Courses

An examination of the physical concepts related to energy, including force, electricity, magnetism, and motors. Uses the hands-on discovery mode of instruction. Intended for non-science majors. Prereq: Not open to students with credit for 103. GE nat sci phys course. NS Admis Cond course.

An examination of the various forms of energy and energy production with its personal and global impact. Uses the hands-on discovery mode of instruction. Intended for non-science majors. Prereq: Not open to students with credit for 104. GE nat sci phys course. NS Admis Cond course.

Investigation of the properties of electricity and circuits, light, optics with applications to real-world phenomena such as astronomy using the inquiry technique. Intended for non-science majors. Prereq: Not open to students with credit for 107 and 108. GE nat sci phys course. GE foundation natural sci course. NS Admis Cond course.

Students learn how to apply fundamental concepts of physics to sports. They collect data of sports actions and construct physics models to represent, calculate, analyze, interpret, and explain the motion and interactions between people and equipment. Students learn how to make useful and appropriate approximations in these complex environments. This is a GE Foundations Natural Sciences course. Prereq: Math 1050 or equiv. Not open to students with credit for 1110. GE foundation natural sci course.

Students work in groups to perform hands-on investigations on density, motion, and thermodynamics and develop models to describe and explain their observations. Through discussions with instructors and peers, students consider the effects of science in society and apply their scientific skills to everyday situations. Intended for non-science majors, especially those contemplating a teaching career. Prereq: Not open to students with credit for 1106. GE foundation natural sci course.

Algebra-based introduction to classical physics: Newtons laws, fluids, waves. Prereq: A grade of C- or above in Math 1120 or 1148, or Math Placement Level M. This course is available for EM credit. GE nat sci phys course. GE foundation natural sci course.

Algebra-based introduction to electricity and magnetism, simple optics, overview of modern physics including special relativity and quantum mechanics. Prereq: 1200 (111). Not open to students with credit for 112. This course is available for EM credit. GE nat sci phys course. NS Admis Cond course.

PHYSICS 1248 is the first course in a two-course series, for students in physical sciences, mathematics, and engineering. This course covers rotational dynamics, fluids, thermal dynamics, and vibrational motion. The physics content in relation to these topics is covered in the same depth and rigor as in PHYSICS 1250. The combination of PHYSICS 1248 + PHYSICS 1249 is equivalent to PHYSICS 1250. Prerequisites: Concur: Math 1120, 1140, 1148, 1149, 1150, or higher; or Math Placement Level M.

PHYSICS 1249 is the second course in a two-course series, for students in physical sciences, mathematics, and engineering. This course covers rotational dynamics, fluids, thermal dynamics, and vibrational motion. The physics content in relation to these topics is covered in the same depth and rigor as in PHYSICS 1250. The combination of PHYSICS 1248 + PHYSICS 1249 is equivalent to PHYSICS 1250. Prereq: Physics 1248. Concur: Math 1121, 1140, 1141, 1149, 1150, or above

Calculus-based introduction to classical physics: Newton's laws, work and energy, fluids, thermodynamics; for students in physical sciences, mathematics, and engineering. Prereq or concur: Math 1141, 1151, 1154, 1156, 1161, 1181H, or 4181H. This course is available for EM credit. GE nat sci phys course. GE foundation natural sci course.

In depth study of classical mechanics including Newton's laws, conservation laws, and introduction to special relativity. Prereq: Honors standing, or permission of instructor. Concur: Math 1151 (152), 1161 (161), 1181H (161H), or 4181H (191H) or above. Not open to students with credit for 131. GE nat sci phys course. GE foundation natural sci course. NS Admis Cond course.

Calculus-based introduction to electricity and magnetism, waves, simple optics, and quantum mechanics; for students in physical sciences, mathematics, engineering. Prereq: 1250, 1250H, 1260, or 1270; and Math 1141, 1151, 1154, or above; or permission of instructor. Concur: Math 1152, 1155, 1161, 1172, 1181H, or 4181H. This course is available for EM credit. GE nat sci phys course.

In depth introduction to: electricity and magnetism including Maxwell's equations, thermodynamics, quantum mechanics. Prereq: Honors standing, and 1250H and Math 1151 or above; or permission of instructor. Concur: Math 1152, 1161, 1172, 1181H, or 4181H or above. Not open to students with credit for 132. GE nat sci phys course. NS Admis Cond course.

Calculus-based introduction to classical physics: Newton's laws, fluids, thermodynamics, waves. Emphasizes group work; for students in Fundamentals of Engineering Honors. Prereq: Honors standing in Engineering, and 1 entrance unit of Physics or Chem. Concur: Math 1151 (152), 1161 (161), 1181H (161H), or 4181H (191H), or above. Not open to students with credit for 131. This course is available for EM credit. GE nat sci phys course. GE foundation natural sci course. NS Admis Cond course.

