A survey of descriptive and physical astronomy, which are given roughly equal emphasis. Descriptive astronomy involves time reckoning, calendars, and the motions of the sun, moon, and planets. Physical astronomy deals with the composition and origin of the planets and solar system, as well as the evolution of stars and galaxies. A weekly laboratory is required.
This course is designed for any interested student regardless of major, although some majors require the calculus-based PHYS 121 course instead. Fundamental principles of mechanics, gravity, and oscillations are covered. Although it is assumed that the student brings only a background of high school algebra and geometry, additional mathematical concepts are developed within the course. A weekly laboratory is required.
This course is designed for any interested student regardless of major, although some majors require the calculus-based PHYS 122 course instead. Fundamental principles of thermodynamics, sound, optics, electricity, magnetism, and nuclear physics are covered. Although it is assumed that the student brings only a background of high school algebra and geometry, additional mathematical concepts are developed within the course. A weekly laboratory is required.
This course is the first in a sequence of calculus-based introductory physics classes and is required for the physics major and some other science majors. Fundamental principles of mechanics, gravity, and oscillations are covered. A weekly laboratory is required.
This course is the second in a sequence of calculus-based introductory physics classes and is required for the physics major and some other science majors. Fundamental principles of thermodynamics, electricity, and magnetism are covered. A weekly laboratory is required.
This course is intended primarily for students having some background in music. The scientific aspects of musical sound are treated including the basic physics of vibrating systems, wave phenomena, and acoustics and their applications to musical instruments and musical perception. A weekly laboratory is required.
Astrophysics is the application of the laws and principles of physics to answer questions about the cosmos. This course develops the physics necessary to understand the origins, properties, and evolution of planets, stars and galaxies as well as investigating the application of physics to questions of cosmological significance. The semester is divided between studying the theoretical tools astrophysicists have developed and using those tools with several small hands-on archival data analysis tutorials. Each student will end the semester by completing an individual observational or theoretical research project.
The physics of waves is studied with emphasis on the nature of light, including propagation, interference, diffraction, and polarization. The constant speed of light leads to a careful study of the theory of special relativity. A weekly laboratory is required.
A continuation of PHYS 221, this course is an introduction to quantum mechanics with applications to atomic and solid state systems. A weekly laboratory is required.
This course is intended to teach the fundamental behavior of electronic components and their applications in various circuits. A balance of lecture and laboratory experience demonstrates the practical method of investigation of electronic devices. Original design of electronic circuits is emphasized. Topics include AC and DC circuit analysis, amplifiers, active and passive filters, operational amplifiers, and digital electronics.
This introduction to mechanics begins with the formulation of Newton, based on the concept of forces and ends with the formulations of Lagrange and Hamilton, based on energy. The undamped, damped, forced, and coupled oscillators are studied in detail.
Newtonian mechanics and methods of probability are combined and used to gain new insights regarding the behavior of systems containing large numbers of particles. The concept of entropy is given new meaning and beauty. Certain properties of metals and gases are derived from first principles. The analysis of spectra leads to the initial development of the quantum theory and the statistics obeyed by fundamental particles. This course assumes a knowledge of calculus.
An introduction to experimental physics, involving independent work on several physical systems.
Theory of electrostatic and magnetostatic fields is discussed, with emphasis on the theory of potential, harmonic functions, and boundary value problems.
This is a continuation of PHYS 351, emphasizing radiation, the propagation of electromagnetic waves, and the theory of special relativity.
This course explores the principles of physics applied to living systems. Topics include diffusion, hydrodynamics and the low Reynolds-number world, importance of entropy and free energy, entropic forces, molecular machines, membranes, and nerve impulses. Written and oral scientific communication is emphasized. This course is appropriate for junior or senior undergraduates in the sciences, particularly physics and biology. No specialized knowledge of biology or physics is expected, but a facility with algebraic manipulations and a working knowledge of calculus is needed.
This course provides a theoretical or experimental physics research experience for juniors or seniors under the direction of a faculty mentor in the Department of Physics. The research will result in a written summary of the research results.
This course is an introduction to the quantum theory of matter. The emphasis is on exactly soluble systems including the infinite square well, harmonic oscillator, and hydrogen atom. The theory of angular momentum is also discussed.
This is a continuation of Physics 411. The emphasis is on achieving perturbative solutions to real physical systems. Topics may include time-independent and dependent perturbation theory, the WKB method, a discussion of the interaction between light and matter, and scattering.
Research may be undertaken under the supervision of a faculty member on a topic agreed upon and described in a proposal to the supervising instructor.
Research may be undertaken under the supervision of a faculty member on a topic agreed upon and described in a proposal to the supervising instructor.
Advanced topics in mechanics, optics, quantum mechanics, or other fields are studied. This course is offered in response to student interest in particular advanced topics.
Independent study is available to those students who wish to continue their learning in an area after completing the regularly offered courses in that area.
Independent study is available to those students who wish to continue their learning in an area after completing the regularly offered courses in that area.
This scheduled weekly interdisciplinary seminar provides the context to reflect on concrete experiences at an off-campus internship site and to link these experiences to academic study relating to the political, psychological, social, economic and intellectual forces that shape our views on work and its meaning. The aim is to integrate study in the liberal arts with issues and themes surrounding the pursuit of a creative, productive, and satisfying professional life. Students receive 1.0 unit of academic credit for the academic work that augments their concurrent internship fieldwork. This course is not applicable to the Upper-Division Graduation Requirement. Only 1.0 unit may be assigned to an individual internship and no more than 2.0 units of internship credit, or internship credit in combination with co-operative education credit, may be applied to an und