PHYSICS COURSES (PHYS)

200 Technical Physics I (4:3-3) (Corequisite: Mathematics 111 or permission of department) F. Introduction to the elements of technical physics that do not require calculus. Topics include the properties of wave motion and sound, heat and thermodynamics, light and geometrical optics, and introduction to the essential ideas to modern physics.

201 Technical Physics II (4:3-3) (Corequisite: Mathematics 201 or permission of department) S, SU. Calculus-based introduction to classical mechanics and dynamics. Topics include vectors and vector notation; Newton's Three Laws of Motion; force; motion in one, two, and three dimensions; linear momentum; torque; rotational motion; angular momentum; work-energy; kinetic and potential energy; conservation of energy; and force fields.

202 Technical Physics III (4:3-3) (Prerequisite: 201; Corequisite: Mathematics 202 or permission of department) F, SU. Calculus-based introduction to classical electricity and magnetism. Topics include Coulomb's Law, electric fields, Gauss' Law, electric potential and potential energy, electric components and circuits, magnetism and magnetic fields, magnetic forces and torques, magnetic materials, Ampere's Law, induction, and the formal connection of electric and magnetic fields through Maxwell's equations.

215 General Physics I (4:3-3) (Prerequisite: Mathematics 112) F, SU. Algebra-based introduction to mechanics, thermodynamics, and waves. Topics include motion in one and two dimensions, Newton's laws of motion, equilibrium, work, energy, momentum, rotational motion, gravity, heat, waves, and sound. Examples from medicine and biology will be included whenever possible.

216 General Physics II (4:3-3) (Prerequisite: 215) S, SU. Algebra-based introduction to electricity, magnetism, and optics. Topics include electrical forces, electric fields, direct and alternating current circuits, magnetic forces, magnetic fields, electromagnetic induction, reflection, refraction, diffraction, interference, mirrors, and lenses. Examples from medicine and biology will be included wherever possible.

301 Classical Mechanics (3) (Prerequisite: 202 and Mathematics 202) F. Classical mechanics using vector calculus applied to non-relativistic Newtonian dynamics: dynamics of particles and rigid bodies; collisions; vibratory and wave motions. Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations of mechanics to be included.

302 Electricity and Magnetism (3) (Prerequisite: 202 and Mathematics 202) S. Introduction to classical electromagnetic theory. The differential form of Maxwell's equations will be developed and applied to various problems in electrostatics, magnetostatics, electromagnetic fields and waves. Particular emphasis will be placed on radiation fields with applications to optics. Electric and magnetic properties of materials will also be discussed briefly.

306 Computational Physics (3) (Prerequisite: CS 212; Corequisite: PHYS 314, MATH 203; Computer Science/Mathematics 425 Recommended) F. An introduction to basic computational methods in physics. Students will learn the theory behind and practical applications of numerical techniques applicable to many physical systems. Topics include curve-fitting algorithms, select problems in mechanics, superposition techniques, matrix algebra, and applications of probability theory.

310 Electronics (4:3-3) (Prerequisite: 202 or permission of department) F. Introduction to analog and digital electronics. Analog topics include AC/DC circuits, diodes, power supplies, transistors, oscillators, timers, and operational amplifiers. Digital topics include binary numbers, gate types, gate circuits, gate reduction, Boolean algebra, flip flops, comparators, registers, binary and binary-coded-decimal counters, digital-to-analog conversion, analog-to-digital conversion, and computer interfacing.

312 Lasers and Optics (4:3-3) (Prerequisite: 202 or 216; Corequisite: Mathematics 201 or permission of department) AS. Introduction to lasers and optics. Laser topics include laser emission, holography, fiber optics, laser spectroscopy, and laser applications. Optics topics include geometrical and physical optics with an emphasis on the wave properties of light, such as diffraction, interference, and polarization. Students will operate many types of lasers, including a diode laser, helium-neon laser, nitrogen laser, Nd:YAG laser, and dye laser.

