2001 - 2002
Undergraduate Catalog

Physics

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF 2000-2001

Stanton, C., Chair; Hershfield, S.; Van Rinsvelt, H.A., Associate Chairs; Acosta, D.; Adams, E.D.; Avery, P.; Buchler, J.R.; Cheng, H.-P.; Coldwell, R.L.; Deserio, R.; Detweiler, S.; Dorsey, A.T.; Dufty, J.W.; Dunnam, F.E.; Field, R.D.; Fry, J.N.; Hagen, S.; Hebard, A.F.; Hirschfeld, P.J.; Hooper, C.F. Jr.; Ihas, G.G.; Ingersent, J.K.; Ipser, J.R.; Klauder, J.R.; Konigsberg, J.; Korytov, A.; Kumar, P.; Maslov, D.; Meisel, M.; Mitselmakher, G.; Monkhorst, H.; Muttalib, K.; Obukhov, S.; Peterson, L.; Qiu, Z.; Ramond, P.; Reitze, D.; Rinzler, A.; Sabin, J.; Schrieffer, J.R.; Seiberling, L.E.; Sharifi, F.; Sikivie, P.; Stewart, G.; Takano, Y.; Tanner, D.B.; Thorn, C.B.; Trickey, S.B.; Whiting, B.; Woodard, R.P.; Xia, J.S.; Yelton, J.

Emeritus: Andrew, E. R.; Bailey, T.L.; Broyles, A.A.; Flowers, J.W.; Garrett, R.E.; Hanson, H.P.; Thomas, B.S.; Tobey, F.

Undergraduate Coordinator: F.E. Dunnam

Graduate Coordinator: M. Meisel

PHY 1033C Discovering Physics. F, S.
Credits: 3.
A description of the fundamental concepts of physics which shape a scientist’s view of the laws of Nature. A laboratory experience is included, which emphasizes the importance of measurement for the testing of scientific hypotheses. (P)

PHY 2004 Applied Physics 1. F, S.
Credits: 3; Prereq: Algebra and simple trigonometry.
Emphasizes the practical applications of basic physics to a wide range of professions including architecture, agricultural sciences, building construction, and forest resources. Mechanics of motion, forces, energy, momentum, wave motion, and heat. (P)

PHY 2004L Laboratory for PHY 2004. F, S.
Credits: 1; Coreq: PHY 2004. (P)

PHY 2005 Applied Physics 2. S, SS.
Credits: 3; Prereq: PHY 2004.
Continuation of the sequence. Electric and magnetic fields. Geometrical, wave and applied optics. Modern and nuclear physics. (P)

PHY 2005L Laboratory for PHY 2005. S, SS.
Credits: 1; Coreq: PHY 2005. (P)

PHY 2020 Introduction to Principles of Physics. F, S.
Credits: 3; Prereq: High school algebra and trigonometry or equivalent.
The course introduces fundamental principles of physics in mechanics, electricity, and modern physics as applied to conservation laws: energy, momentum, etc. An in-depth analysis of several selected topics with lecture demonstration, films and other teaching aids. (P)

PHY 2048 Physics with Calculus 1.
Credits: 3; Prereq: High-school physics or PHY 2020 or equivalent, and MAC 2311; Coreq: MAC 2312.
The first of a two-semester sequence of physics for scientists and engineers. The course covers Newtonian mechanics and includes motion, vectors, Newton’s laws, work and conservation of energy, systems of particles, collisions, equilibrium, oscillations and waves. One hour per week is devoted to problem solving and discussion. (P)

PHY 2048L Laboratory for PHY 2048.
Credits: 1; Coreq: PHY 2048 or equivalent.
Laboratory experiments for students in PHY 2048. (P)

PHY 2049 Physics with Calculus 2.
Credits: 3; Prereq: PHY 2048 and MAC 2312; Coreq: MAC 2313.
The second of a two-semester sequence of physics for scientists and engineers. Content includes Coulomb’s law, electric fields and potentials, capacitance, currents and circuits, Ampere’s law, Faraday’s law, inductance, Maxwell’s equations, electromagnetic waves, ray optics, interference and diffraction. One hour per week is devoted to problem solving and discussion. (P)

PHY 2049L Laboratory for PHY 2049.
Credits: 1; Coreq: PHY 2049 or equivalent.
Laboratory experiments for students in PHY 2049. (P)

PHY 2053 Physics 1.
Credits: 4; Prereq: high school algebra and trigonometry or equivalent.
First semester of introductory physics deemphasizing calculus. Structure and properties of matter; kinematics, dynamics and statics; momentum and energy; rotation, elasticity; vibration; fluids; temperature and expansion, heat transfer, thermal behavior of gases; wave motion and sound. (P)

