyer, Modern Physics
285 Math Methods
This course covers a number
of mathematical topics that are widely used by
students of science and engineering. It is intended
particularly to prepare physics majors for the
mathematical demands of 300-level physics
courses. Math and chemistry majors also find this
course quite helpful. Techniques that are useful in
physical science problems are stressed. Topics are
generally drawn from: power series, complex
variables, matrices and eigenvalues, multiple
integrals, Fourier series, Laplace transforms,
differential equations and boundary value
problems, and vector calculus. Prerequisite:
MATH 131 Calculus II. (Offered annually)
Typical reading: Boas, Mathematical Methods in
the Physical Sciences
287 Computational Methods in Physics
This
course covers the theory and methodology of the
most common computational methods used in
modern physics. Topics typically include the statistics of data analysis, techniques of linear
and nonlinear fitting, discrete Fourier analysis,
eigenvalues and linear systems, signal processing,
numerical solutions of differential equations,
numerical integration, and symbolic computing.
Additional topics may include complex analysis,
finite element modeling, and control theory.
Students learn to solve problems with software
such as MatLab and Maple. Prerequisite: PHYS
285. (Offered annually)
Typical reading: Bevington, Data Reduction and
Error Analysis for the Physical Sciences
351 Mechanics
Particle dynamics and energy,
potential functions, oscillations, central forces,
dynamics of systems and conservation laws, rigid
bodies, rotating coordinate systems, Lagrangian
and Hamiltonian methods are explored in this
course. Prerequisites: PHYS 160 and MATH 131
Calculus II. (Offered alternate years)
Typical reading: Barger and Olsson, Classical
Mechanics
352 Quantum Mechanics
This course develops
quantum mechanics, primarily in the
Schrödinger picture. Topics include the solutions
of the Schrödinger equation for simple
potentials, measurement theory and operator
methods, angular momentum, quantum statistics,
perturbation theory and other approximate
methods. Applications to such systems as atoms,
molecules, nuclei, and solids are considered.
Prerequisite: PHYS 270. (Offered alternate years)
Typical reading: Griffiths, Introduction to
Quantum Mechanics
361 Electricity and Magnetism
In this course
students examine the vector calculus treatment
of electric and magnetic fields in both free space
and in dielectric and magnetic materials. Scalar
and vector potentials, Laplace’s equation, and
Maxwell’s equations are treated. Prerequisites:
PHYS 160 and MATH 131 Calculus II. (Offered
alternate years)
Typical reading: Griffiths, Introduction to
Electrodynamics
362 Optics
A survey of optics that includes
geometrical optics, the usual topics of physical
optics such as interference and diffraction, and
lasers. Prerequisites: PHYS 160 and MATH 131
Calculus II. (Offered alternate years)
Typical reading: Hecht, Optics
375 Thermal Physics
This course reviews the
laws of thermodynamics, their basis in statistical
mechanics, and their application to systems of
physical interest. Typical applications include
magnetism, ideal gases, blackbody radiation,
Bose-Einstein condensation, chemical and
nuclear reactions, neutron stars, blackholes, and) phase transitions. Prerequisites: PHYS 160 and
MATH 131 Calculus II. (Offered alternate years)
Typical reading: Kittel and Kroemer, Thermal Physics
380 Contemporary Inquiries in Physics
This course examines current major lines of development in the understanding
of physics. Typical examples include neutrino astronomy, superconductivity,
superstrings and other attempts at unification, phase transitions, the
early universe, and chaotic dynamics. Prerequisites: PHYS 270 and two
300-level physics courses or permission of the instructor. (Offered occasionally)
380 Contemporary Inquiries in Physics
This
course examines current major lines of development
in the understanding of physics. Typical
examples include neutrino astronomy, superconductivity,
superstrings and other attempts at
unification, phase transitions, the early universe,
and chaotic dynamics. Prerequisites: PHYS 270
and two 300 level physics courses or permission
of the instructor. (Offered occasionally)
381 382 Topics in Laboratory Physics I & II
This
laboratory course offers a series of experiments
for students in 200 or 300 level physics courses.
Whenever possible the experiments assigned are
related to the field of physics being studied in the
corresponding 200 or 300 level courses. PHYS
381 and PHYS 382 together may be substituted
for PHYS 383. (0.5 credit each; offered occasionally)
383 Advanced Physics Laboratory
This
laboratory course meets once a week and offers a
series of experiments for students in 200 or 300
level physics courses. Whenever possible the
experiments assigned are related to the field of
physics being studied in the corresponding 200
or 300 level courses. PHYS 383 is required of all
physics majors. (Offered annually)
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