to Table of ContentsPHYS 103: 4 s.h.
Elements
of Physics (G2, L)
An elementary treatment of fundamental concepts of
classical and modern physics. Selected examples from classical mechanics,
electromagnetism, thermodynamics, relativity and quantum mechanics. The solving
of numerical problems is de-emphasized. 3 hours of lecture plus 2 hours of lab.
No credit in block G2 for majors in the School of Science and Mathematics.
Offered in fall, periodically in spring.
PHYS 117: 3 s.h.
General Astronomy
(G2)
Astronomy for a general audience; emphasis on the physical nature
of the universe. Terrestrial astronomy, light, telescopes, spectra, stars,
stellar evolution, galaxies, cosmology, the solar system. 3 hours of lecture
and discussion. No credit in block G2 for majors in the School of Science and
Mathematics. Offered in fall, spring.
PHYS 131: 4 s.h.
Physics I with Algebra
(G2, L)
An introductory algebra-based course. Fundamental laws and
properties of matter, mechanics and heat. Problems dealing with these laws. 3
hours lecture, 1 hour recitation and 2 hours lab. Competence in algebra and
trigonometry is assumed. Offered fall, summer.
PHYS 132: 4 s.h.
Physics II with Algebra
(G2, L)
Continuation of Physics 131. Fundamental laws and properties of
electricity, magnetism, waves, sound, light and radiation. 3 hours lecture, 1
hour recitation and 2 hours lab. Offered spring, summer. Prereq: PHYS 131.
PHYS 198: 1 s.h.
Seminar: Perspectives in
Physics
An overview of the history, practice, philosophy and unity of
physics and its application to other disciplines; orienting beginning physics
majors to the study of physics. Mandatory for, and only open to, physics majors
in their freshman year. 1 hour discussion. Offered in fall.
PHYS 205: 3 s.h. (G2, L)
Musical
Acoustics
Intended for musicians dealing with the physical nature of
sound and sound sources and the relation of these to music and musical
instruments. The use of mathematics is kept to a minimum. 2 hours
lecture-recitation and 2 hours lab. Prereq: MUSI 112. Offered in spring.
PHYS 230H: 1 s.h.
General Physics Seminar
(G2)
The ideas of introductory physics in extended depth, in the
language of calculus, using problems, laboratory exercises, readings and
discussion. Grades of B- or better in both PHYS 231 and PHYS 230H will result
in honors designation for the pair. The pair of courses counts as one entry in
the science component of the curriculum record form and results in six hours of
general education credit. 1 hour discussion. Coreq: Concurrent registration in
PHYS 231 required, and either good standing in the Honors Program or a 3.35 QPA
or permission of instructor. Offered in fall, spring.
PHYS 231: 5 s.h.
Physics I with Calculus
(G2, L)
An introductory course in classical physics dealing with
mechanics, fluids, waves, and thermodynamics. 3 hours lecture plus 1 hour of
recitation and one 3 hour lab. Prereq: MATH 161. Offered in fall, spring,
summer.
PHYS 232: 5 s.h.
Physics II with Calculus
(G2, L)
Continuation of PHYS 231. An introductory course in classical
physics dealing with electricity, magnetism and optics. 3 hours lecture plus 1
hour of recitation and one 3 hour lab. Prereq: PHYS 231. Coreq: MATH 211.
Offered in fall, spring, summer.
PHYS 233: 3 s.h.
Modern Theories of Waves
and Particles
Selected topics from the areas of waves and optics,
special relativity, an introduction to the concepts and development of modern
physics and single particle quantum mechanics. 4 hours of lecture. Prereq: PHYS
232. Coreq: MATH 311. Offered in spring.
PHYS 266: 3 s.h.
Electronics
The
fundamentals of analog devices and their application to electronic circuits.
Operational amplifiers, power supplies, semiconductor devices, oscillators and
an introduction to integrated circuits. Two 3-hour labs. Prereq: PHYS 132 or
232. Coreq: MATH 161. Offered in spring.
PHYS 302: 3 s.h.
Physics and the Evolution
of Western Civilization (P)
The history of the mechanization of the
world picture. A study of physics in the evolution of Western civilization and
thought, relating the impact of the Newtonian revolution on technolgy, society
and thought. 3 hours lecture and discussion. Prereq: A physical science course.
Offered periodically.
PHYS 311: 3 s.h.
