Courses

Physics Courses

101. Elementary Physics (1.25 units; Andereck)

Designed especially for students seeking middle childhood licensure in science. The course requires no mathematics beyond elementary algebra and assumes no prior knowledge of physics. Topics to be covered include motion, energy, waves, sound, light, electricity, magnetism, and heat. The emphasis will be on the discovery approach to learning and on material that can be used in an elementary and middle school classroom. Laboratory and lecture/discussion will be integrated in three 2-hour sessions per week.

110C. General Physics for Physical Science Majors I (Trees)

The first semester of a two-semester sequence of introductory physics. The topics are classical mechanics and thermal physics. Calculus is used, so the calculus sequence in mathematics should be taken concurrently or prior to the physics sequence. Students may not receive graduation credit for both PHYS 110C and PHYS 115. Corequisite: PHYS 110L and MATH 110. Fall.

110L. General Physics Laboratory I (0.25 units; Trees)

Accompanies PHYS 110C. Extends physical concepts presented in the classroom to the laboratory. The student will learn practical measurement techniques, instrumentation, and computer interfacing. Corequisite: PHYS 110C. Fall.

111C. General Physics for Physical Science Majors II (Trees)

Continuation. The topics are electromagnetism, electric circuits, electromagnetic waves, and optics. Prerequisite: 110C, 110L. Students may not receive graduation credit for both PHYS 111C and PHYS 116. Corequisite: PHYS 111L and MATH 111. Spring.

111L. General Physics Laboratory II (0.25 units; Staff)

Accompanies PHYS 111C. Extends physical concepts presented in the classroom to the laboratory. The student will learn practical measurement techniques, instrumentation, and computer interfacing. Corequisite: PHYS 111C. Spring.

115. Principles of Physics I (1.25 units; Kaye)

The first semester of a two-semester sequence of introductory physics for biological science majors including pre-professional majors. Topics are classical mechanics, fluids, and thermodynamics. Each course is accompanied by one 3-hour laboratory period per week. Calculus is not required but is recommended; the student should be familiar with algebra, trigonometry, and some analytic geometry. An emphasis in these courses will be on the application of physical principles to problems of technology and other areas of science. Students may not receive graduation credit for both PHYS 115 and PHYS 110C. Fall.

116. Principles of Physics II (1.25 units; Kaye)

Continuation. The topics are wave motion, acoustics, electromagnetism including DC circuits, optics, and modern physics. Students may not receive graduation credit for both PHYS 116 and PHYS 111C. Prerequisite: 115. Spring.

275. Electronics and Instrumentation I (1.25 Units; Dillman)

Topics include solid state diodes, transistors, transducers, and basic operational amplifier and digital circuitry using integrated circuits. This is an integrated lecture-laboratory course. Prerequisite: 111 or permission of instructor. Spring.

280. Contemporary Physics (Staff)

An intermediate level course providing the ideas and tools needed for students to study advanced physics. Topics include fundamental forces and particles, symmetry and conservation laws, Heisenberg uncertainty principle, relativity, Fourier analysis, as well as a selection of topics from among nuclear decay, scattering theory, wave theory, chaos, and other topics of interest in contemporary physics. Prerequisite: 111 or permission of instructor. Corequisite: MATH 111. Fall.

310. Mechanics (Krause)

(Alternate years. Offered 2008-09.)
Topics include the classical mechanics of particles and extended matter (central forces, scattering, oscillations, rotational motion) as well as more advanced Hamiltonian and Lagrangian methods. Prerequisite: 280 or permission of instructor.

320. Thermal and Statistical Physics (Staff)

(Not offered 2008-09)
An intensive review of classical thermodynamics, including phase equilibria, thermodynamic potentials, and classical theory of phase transitions. An introduction to statistical physics from the quantum mechanical approach; topics include canonical and grand canonical ensembles, partition functions, and the theory of quantum ideal gases. The theory is applied to cavity radiation, heat capacity of solids, the behavior of electrons in metals, and semiconductor physics. Prerequisite: PHYS 280 or permission of instructor. Recommended: MATH 280.

345. Advanced Physics Laboratory (1.25 units; Kaye)

A junior-level laboratory designed to give students experience in independent research in experimental physics. Experiments include topics in optics, electricity and magnetism, atomic physics, and quantum physics. Strong emphasis will be given to statistical analysis of data, error analysis, interpretation of measurements, techniques of measurement, and experimental design. Computer control of apparatus and computational analysis will also be emphasized. The course meets six hours per week. Prerequisite: 275 or permission of instructor. Recommended: CS 110. Fall.

