Physics (PH) Courses

PHYSICS (PH)

1998-1999 Bulletin Information

PH 101 Introduction to Astronomy 4 cr
This is a descriptive survey course of elementary astronomy with laboratory intended for
both non-science and science majors. Topics covered include a description of the celestial sphere,
a tour of the Solar System, techniques for measuring and classifying stars, stellar evolution,
white dwarfs, black holes, neutron stars, galaxies, and Big Bang cosmology. Fee.
PH 104 Concepts of Physics 4 cr
A descriptive overview of the entire field of physics with laboratory, including the
concepts of scalars and vectors, Newton's laws, momentum and energy conservation, rotational
motion, fluids, heat and thermodynamics, sound, electricity and magnetism, optics, atomic and
nuclear physics, relativity, and elementary particle physics. This course is intended to provide the
non-scientist with substantial insight into the physical behavior of matter and energy. Extensive
demonstrations accompany the presentation of material to illustrate key concepts. (This course
does not satisfy any pre-professional physics requirements.) Fee.
PH 107 Freshman Physics Seminar 1 cr
Intended for physics majors in their first year or others interested in physics as a possible
major. This course will survey current "hot topics" in physics, basic useful techniques in physics
problem-solving, physics as a career, and research in physics at USA. This course is not intended
to satisfy the science requirements within the College of Arts and Sciences.
PH 114 Non-Calculus-Based Physics I 5 cr
First semester of a two-semester introductory course in algebra/trigonometry-based
physics with laboratory and recitation. This course covers mechanics and thermodynamics: one
and two-dimensional motion, vectors, Newton's laws of motion, work and energy, momentum
and collisions, circular motion, rotational motion, properties of solids and fluids, the laws of
thermodynamics, kinetic theory of matter, simple harmonic motion, and wave motion.
Prerequisite: 21 ACT score on Mathematics or MA 112. Fee.
PH 115 Non-Calculus-Based Physics II 5 cr
Second semester of a two-semester introductory course in algebra/trigonometry-based
physics with laboratory and recitation. This course covers electrostatics, DC circuits, RC circuits,
magnetic fields and forces, Faraday's Law, AC circuits, geometrical optics, interference and
diffraction of light, the special theory of relativity, quantum physics, and atomic and nuclear
physics. Prerequisite: PH 114. Fee.
PH 201 Calculus-Based Physics I 4 cr
First semester of a two-semester introductory course in calculus-based physics with
laboratory. This course covers: one and two-dimensional motion, vectors, Newton's laws of
motion and their applications, work and energy, momentum and collisions, circular motion,
rotational motion, properties of materials, simple harmonic motion, wave motion and topics in
thermodynamics. Prerequisite: MA 125. Fee.
PH 202 Calculus-Based Physics II 4 cr
Second semester of a two-semester introductory course in calculus-based physics with
laboratory. This course covers electrostatic fields and Gauss' law, electric potential, electric
circuits, magnetic fields, Ampere's law, Faraday's law, inductance, Maxwell's equations,
electromagnetic waves and optics. Prerequisite: PH 201. Fee.
PH 294 Directed Studies: Variable Content Lab 1 cr
A directed studies course to substitute for a laboratory credit for students who have
successfully completed a calculus or algebra-based physics lecture course at another university
without the laboratory. Students taking this course must get the approval of the Physics
Department Chair. This course may be taken up to two times (once for each of the missing
laboratories). Fee.
PH 301 Introductory Astrophysics 3 cr
Application of the principles of physics to the study of astronomical phenomena. Topics
include celestial mechanics, stars and stellar evolution, the Milky Way and other galaxies, and
cosmological models. Prior knowledge of astronomy is not required. Prerequisite: PH 202.
PH 303 Modern Physics 4 cr
This course, with laboratory, surveys physics of the twentieth century. Topics covered
include special relativity, wave-particle concepts, the Schrödinger equation and quantum theory
of the hydrogen atom, atomic spectra and structure, molecular spectra, the solid state, nuclear
structure, radioactivity, and elementary particles. Prerequisites: MA 125, and either PH 115 or
PH 202.
PH 346 Classical and Modern Optics 4 cr
Wave motion, reflection, refraction, dispersion, diffraction, inter-ference phenomena,
Fourier spectroscopy, lasers and other modern applications of optics. Prerequisites: PH 202 and
MA 125 or the equivalent.
PH 348 Electricity and Magnetism I 3 cr
First of a two-semester sequence in electromagnetism. Topics include a review of vector
analysis. Coulomb's law, Gauss' law, calculation of the scalar potential, electric fields in matter,
the Biot-Sarvart law, Ampere's law, the vector potential, magnetostatics in matter,
electrodynamics, Faraday's law, inductance, Maxwell's correction to Ampere's law and