Mechanics I
Lectures, problems, and demonstrations developing the fundamental
principles and concepts of classical mechanics, including Newton's laws of
motion, in 3 dimensions, conservation laws, linear and nonlinear oscillating
systems, gravitation, and central force problems. 3 hours lecture. Prereq: PHYS
232. Coreq: MATH 365. Offered in fall.
PHYS 312: 3 s.h.
Mechanics II
A
continuation of PHYS 311. Includes classical analysis of rigid body motion,
non-inertial frames of reference, Lagrangian and Hamiltonian dynamics, systems
of coupled oscillators, plus special topics. 3 hours lecture. Prereq: PHYS 311.
Offered in spring.
PHYS 317: 3 s.h.
Introduction to Astronomy
and Astrophysics
An overview of astronomy and astrophysics for students
majoring in the sciences or mathematics, emphasizing selected areas such as
terrestrial astronomy, celestial mechanics, stellar evolution, cosmology and
the solar system. 3 hours lecture. Prereq: A year of college-level physics and
calculus. Offered in fall of odd years.
PHYS 321: 3 s.h.
Electromagnetic Fields
I
Electrostatic and magnetic fields in vacuum and in dielectric and
magnetic materials. Maxwell's equations are developed. 3 hours lecture per
week. Prereq: PHYS 233, 334. Coreq: MATH 365. Offered in spring.
PHYS 322: 3 s.h.
Electromagnetic Fields
II
Consequences of Maxwell's equations. Solutions to Laplace's
equation, electromagnetic radiation, and relativistic electrodynamics are
discussed. 3 hours lecture. Prereq: PHYS 321. Coreq: PHYS 335. Offered in fall.
PHYS 331: 2 s.h.
Fundamentals of
Optics
Lab-based course in physical optics, including applications of
geometical optics such as image formation by mirrors and lenses, microscopy,
reflection, refraction, and basic phenomena in wave and quantum optics such as
interference, diffraction, color mixing and filtration, polarization,
birefringence, absorption, dispersion, scattering, laser properties and laser
application.1 hr. lec., 3 hr. lab. Preq: PHYS 232 or PHYS 132 and MATH 211.
Offered in fall.
PHYS 334: 3 s.h.
Macroscopic Phenomena and
Thermodynamics
Lectures, problems and demonstrations which develop the
basic ideas of classical continuum physics and the macroscopic behavior of
solids, liquids and gases, including an introduction to fluid dynamics,
stress-strain relationships in solids, electric and magnetic properties of
materials, phase transitions, superconductivity, and the classical laws of
thermodynamics. 4 hours lecture and discussion. Prereq: PHYS 232. Coreq: MATH
311. Offered in spring .
PHYS 335: 3 s.h.
Multi-Particle Quantum
Systems and Statistical Physics
Multi-electron atoms, statistical
mechanics of classical and quantum systems, and introduction to nuclear
physics. Principles are applied to selected examples. 3 hours lecture. Prereq:
PHYS 233, 334. Offered in fall.
PHYS 345: 3 s.h.
Symbolic Computational
Methods in Physics
Symbolic computational methods involving procedural,
functional, rule-based programming and pattern matching using the graphical and
numerical capabilities of Mathematica or other integrated mathematical software
systems, with applications to a broad range of computationally challenging
problems in physics. Prereq: PHYS 233; Coreq: PHYS 311 and MATH 365. Offered in
fall of odd years.
PHYS 351: 1 s.h.
Intermediate Physics
Laboratory I
Selected experiments in classical and modern physics
introducing a variety of experimental techniques. 3 hours of lab. Prereq: PHYS
233 and PHY 266 or CSCI 370. Offered in fall.
PHYS 352: 1 s.h.
Intermediate Physics
Laboratory II
Continuation of PHYS 351. 3 hours of lab. Prereq: PHYS
351. Offered in spring
PHYS 360: 4 s.h.
Linear Circuit
Analysis
Mathematical analysis of linear circuits in the complex
domain. Differential equations, operators, transfer functions, Laplace
transforms and computer simulation with SPICE. 4 hours lecture. Prereq: MATH
365. Offered infrequently.
PHYS 365: 3 s.h.
Digital Electronics
Introduction to digital electronics and microprocessors. Design and
analysis of combinatorial and sequential digital circuits, microcomputer
interfacing and assembly programming. Two 3-hour labs. Prereq: CSCI 140 or
permission of instructor. Offered infrequently.
