Phys 110

Designed to develop an understanding of the phenomena of our everyday life via the laws of physics. The emphasis is not on problem solving but on encouraging students to understand and appreciate their environment from a new perspective. Includes topics in mechanics and other physics subfields such as thermal physics, electrical phenomena.
3 hours.
Fehrs, Hellman.
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A laboratory course taught for Phy 110 students. Includes ex-periments in mechanics, thermal physics, and electric circuits. Satisfies laboratory core requirement.
Co-requisite: Phy 110.
1 hour.
Fehrs
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This is an activity based course for non-science majors, designed to develop a conceptual understanding of both current and static electricity, magnetism, electromagnetic induction, and related concepts at an introductory level. Laboratory investigations are an integral component of this course.
Students cannot receive credit for both Phy 110 and Phy 120.
3 hours.
Wainwright.
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The first semester of an algebra-based sequence in physics. Topics include Newtonian mechanics, work, momentum, and energy.
Prerequisite: Math 125.
3 hours.
Fehrs.
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The second smester of an algebra-based sequence in physics. Topics include heat and thermodynamics; electricity and magnetism; sound and light waves.
Prerequisite: Phy 130 or Phy 232 .
3 hours.
Wiener.
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A laboratory course taught in conjunction with Phy 130. Includes computer based experiments in mechanics. Satisfies laboratory core requirement.
Co-requisite: Phy 130.
1 hour.
Staff.
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A laboratory course taught in conjunction with Phy 140. Includes
computer based experiments in heat and thermodynamics; elec-tric
circuits. Satisfies laboratory core requirement. Co-requisite:
Phy 140. 1 hour. Staff.
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An introductory course in physics (calculus-based) for science and pre-engineering students. First term includes Newtonian mechanics. This course is an inquiry-based, laboratory-oriented course. Satisfies Natural Science core requirement.
Co-requisite: Math 226.
4 hours.
Brosing.
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A continuation of Phy 232 including electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, and nuclear physics. Satisfies Natural Science core requirement.
Prerequisite: Math 226, Phy 232 or Phy 130.
4 hours.
Brosing.
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An introduction to Einstein’s special and general theories of rela tivity, with emphasis on the special theory. Topics include the principle of relativity, space-time effects of the Lorentz transformations, relativistic energy and momentum, Minkowski diagrams, the equivalence principle, the geometry of space-time, and gravity.
Prerequisite: Phy 130 or 232.
3 hours.
Wiener.
Alternate years 1999-00.
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The historical development of modern physics including the origins of the quantum theory; the Bohr theory of the atom; atomic spectra; particle and nuclear physics. Prerequisite: Phy 140 or 242, Math 227.
3 hours.
Griffith.
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A laboratory course taught in conjunction with Phy 320. Involves classic experiments in modern physics that have shaped our understanding of matter and light. These typically include (but are not limited to) e/m measurements, the photoelectric effect, visible light spectroscopy, blackbody radiation, and X-ray diffraction.
Co-requisite: Phy 320.
1 hour.
Griffith.
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A class with lab on topics of current interest in physics. The topic for the semester will be one of the following: solid state physics; nuclear physics; nonlinear dynamics and chaos; Fourier optics; or elementary particles. May be taken more than once for credit, as the topic will vary.
Prerequisites: Phy 320, 321.
3 hours.
Brosing.
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The principles and applications of geometric optics, including the propagation of light, reflection and refraction, thin lenses, combinations of lenses, thick lenses, lens systems, mirrors, aberrations, stops and pupils, gradient-index lenses, and optical systems.
Prerequisite: Phy 140 or 242, and physics major or minor.
3 hours.
Griffith.
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A laboratory course taught to demonstrate and investigate the concepts introduced in Phy 330.
Co-requisite: Phy 330.
1 hour.
Griffith, Wiener.
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Principles of wave optics, including interference, diffraction, thin films, optics of transformations, holography, light scattering, polarization, photometry, quantum optics, spectroscopy, and lasers.
Prerequisite: Phy 140 or 242 and physics major or minor.
2 hours.
Griffith.
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A laboratory course taught to demonstrate and investigate the concepts introduced in Phy 340.
Co-requisite: Phy 340.
1 hour.
Griffith, Wiener.
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The basic principles underlying circuit analysis and the operation of analog and digital electronic devices, including: diodes; transistors; op-amps; logic gates; multivibrators; counters; registers; memories; and A/D and D/A converters.
Prerequisite: Math 125, Phy 140/203 or 242.
4 hours.
Wiener.
Alternate years 1999-00.
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Presentation, discussion, and application of the principles of static mechanics to problems in physics and engineering including: force analysis, equilibrium in two and three dimensions, trusses and frames, internal forces, centroids, and cables. Special emphasis is given to problem-solving techniques.
Prerequisite: Phy 232 or Phy 130, Math 226.
3 hours.
Brosing.
Alternate years. 2000-01.
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Presentation and discussion of the kinematics and dynamics of single particles and systems of particles, both in inertial and non-inertial frames of reference. In addition to the standard analytical techniques, approximation techniques and a computer algebra system will be used for problem solving. Several mechanical systems will be studied experimentally and computationally.
Pre-requisite: Phy 140 or 242, Math 227.
4 hours.
Fehrs.
Alternate years. 2000-01.
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Presentation, discussion, and application of the laws of thermodynamics including gas behavior, equations of states, phase transformations, and kinetic theory.
Prerequisite: Phy 140 or 242, Math 227.
3 hours.
Brosing.
Alternate years. 2000-01.
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An introduction to quantum mechanics and its application to: free particles, barriers , the simple harmonic oscillator, the hydrogen atom, angular momentum, spin, and identical particle symtems. A computer algebra system will be utilized for problem solving and visualization.
Prerequisites: Phy 320/321, Math 228.
4 hours.
Fehrs.
Alternate years. 1999-00.
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Development of the nature and mathematical description of electric and magnetic fields in free space and material media, including: Maxwell’s equations, electrostatics, magnetostatics, dielectrics, and solutions of Laplace’s and Poisson’s equations.
Prerequisite: Phy 140 or 242, Math 228.
4 hours.
Wiener.
Alternate years. 2000-01.
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The physics seminar portion of Phy 490. (See description of Phy 490).
Co-requisite: senior standing as a physics major, and research or an internship in physics.
1 hour.
Brosing, Fehrs, Griffith, Wiener.
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The physics seminar portion of Phy 492. (See description of Phy 492).
Corequisite: senior standing as a physics major, and research or an internship in physics.
1 hour.
Brosing, Fehrs, Griffith, Wiener.
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The capstone course involves a weekly seminar and a year long research project. In the weekly seminar, students learn how to make presentations and how to do “on-the-spot” problem solving. There will also be outside speakers on current physics research. The other portion of the capstone experience is a year long research project. In addition, there will be weekly meetings in which students discuss their ongoing research projects. The research project will comprise 2 credits of the course.
Co-requisite: senior standing as a physics major.
3 hours.
Brosing, Fehrs, Griffith, Wiener.
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A continuation of Physics 490. At the end of Physics 482 students will give final oral presentations on their research project or their internship, and submit their research/internship paper.
Prerequisite: Physics 490.
3 hours.
Brosing, Fehrs, Griffith, Wiener.
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Student-conducted individual research project.
1-3 hours.
Brosing,Fehrs, Griffith, Wiener.
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