PHY 2053L Laboratory for PHY 2053.
Credits: 1; coreq: PHY 2053 or equivalent.
Laboratory experiments for students in PHY 2053. (P)

PHY 2054 Physics 2.
Credits: 4; Prereq: PHY 2053 or equivalent.
Second semester of introductory physics deemphasizing calculus. Electric charge, fields and circuits; electromagnetism, applied electricity; geometrical optics, wave optics, applied optics; electrons and photons; atoms and nuclei. (P)

PHY 2054L Laboratory for PHY 2054.
Credits: 1; coreq: PHY 2054 or equivalent.
Laboratory experiments for students in PHY 2054. (P)

PHY 2060 Accelerated Physics with Calculus I. F,S.
Credits: 3; Prereq: Consent of instructor; Coreq: MAC 2312 or equivalent.
First of a four-course sequence for physics majors and others wishing a deeper understanding of the material. Mechanics I, including kinematics, conservation laws, harmonic motion, central forces and special relativity.

PHY 2061 Accelerated Physics with Calculus II. F, S.
Credits: 3; Prereq: PHY 2060 or consent of instructor; Coreq: MAC 2313 or equivalent.
Second course of the accelerated sequence. Electricity and magnetism, including electrostatics, Gauss’s Law, potentials, introduction to vector analysis, Laplace’s equation, conductors and insulators, circuits, magnetism, Maxwell’s equations, and E&M fields in matter.

PHY 2464 The Physical Basis of Music.
Credits: 3; Prereq: high school algebra and trigonometry or equivalent.
Vibration and wave behavior as applied to musical instruments, with studies of the generation and reception of sound waves, musical intervals and scales, musical acoustics and musical electronics. (P)

PHY 3018 The Physics of Photography. S.
Credits: 3.
A popular-level survey of the physical basis of photography. The nature of light and color, the way lenses work; how films respond to light. Polaroid process; color photography. Illustrated by numerous applications. The use of mathematics is restricted to simple algebra. (P)

PHY 3036 Frontiers of Science. F, S.
Credits: 1; May be repeated once.
Lectures by outstanding visiting scientists on topics of current interest. Discussion will include the social and environmental aspects of modern science and technology. Open to any student with an interest in the relevance of scientific thought and the scientific method to present-day life.

PHY 3062 Accelerated General Physics III. F.
Credits: 3; Prereq: PHY 2061 or consent of instructor; Coreq: MAC 2302 or equivalent.
Mechanics II, third semester of the accelerated sequence. Rotational motion including the Euler equations, coupled oscillations and wave motion. Introduction to thermal physics.

PHY 3063 Accelerated General Physics IV. S.
Credits: 3; Prereq: PHY 3062 or consent of instructor and MAP 2302 or equivalent.
Electromagnetism II and Modern Physics, fourth term of the accelerated sequence. EM waves: reflection, refraction and lenses. Physical optics. Introduction to quantum theory. Wave mechanics. Quantum theory of solids. Nuclear and particle physics and cosmology.

PHY 3101 Introduction to Modern Physics. F, S.
Credits: 3; Prereq: PHY 2049 or equivalent.
Modern and atomic physics, relativity, wave phenomena and the basis of quantum physics. (P)

PHY 3221 Mechanics 1. F.
Credits: 2; Prereq: PHY 2049 or equivalent; Coreq: MAP 2302 or equivalent.
First part of two-semester sequence in classical mechanics. Topics include matrices, vector calculus, Newtonian mechanics, frames of reference, conservation laws, harmonic oscillator. (P)

PHY 3323 Electromagnetism 1. S.
Credits: 3; Prereq: PHY 2049, or equivalent; MAP 2302 or equivalent.
First part of the sequence in electromagnetism. Static electric and magnetic fields, electric circuits. Maxwell’s equations, propagation of electromagnetic waves and radiation. (P)

PHY 3400 Light, Color, and Holography. F, S.
Credits: 3.
Demonstrations and discussion of commonly observed phenomena of light, color, and vision such as rainbows, sunsets, the blue sky, and perceptual illusions. A study of the principles of holography and applications. (P)

PHY 3513 Thermal Physics 1. F.
Credits: 3; Coreq: PHY 2049 or equivalent.
First part of sequence PHY 3513-4523. Treatment of classical thermodynamics including fundamental postulates, entropy, equations of states. Thermodynamic equilibrium and potentials, Maxwell relations, phase transitions. (P)

PHY 3840L Building Scientific Equipment. S.
Credits: 2; Prereq: PHY 2061 or PHY 3101, or equivalent.
Hands-on experience in mechanical fabrication of research apparatus. Shop drawings, properties of materials, metal cutting including lathe and milling-machine operation, and metal joining.

