Undergraduate Course Descriptions
P221 Physics I (5 cr.) NMNS C: Mathematics M211 or M215 or consent of instructor. First semester of a three-semester calculus-based sequence intended for science majors. Newtonian mechanics, oscillations and waves, heat and thermodynamics. Three lectures, two discussion sections, and one two-hour lab each week. Physics majors are encouraged to take P221 in the fall semester of the freshman year. Credit not given for both P201 and P221. I Sem., II Sem.
Honors Physics P221/P222 Physics I/II (5 cr.) NMNS C: Students need to be authorized by instructor to register for this course. First two semestes of a three-semester calculus-based sequence intended for science majors. Newtonian mechanics, oscillations and waves, heat and thermodynamics. Electricity, magnetism, and geometrical and physical optics Class meets 5 days/week with labs and special projects. Physics majors are encouraged to take Honors P221 in the fall semester of the freshman year. Credit not given for both P201 and P221. I Sem., II Sem.
P222 Physics II (5 cr.) NMNS P: P221. C: Mathematics M212 or M216 or consent of instructor. Second semester of a three-semester, calculus-based sequence intended for science majors. Primarily electricity, magnetism, and geometrical and physical optics. Three lectures, two discussion sections, and one two-hour lab each week. Physics majors are encouraged to take P222 in the spring semester of the freshman year. Credit not given for both P202 and P222. I Sem., II Sem.
P301 Physics III (3 cr.) NMNS P: P222 (or P202 with consent of instructor). Third semester of a three-semester, calculus-based sequence. Special theory of relativity; introduction to quantum physics; atomic, nuclear, condensed matter, and elementary particle physics. Intended for science and mathematics majors. Three lecture-discussion periods each week. Credit may be obtained only for either P300 or P301. I Sem., II Sem.
P309 Modern Physics Laboratory (2 cr.) P or C: P301. Fundamental experiments in physics with emphasis on modern physics. The course aims to develop basic laboratory skills and data analysis techniques.
P310 Environmental Physics (3 cr.) NMNS P: P201 or P221 and Mathematics M211 or M215; or consent of instructor. For biological and physical science majors. Relationship of physics to current environmental problems. Energy production, comparison of sources and byproducts; nature of and possible solutions to problems of noise, particularly matter in atmosphere.
P321 Techniques in Theoretical Physics (3 cr.) NMNS P or C: P301. Particle motion in 1, 2, and 3-dimensions in the presence of forces; construction of forces from fields, and relationships between fields and sources; energies and potentials; complex oscillations and circuit analysis; classical and quantum mechanical waves and probabilities.
P331 Theory of Electricity and Magnetism I (3 cr.) NMNS P: P202 or P222 and Mathematics M312 (for scientists), or consent of instructor. Electrostatic fields and differential operators, Laplace and Poisson equations, dielectric materials, steady currents, power and energy, induction, magnetic fields, scalar and vector potentials, Maxwell’s equations. I Sem.
P332 Theory of Electricity and Magnetism II (3 cr.) NMNS P: P331 or consent of instructor. Magnetic materials, wave equations and radiation, energy transfer and conversion. Poynting vector and momentum, retarded potentials, dipole radiation, transmission lines and wave guides, relativity. II Sem.
P340 Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics (3 cr.) NMNS P: P202 or P222; Mathematics M311 concurrently. Intermediate course, covering three laws of thermo-dynamics, classical and quantum statistical mechanics, and some applications.
P360 Physical Optics (3 cr.) NMNS P: P331 or consent of instructor. Physical optics and electromagnetic waves based on electro-magnetic theory: wave equations; phase and group velocity; dispersion; coherence, interference, diffraction, and polarization of light and of electromagnetic radiation generally; wave guides; holography; masers and lasers; introduction to optical spectroscopy.
P400 Digital Electronics (3 cr.) NMNS Digital logic, storage elements, timing elements, arithmetic devices, digital-to-analog and analog-to-digital conversion. Course has lectures and labs emphasizing design, construction, and analysis of circuits using discrete gates and programmable devices.
P401 Analog Electronics (3 cr.) NMNS Amplifier and oscillator characteristics feedback systems, bipolar transistors, field-effect transistors, optoelectronic devices, amplifier design, power supplies, and the analysis of circuits using computer aided techniques.
S405 Readings in Physics(1-3 cr.) P: consent of instructor. Independent reading under supervision of faculty member. Study in depth of topic of interest to student, culminating in research paper. I Sem., II Sem.
S406 Research (1-6 cr.)Consent of instructor or supervisor. Research participation in group or independent project under the supervision of a faculty member in departmental research areas; or topic agreed upon between the student and the supervisor. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours.I Sem., II Sem.
S407 Applied Physics Internship (1 cr.) Consent of instructor or supervisor. Internship in industry or national laboratory, arranged between the student, the student's faculty mentor, and an internship supervisor as part of the Applied Physics Track of the Physics B.S. program. May be repeated for a total of 6 credit hours. S/F grading.
P408 Current Research in Physics (1 cr.) A series of introductory talks by 15 different faculty members on the current research activities of the Department of Physics. For senior-level students. II Sem.
S409 Applied Physics Thesis (1-4 cr.) P: S407 and consent of instructor. Under the supervision of a faculty member, students prepare a written thesis that presents previous research work completed as part of the Applied Physics Track of the Physics B.S. program. May be repeated for a maximum of 4 credit hours.
P410 Computing Applications in Physics (3 cr.) NMNS P: P332 or equivalent and Computer Science C301 or equivalent; or consent of instructor. Computing methods and techniques applied to a broad spectrum of physics problems. Emphasis on least-squares method and other curve-fitting techniques of non-linear functions; monte carlo methods; data manipulation, including sorting, retrieval, and display.
P441-P442 Analytical Mechanics I-II (3-3 cr.) NMNS P: P201-P202, or P221-P222, and Mathematics M343. Elementary mechanics of particles and rigid bodies, treated by methods of calculus and differential equations. P441, I Sem.; P442, II Sem.
P451-P452 Experiments in Modern Physics I-II (2-2 cr.) P: P301 and P309, or equivalent. R: P453-P454 concurrently. P452 can be taken independently of P451. Advanced laboratory for senior physics majors. Experimental investigations of selected topics in nuclear, atomic, and solid state physics. P451, I Sem.; P452, II Sem.
P453 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics (3 cr.) NMNS P: P301 and P332, or equivalent. The Schroedinger equation with applications to problems such as barrier transmission, harmonic oscillation, and the hydrogen atom. Discussion of orbital and spin angular momentum and identical particles. Introduction to perturbation theory. I Sem.
P454 Modern Physics (4 cr.) NMNS P: P453 or equivalent. Structure of multielectron atoms. Experimental facts and theoretical models in solid state physics, nuclear physics, and elementary particle physics. II Sem.
P470 Introduction to Accelerator Physics (3 cr.) P: approval of instructor. Overview of accelerator development and accelerator technologies. Principles of linear and circular accelerators, storage rings, colliders. Transverse phase space motion of a particle in an accelerator. Radio frequency acceleration and synchrotron light sources. Basics of free electron lasers. Spin dynamics in cyclic accelerators and storage rings.