314 Modern Physics (4:3-3) (Prerequisite: 202 and Mathematics 202 or permission of department) S. Introduction to relativity and the quantum theory including the historical background and experimental basis of these theories and applications to atomic and molecular structure.

315 Special Topics in Modern Physics (3) (Prerequisite: 314) AS. Topics to be covered will be chosen from a variety of fields of physics: elementary particle physics, solid state physics, statistical physics, astrophysics and general relativity, cosmology, molecular structure, Gauge field theories, and the four vector formulation of special relativity. Topics chosen will depend upon student interest, but it is intended that several topics will be introduced in any given course.

316 Nuclear Physics (4:3-3) (Prerequisite: 314 or permission of department) S. Natural and artificial radioactivity, nuclear reactions, nuclear models and structure, particle accelerators and detectors, neutron physics and reactors, and an introduction to elementary particles.

318 Environmental Radiation Physics (3) (Prerequisite: 202 or 216) F. Introduction to the sources and characterization of radiation, the properties of radioactive materials and the effects of radiation and radioactive materials on the environment.

401 Quantum Mechanics (3) (Prerequisite: 314; Corequisite: Mathematics 301) F. The Schrodinger Equation and applications to free particles, the harmonic oscillator, one-dimensional potential barriers, the hydrogen atom, and other three-dimensional problems. Perturbation theory, approximation methods, and operator formalism will also be introduced.

406 Advanced Computational Physics (3) (Prerequisite: PHYS 302, 306 or permission of department) (Same as Chemistry 406) S. A continuation of topics covered in Physics 306. Topics include the numerical solution of two and three-body problems, normal modes, chaos and fractal growth, learning and stochastic algorithms, and an introduction to monte-carlo techniques in physics.

415 Radiation Biology (3) (Prerequisite: PHYS 316 and Corequisite: one of BIOL 301, 401, 402, 406, or permission of department) F. Topics include the fundamental physical, chemical, and biological mechanisms that lead to radiation-induced biological damage. The course will begin with interactions and responses at a molecular level and progress towards cellular and systemic responses to the damage. Methods for assessing the dose to biological systems and the corresponding risk will be addressed.

416 Nuclear Radiation Physics (4:3-3) (Prerequisite: 310 and 316) F. Topics to be covered include the interaction of radiation with matter, gas and scintillation counters, semiconductor detectors; counting statistics, special electronic circuits, and the literature of radiation detection.

417 Principles of Health Physics (4:3-3) (Prerequisite: 416) S. Topics include the biophysical basis for radiation protection, environmental and personnel monitoring, dosimetry and dose calculations, shielding, standards for radiation exposure, waste treatment and disposal, emergency procedures, government regulations, and safety procedures.

419 Senior Seminar in Physics (1:3) F. In conjunction with a physics faculty advisor, each student will prepare a formal scientific review article on a physics topic. The topics assigned will be determined based on the interest of the student. The culmination of this course is a detailed written report and an oral presentation.

420 Senior Research in Physics (1:3) (Prerequisite: Senior status and permission of department) F, S. In conjunction with a physics faculty adviser, each student will complete one or more research projects in physics. The projects assigned will be determined based on the interest of the student. The culmination of this course is a detailed written report and an oral presentation.

497 Special Studies (3), (2), or (1) (Prerequisite: Permission of department) F, S. Open only to juniors or seniors with a GPA of 3.0 or higher in their major courses. A maximum of 3 semester hours may be earned. Academic Committee approval required for each seminar and practicum. All individual research projects are reviewed by three faculty members from two different disciplines.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE COURSE (ENVS)

201 Environmental Science (4:3-3) (Prerequisite: Biology 105, 106; Chemistry 101, 102). Broad introduction to environmental issues and problems, and their technical solutions through environmental science applications. Includes discussions of political, economic and ethical issues.

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