PHY 3905 Individual Work.
Credits: 1 to 4; Prereq: Consent of instructor. May be repeated with change of content up to a total of 8 credits.
A guided course of study or special projects for selected undergraduates, primarily those with fewer than 10 credits of course work in physics or allied fields.

PHY 4222 Mechanics 2. S.
Credits: 3; Prereq: PHY 3221 or PHY3062; Differential equations.
Second part of sequence in classical mechanics. Rigid body mechanics; motion in a noninertial frame, Lagrangian and Hamiltonian dynamics; elements of fluid mechanics; relativity theory.

PHY 4324 Electromagnetism 2. F.
Credits: 3; Prereq: PHY 3323 or PHY3063; Differential equations.
The second part of the sequence in electromagnetism.

PHY 4328 Introduction to Classical Electrodynamics. F.
Credits: 3; Prereq: PHY 3063, PHZ 3113, consent of instructor.
Review of electrostatics, magnetostatics; multipole fields; LaPlace’s equation; Energy, momentum and the stress-energy tensor; Electromagnetic waves in vacuum, dielectrics, conductors; waveguides; radiation by charged particles; antennas; classical electron theory; Maxwell’s equations in Lorentz covariant form; relativistic electrodynamics.

PHY 4422 Optics 1. S.
Credits: 3; Prereq: PHY 3323 or consent of instructor.
The phenomena of reflection, refraction, dispersion, interference, diffraction, and polarization of light.

PHY 4523 Statistical Physics. S.
Credits: 3; Prereq: PHY 3513 and PHY 4604; Differential equations.
Second part of the sequence PHY 3513-4523. Introduction to statistical physics.

PHY 4550 Cryogenics. F.
Credits: 3; Prereq: PHY 3101 or equivalent; Coreq: PHY 3513 or equivalent.
History of cryogenics, air separation, liquefaction of permanent gases and natural gases, and superconducting devices and electronics.

PHY 4604 Introductory Quantum Mechanics 1. F.
Credits: 3; Prereq: PHY 3063 or PHY 3101; MAP 2302 or equivalent.
The first part of the sequence PHY 4604-4605. Basic concepts of quantum mechanics with applications in atomic and nuclear physics and condensed matter. (P)

PHY 4605 Introductory Quantum Mechanics 2. S.
Credits: 3; Prereq: PHY 4604.
The second part of the sequence PHY 4604-4605.

PHY 4802L Laboratory Physics 1. F.
Credits: 3; Coreq: PHY 3323 or equivalent.
Electronics in the laboratory.

PHY 4803L Laboratory Physics 2. S.
Credits: 3; Prereq: PHY 4604, PHY 4802L.
Current laboratory techniques.

PHY 4905 Individual Work.
Credits: 1 to 4; Prereq: 12 credits of physics, consent of instructor. May be repeated with change of content up to a total of 10 credits.
Qualified undergraduate students may study selected topics in physics.

PHY 4910L Individual Laboratory Work.
Credits: 1 to 3; Prereq: 12 credits of physics. May be repeated with change of content up to a total of 3 credits.
Qualified undergraduate students may pursue a special project in the laboratory.

PHY 4930 Topics in Physics. F, S.
Credits: 1 to 3; Prereq: 12 credits of physics or consent of instructor. May be repeated with change of content up to a total of 9 credits.
Qualified undergraduates will take part in weekly seminars or classes on special topics in physics.

PHZ 3113 Introduction to Theoretical Physics
Credits: 3; Prereq: MAC 2113 and PHY 2061 or consent of instructor.
This course expands and systematizes the treatment of standard problems previously encountered in elementary physics. Mathematical techniques are developed to study problems in thermodynamics, statistical physics, the motion of coupled oscillators and electrodynamics.

PHZ 4710 Introduction to Biophysics.
Credits: 3; Prereq: one-year of introductory physics (PHY 2053/2054, PHY 2048/2049, or equivalent) or permission of instructor.
General discussion of dimensions accessible by microscopies and probes used in imagining science techniques (e.g., magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomograph, x-ray synchrotron crystallography, various scanning microscopies, gel electrophoresis and magnetoencephalography) and effects of radiation (including electromagnetic waves or EMFs) on biological tissue.