Physics Course Descriptions
Physics Course Descriptions
PHYS 150 Descriptive Astronomy (4)
Prerequisite: 30th percentile on ACT mathematics, MATH 052, or placement
test. A non-quantitative course designed especially for the liberal arts
student. A look at how our view of the universe has developed and what that
current view is. Topics include solar systems and their components, galaxies
(composition and types), and life cycles of stars. One four-hour lecture-laboratory
per week and at least one observational field experience. (Spring Semester)
PHYS 160 Survey of Physics (4)
Prerequisite: 30th percentile on ACT or SAT mathematics, MATH 052, or placement
test. The principles of physics that will be of importance when applied
to the health professions. Also designed for liberal arts and education students.
Topics include motion and its causes, work and energy, properties of liquids
and gases, heat and temperature, practical electronics, sound and wave motion,
and atomic and nuclear radiations. Three lectures and one three-hour laboratory
per week. (Fall Semester)
PHYS 271; 272 College Physics (4; 4)
Prerequisite: MATH 120 with at least a "C grade or placement test. Corequisite:
MATH 126 with at least a "C" grade or placement test. This course assumes
a knowledge of secondary level physics. Topics include methods of physics, elementary
mathematics, mechanics of matter and waves, kinetic theory of fluids; electric,
magnetic, and electromagnetic phenomena; atomic nature of matter and the nucleus
together with radiation; optics and vision, sound and hearing, and other biological
implications of physics. Attention is given to the needs of the biological and
premedical scientists. Three lectures and one three-hour laboratory per week.
(Fall Semester; Spring Semester)
PHYS 281; 282 Physics for Scientists and Engineers (4; 4)
Prerequisite: MATH 151 with at least a "C" grade. Corequisites: MATH 252
and MATH 260 both with at least "C" standing. This course is designed for
those students who have had physics at the secondary level and assumes a working
knowledge of calculus. Topics include vectors, mechanics of systems of particles,
energy, harmonic motion, electro/magneto dynamics, and modern physics. Three
lectures and one three-hour laboratory per week. (Fall Semester; Spring Semester)
PHYS 294 Topics in Physics (1-4)
Designed for students who wish a course not listed in the regular offerings.
A current topic in physics will be explored. (Offered as needed)
PHYS 295 Independent Study in Physics (1-3)
Study on an independent basis in collaboration with the instructor on a topic
in physics at the lower division level. (Offered as needed)
PHYS 305 Electromagnetic Fields (4)
Prerequisites: PHYS 282 and MATH 260 both with at least a "C" grade. Static
electric and magnetic fields, electric and magnetic properties of materials,
and Maxwell's equations. (Offered as needed)
PHYS 310 Optics (4)
Prerequisites: PHYS 305, MATH 260, and MATH 288 each with at least a "C"
grade. Matrix methods of geometrical optics, interference, diffraction,
polarization, spectroscopy, electro- and magneto-optics, lasers, and holography.
(Offered as needed)
PHYS 320 Elementary Modern Physics (3)
Prerequisites: MATH 252 and PHYS 272 or PHYS 282 each with at least a "C"
grade. Topics include theory of relativity, thermal radiation and Planck's
postulate, duality of particles and radiation, Bohr's model of the atom, quantum
mechanics and Schroedinger's equations, X-rays, semiconductors, and nuclear
reactions. Experiments on Planck's constant, properties of electrons in electric
and magnetic fields, and studies of nuclear reactions by Am-Be neutron source,
using appropriate radiation detectors. (Offered as needed)
PHYS 415; 416 Theoretical Mechanics (2; 2)
Prerequisites: MATH 260 and PHYS 282 each with at least a "C" grade.
A theoretical approach to the study of the mechanics of systems of particles,
continuous media, moving coordinate systems, and gravitation using Newtonian
principles and Lagrangian formulations. Note that ENGR 208 may be substituted
for PHYS 415. Also, note that physics credit cannot be given for both PHYS 415
and ENGR 207. (Offered as needed)
PHYS 425 Experimental Physics (2)
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Classical and modern physics
experiments are chosen for their instructional value to synthesize the principles
studied in PHYS 305, 310, 320, 415, 416. Some experiments are performed off
campus at cooperating laboratories, including the National Bureau of Standards,
the Carnegie Institution of Washington, and the Department of Physics and Astronomy
at the University of Maryland. Two laboratories per week. May be repeated once
for credit. (Offered as needed)
PHYS 494 Selected Topics in Physics (1-4)
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Thermostatistics, solid state
physics, quantum mechanics, nuclear physics, biophysics, acoustics, history
of physics, astrophysics, or other topics of common interest to students and
instructor. May be repeated for credit. (Offered as needed)
PHYS 495 Independent Study in Physics (1-3)
Study on an independent basis in collaboration with the instructor on a topic
in physics at the upper division level. (Offered as needed)
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