360. Electromagnetic Theory (Staff)

(Alternate years. Not offered 2008-09.)
Topics include electrostatics, magnetostatics, induced electromotive forces, Ampere’s law, Maxwell’s equations in free space and in electric and magnetic materials, and electromagnetic waves. Vector calculus is used throughout. Prerequisites: 280, MATH 280.

361. Optics (Harmon)

(Offered as needed. Offered 2008-09.)
Topics include superposition of waves, diffraction, interference, polarization, Fourier and contemporary optics. Prerequisite: 360 or permission of instructor.

375. Electronics and Instrumentation II (1.25 units; Staff)

(Not offered 2008-09.)
Continuation at a more advanced level. Topics include active filters, analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion, data communications concepts, microprocessors, microprocessor support integrated circuits and their use in interfacing with scientific equipment. This is an integrated lecture-laboratory course. Prerequisite: 275. Fall.

380. Quantum Mechanics I (Staff)

(Alternate years. Offered 2008-09.)
Topics include Schroedinger’s equation and its solution for wells, steps, barriers, the harmonic oscillator, the free particle and the hydrogen atom. Prerequisites: 280, MATH 280. (MATH 270 is helpful.)

381. Quantum Physics II (Trees)

(Offered as needed.)
Continuation at a more advanced level. Topics include multi-electron atoms, properties of solids, nuclear models and reactions, and particle physics. Prerequisite: 380.

490. Independent Study (Staff)

For students who wish to pursue topics in physics not covered in regular courses. Fall, Spring.

491. Directed Readings (Staff) Fall, Spring.

498. Physics Seminar (0.5 units; Harmon)

Required of all junior four-year majors. Open to interested pre-engineering students. Students will read journal articles, present talks, attend seminars presented by external and internal speakers in the department, and consult with faculty to determine an advisor and a topic for the senior research project (PHYS 499). Also listed as ASTR 498. Spring.

499. Research (0.5 units; Staff)

Required of all senior four-year majors. Students will investigate a problem selected at the end of the junior year (PHYS 498) in consultation with a faculty member. Must be taken both semesters of the senior year. A research paper and talk are required. Also listed as ASTR 499. Fall, Spring.

Astronomy Courses

110. Elementary Astronomy (Krause)

The sky and celestial motions. History of astronomy from ancient civilizations through Newton. Survey of the solar system.

111. The Astronomical Universe (1.25 units; Staff)

The stars, their properties, classification, and evolution. Galaxies, quasars, and cosmology. Laboratory included.

260. Cosmology (Staff)

(Offered as needed.)
A study of historical and modern theories of the origin of the universe. The emerging picture of the early universe due to improved observations and the theories proposed to explain them will be explored. Prerequisite: ASTR 111 or permission of instructor.

275. Observational Astronomy Laboratory (Harmon)

(Alternate Years. Offered 2008-09.)
An integrated lecture and laboratory course covering the techniques of observational astronomy. Topics covered in the lectures will include celestial coordinates, spherical trigonometry, the mathematics of image processing, and the theory behind various astronomical instruments and detectors. Laboratory sessions will be conducted at the Student Observatory and at Perkins Observatory, and will introduce the student to astronomical CCD imaging, photometry, and spectroscopy. The course meets for six hours per week. Prerequisite: PHYS 111L or consent of instructor. Fall.

310. Astrophysics I (Harmon)

(Alternate years. Offered 2008-09.)
The first in a two-course survey of modern astronomy and astrophysics intended for junior- and senior-level students majoring in physics or astrophysics. Topics include celestial mechanics, the interstellar medium, stellar atmospheres and interiors, star formation and evolution, white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes. Prerequisite: PHYS 280 or consent of instructor. Fall.

311. Astrophysics II (Harmon)

(Alternate years. Offered 2008-09.)
The second in a two-course survey of modern astronomy and astrophysics intended for junior- and senior-level students majoring in physics or astrophysics. Topics include galaxy structure and evolution, active galactic nuclei and quasars, and cosmology. Prerequisite: 310. Spring.

490. Independent Study (Staff)

For student who wish to pursue topics in astronomy not covered in regular courses.

491. Directed Readings (Staff) Fall, Spring.

498. Astrophysics Seminar (0.5 units; Harmon)

Cross-listed as PHYS 498; for the description see the listing for that course.

498. Research (0.5 units; Staff)

Cross-listed as PHYS 499; for the description see the listing for that course.