For students in the School of Education. Survey of physics emphasizing the meanings of physical laws, concepts of motion and energy, and physical properties of matter. Topics include concepts of velocity and acceleration; Newton's laws of motion, mass and weight, circular motion, gravitation, work, energy, momentum, electromagnetic properties of matter, and atomic theory (required for students in Elementary Education).
3 lect., 2 lab. or discussion hr./wk.
The Research Honors Program is one of several ways for undergraduate students to participate in faculty research projects. Such projects, if judged to be of sufficient quality and quantity, may lead to a degree with Research Honors. A written report by the student is required every semester. Students presentation of the results of their work is required at the Honors and Independent Study symposium in the spring of their senior year. In order to graduate "with Research Honors", the student must maintain a "B" average or better in the major subject, submit an Honors paper which is a report in research publication format, and be given a minimum of 6 credits of "A" for this work by the mentor. The student's Research Mentor will provide a written document certifying that the student has fulfilled the criteria established for graduating with Research Honors.
Credits
variable credit, usually 3 cr./sem
Approval of Dean and Department Honors Supervisor is required and should be obtained in the semester prior to the one in which the work will be performed. A "B" average or better in major courses is required in order to take Honors (or Independent Studies) courses.
TBA hr./wk.. A maximum of 12 credits of honors courses count toward the degree.
The student will pursue a program of independent study under the direction of a member of the Department with the written approval of the faculty sponsor and the Department Chair. Credit may be from 1-4 credits, as determined in the semester before registration by the instructor with the approval of the Department Chair. Students must have completed at least nine credits with a GPA of 2.5 or higher. A maximum of nine credits of independent study may be credited toward the degree. Independent study is to be used to meet special student needs that are not covered in regular course offerings.
Courses on contemporary topics to be offered according to the interest of faculty members and students. Consult Department for courses to be offered each academic year.
3 hr./wk.
Physical aspects of the skeletal, circulatory, nervous, muscular, respiratory, and renal systems; diagnostic imaging including EKG, EEG, x-rays, CAT, MRI, lasers and fiber optical probes; radiation therapy and safety; nuclear medicine; artificial organs.
PHYS 20400 or PHYS 20800.
3 hr./wk.
Introductory historical background, elementary quantum theory, application to one-electron atoms, atomic shell structure and periodic table; nuclear physics, relativity and statistical mechanics. Concepts, quantitative work and problem sets are emphasized.
3 lect. hr./wk.
Basic experiments, wave-particle duality, uncertainty. Wave functions and Schroedinger equation. 1-d problems, bound states, square well, harmonic oscillator, scattering from barriers, tunneling. QM formalism, Dirac notation, operators & eigenvalues, angular momentum. Hydrogen atom. Perturbation theory first order nondegenerate, level splitting. Time-dependent PT, Golden rule, spin. Quantum communication, Bell's theorem.
3 hr./wk.
Problems concerning the existence of and contact with other intelligent life forms. The physical conditions necessary for development and evolution of such forms. The physical limitations on contact with them.
4 hr./wk.
The physical basis for the many imaginative and speculative schemes encountered in science fiction: anti-matter, space warps, black holes, anti-gravity, time travel, multi-dimensional universes, parallel universes, quarks, robots, flying saucers, Star Trek, etc. Every lecture is accompanied by a color slide show. No prereq.
3 hr./wk.
Selected topics in physics with emphasis on gaining a depth of understanding of the subject matter and an awareness of the development of skills essential to the scientific process. Course content focuses on contexts of force, motion, and the behavior of the sun, moon and stars. Background for teaching science in secondary schools or introductory college level with introduction to Physics Education Research. Integrated laboratory / discussion format.
3 hr./wk.
Selected topics in physics with emphasis on gaining a depth of understanding of the subject matter and an awareness of the development of skills essential to the scientific process. Course content focuses on contexts of geometrical optics, waves, physical optics, the particulate nature of light, properties of the atom, and wave particle duality. Background for teaching science in secondary schools or introductory college level with introduction to Physics Education Research. Integrated laboratory / discussion format.
3 hr./wk.
Newton's laws; Systems of particles; Small oscillations; Central forces and planetary motion; Rotations and rotating coordinate system; Introduction to rigid body motion; Lagrangian dynamics; Introduction to Hamiltonian dynamics.
4 hr./wk.
Review of vector calculus; Electrostatics in vaccum, work & energy, conductors; Laplace's equation and its solution; Electric fields in matter, currents, circuits and dielectrics; magnetostatics, vector potential.
Fall only
3 hr./wk.
Magnetic fields in matter, Electromagnetic induction, Maxwell's equations, electromagnetic waves, introduction to radiation.
Spring only
3 hr./wk.
Survey of advanced mathematical methods in physics. Linear vector spaces and operators. Sturm-Liouville theory, series solutions and special functions. Classification of partial differential equations, separation of variables, Green’s functions. Complex variables. Integral transforms. Probability and statistics.
4 hr./wk.
Experiments in electricity, magnetism and electronics.
PHYS 20800 (required for Physics majors).
Fall only
$30
3 lab., 1 conf. hr./wk.