PHYS 366: 3 s.h.
Micro-Electronic Circuit
Analysis
Continuation of PHYS 266. Analysis and design of
microelectronic circuits. Analytical treatment of discrete and integrated
analog and digital circuits. 3 hours lecture. Prereq: PHYS 266, 360 or
permission of instructor. Offered infrequently.
PHYS 395: 3 s.h.
Techniques in
Mathematical Physics
Treatment of advanced mathematical techniques such
as complex analysis, matrices, Fourier series, calculus of variations, special
functions and integral transforms applied to selected areas of physics. Prereq:
PHYS 233, MATH 365. Offered in spring.
PHYS 431: 3 s.h.
Solid State Physics
Classical and quantum analyses of solid matter. Topics include crystal
structure, the reciprocal lattice and X-ray diffraction; mechanical
properties-phonons; semiclassical analysis of electrical and magnetic
properties of insulators and metals; electron band theory of metals, insulators
and semiconductors. 3 hours lecture. Prereq: PHYS 335. Offered in spring of odd
years.
PHYS 435: 3 s.h.
Statistical Mechanics
Lectures, problems, and computer simulations developing the fundamental
principles of classical and quantum statistical mechanics. Subjects include
probability theory, the foundations of ensemble development and their
application to classical, Fermi and Bose systems. Of special interest is the
phenomenology of phase transitions and the modern development of the
renormalization group. Prereq: PHYS 335. Offered in fall of even years.
PHYS 451: 1 s.h.
Advanced Physics
Laboratory I
Selected experiments in classical and modern physics with
opportunities to apply sophisticated techniques to extended experimental
problems. 3 hours lab. Prereq: PHYS 352. Offered in fall.
PHYS 452: 1 s.h.
Advanced Physics
Laboratory II
Continuation of PHYS 451. 3 hours lab. Prereq: PHYS 451.
Offered in spring.
PHYS 462: 3 s.h.
Advanced Electronics
Microprocessor applications and interfacing, real-time programming. Topics
are selected from computer de sign, control loops, phase-locked loops and
communications. Two 3-hour labs. Prereq: PHYS 266, 365 or permission of
instructor. Offered infrequently.
PHYS 471: 3 s.h.
Quantum Mechanics
An introduction to formal quantum theory in terms of operators on a Hilbert
space. Dirac notation is introduced and used in the solution of the eigenvalue
problems for the harmonic oscillator and angular momentum by operator
techniques. Other topics include the dynamics of a spin-1/2 particle, the
addition of angular momentum, and perturbation theory. Prereq: 335 or
permission of instructor. Offered in spring of even years.
PHYS 492: 2 s.h.
Physics Research and
Seminar
The first semester of an independent research experience
supervised by a faculty mentor. Attendance at weekly seminars is also required.
Prereq: PHYS 335 and 351. Offered in fall.
PHYS 493: 1-3 s.h.
Topics in Astronomy and
Astrophysics
Selected topics chosen from the areas of astronomy and
astrophysics. Permission of instructor. Offered infrequently.
PHYS 494: 1-3 s.h.
Topics in Classical
Physics
Selected topics chosen from the areas of classical physics.
Permission of instructor. Offered infrequently.
PHYS 495: 1-3 s.h.
Special Topics in
Theoretical Physics
Lecture course in selected topics of current
interst in theoretical physics such as nuclear structure, elementary particle
physics, advanced quantum mechanics, plasma physics, general relativity,
nonlinear dynamics, Lie groups and their physics application, statistical
mechanics, condensed matter physics and biophysics. Permission of instructor.
Offered periodically.
PHYS 496: 1-3 s.h.
Topics in Applied
Physics
A study of the application of selected physics concepts in
experimental physics. Permission of instructor. Offered infrequently.
PHYS 497: 1-3 s.h.
Topics in Modern
Physics
Topics chosen from areas of modern physics. Permission of
instructor. Offered infrequently.
PHYS 498: 1-3 s.h.
Physics Research and
Seminar/Independent Study
An independent research experience
supervised by a faculty mentor. Attendance at the weekly seminars associated
with PHYS 492 is also required. Prereq: PHYS 492 or permission of instructor.
Offered in fall, spring.
Comments:
physics@millersville.edu