Maxwell's equations. Prerequisites: MA 227 and either PH 115 or PH 202.
PH 349 Electricity and Magnetism II 3 cr
Second of a two-semester sequence in electromagnetism. Topics include electromagnetic
wave propagation in free space, electro-magnetic wave propagation in materials, reflection and
transmission at interfaces, wave guides, electromagnetic radiation, optical dispersion, and
electrodynamics extended to the special theory of relativity. Prerequisite: PH 348.
PH 354 Electronics 4 cr
This course in intended to provide a theoretical and practical background in electronics.
Topics include AC circuits, diode circuits, single-stage amplifiers, op-amps and feedback, and
digital electronics. This course is not intended to satisfy the technical elective requirements for
Electrical Engineering. Prerequisites: MA 126 and either PH 115 or PH 202.
PH 366 Physical Mechanics I 3 cr
First course in a two-semester sequence in classical mechanics. Topics include motion of
particles in one-dimension, one-dimensional motion theorems, harmonic oscillations, damped
oscillations, forced oscillations, kinematics in multiple dimensions, momentum and energy
theorems, the central force problem, motion under inverse square law forces, planetary orbital
motion, Rutherford scattering, conservation theorems for multi-particle systems and their
applications, collisions, coupled-harmonic oscillators, and rigid body rotation about a fixed axis.
Prerequisites: MA 227 and PH 202.
PH 367 Physical Mechanics II 3 cr
Second course in a two-semester sequence in classical mechanics. Topics include:
moving and rotating coordinate systems, Lagrange's equation and applications, Hamiltonian
formulation, inertia and stress tensors, rotations of rigid bodies and the theory of small
oscillations. Prerequisite: PH 366.
PH 385 Experimental Physics (W) 3 cr
A course in the methods and techniques of experimental physics. A number of
experiments in the area of classical mechanics, atomic physics, molecular physics, and nuclear
physics will be performed and analyzed. A written report for each experiment that clearly and
precisely explains the experiment's theory, technique and analysis is required. Prerequisite: PH
303 (or taken concurrently).
PH 390 Special Topics 1-3 cr
Topics of current interest not available in a regularly scheduled course. This course may
be repeated once for credit when content varies.
PH 411 Computational Methods in Physics 3 cr
Use of computers in physics research (industrial, applied or basic) is now common. This
course will introduce advanced undergraduate physics students to computer solutions of physics
problems. Particular attention will be paid to problems that have no analytic solutions and may
only be solved numerically. This course will introduce several numeric methods and apply them
to specific problems from quantum mechanics, electrodynamics, and mechanics. Students will
write a series of programs in the Fortran or the C programming language and use them to solve
undergraduate level physics problems. Prerequisites: MA 238, CIS 271 or CIS 272, and PH 303.
PH 448 Elementary Quantum Mechanics I 3 cr
The first course of a two-semester sequence in Quantum Mechanics. Topics include an
introduction to Hilbert space and operators, the quantum state and observables, the Heisenberg
uncertainty principle, time evolution of the quantum state, application of the Schrödinger
equation to one-dimensional systems, and the solution of the hydrogen atom. Prerequisites: MA
238 and either PH 303 or CH 333.
PH 449 Elementary Quantum Mechanics II 3 cr
The second course of a two-semester sequence in Quantum Mechanics. Topics include a
continuation in the mathematical formulation of quantum mechanics, angular momentum,
perturbation theory, identical particles and spin, collision theory and the semi-classical treatment
of radiation. This course is recommended for students anticipating graduate study in physics.
Prerequisite: PH 448.
PH 463 Thermodynamics & Statistical Mechanics 3 cr
An in depth course in thermodynamics and statistical mechanics. Topics include simple
thermodynamics systems, work, heat and the first law of thermodynamics, ideal gases, the
second law of thermodynamics, entropy, enthalpy, Helmhotz and Gibbs functions, TdS
equations, heat capacity, partition function, equipartition of energy, statistical distribution of
molecular speeds, thermal properties of solids, higher order phase transitions, chemical
equilibrium, Thomson effect, Bose-Einstein statistics, Nuclear Magnetism, and the third law of
thermodynamics. Prerequisites:
PH 202 and MA 227.
PH 494 Directed Studies 1-3 cr
Directed research under the supervision of a faculty member. Topics generally coincide
with the research interest of the supervising faculty member. Areas of directed research may
include atomic collisions, atom trapping, experimental general relativity, experi-mental
molecular spectroscopy, and experimental particle physics. Prerequisite: Permission of the
department chair.

Department of Physics

College of Arts and Sciences