Calculus-based introduction to electricity and magnetism, simple optics, modern physics including special relativity and quantum mechanics. Emphasizes group work; for students in Fundamentals of Engineering Honors. Prereq: 1260 (131) and Math 1151 (152) or above, or permission of instructor. Concur: Math 1152 (153), 1161, 1172, 1181H, or 4181H. Not open to students with credit for 132. GE nat sci phys course. NS Admis Cond course.

Calculus-based introduction to classical physics. In depth study of classical mechanics including Newton's laws, conservation laws, and introduction to special relativity. For students majoring in Astronomy & Astrophysics, Engineering Physics, or Physics. Concur: Math 1141, 1151, 1154, 1156, 1161, 1181H, or 4181H or above; and enrollment in Astronomy & Astrophysics major, Engineering Physics major or pre-major, or Physics major. GE foundation natural sci course.

Calculus-based introduction to classical physics. In depth study of electromagnetism, waves, quantum mechanics, and thermodynamics. For students majoring in Astronomy & Astrophysics, Engineering Physics, or Physics. Prereq: Option 1: Physics 1270. Prereq or concur: Math 1152, 1155, 1161, 1172, 1181H, or 4181H; Or Option 2: Physics 1250, 1250H, or 1260. Prereq or concur: Math 1152, 1155, 1161, 1172, 1181H, or 4181H; and enrollment as Astronomy & Astrophysics major, Engineering Physics major or pre-major, or Physics major.

Introduction to departmental research programs and to selected topics of interest in contemporary physics. Prereq: 1251, 1251H, 1261, or 1271. This course is graded S/U.

Using physics concepts and scaling laws, students will explore problems of societal importance, including energy security and sustainability, global warming, space technologies, and quantum physics. This will establish a knowledge base for future leaders in government, companies, and organizations who must adapt to an ever-changing world where technologies play a critical role. Prereq: Math 1075 or above; or Math Placement Level N; or permission of instructor. GE theme number, nature, mind course.

Designed to give a properly qualified student opportunity for independent reading, study, or laboratory work in a specialized field of interest. Prereq: Permission of instructor. Repeatable to a maximum of 20 cr hrs or 5 completions. This course is graded S/U.

Vectors and kinematics; foundations of Newtonian mechanics; momentum, work, and energy; conservative and nonconservative forces; potentials; angular momentum; rotation about a fixed axis; rigid body motion; noninertial systems and fictitious forces. Prereq: A grade of C+ or above in 1251, 1251H, 1261, or 1271. Concur: Math 2153, 2162.01, 2162.02, 2173, 2182H, or 4182H.

The special theory of relativity; relativistic kinematics; relativistic momentum and energy. Introduction to quantum systems; photons; the Bohr atom; matter waves. Prereq: Math 2153 or 2173 (254) or above, and a grade of C+ or above in 2300 (261). Not open to students with credit for 262 or 263.

Introduces students to the fundamentals of modern optics. Topics will include Maxwell's equations, reflection & refraction, interference & diffraction, lasers and optical imaging. Prereq: Physics 1251, 1251H, 1261, or 1271.

Construction, simulation and statistical analysis of data from advanced experiments in nuclear processes. Introduction to advanced instrumentation and computer controlled data acquisition. Computer programming is required. Prereq: 1251, 1251H, 1261, or 1271; and CSE 1222, 1223, CSE 1224, Engr 1221, Engr 1281H, or Astron 1221. GE data anly course. GE foundation math and quant reasoning or data anyl course.

Designed to give a properly qualified student opportunity for independent reading, study, or laboratory work in a specialized field of interest. Prereq: Permission of instructor. Repeatable to a maximum of 15 cr hrs or 3 completions. This course is graded S/U.

Intermediate level introduction to electronic circuits, devices, and instrumentation with emphasis on laboratory experience. Prereq: 1251, 1251H, 1261, or 1271.

Undergraduate research or creative activities in various topics. Prereq: Permission of instructor. Repeatable to a maximum of 15 cr hrs or 3 completions.

Undergraduate research or creative activities in various topics; no thesis. Prereq: Honors standing, and permission of instructor. Repeatable to a maximum of 15 cr hrs or 3 completions.

Undergraduate research or creative activities in various topics; culminating in a thesis. Prereq: Permission of instructor. Repeatable to a maximum of 15 cr hrs or 3 completions.

Undergraduate research or creative activities in various topics; culminating in a thesis. Prereq: Honors standing, and permission of instructor. Repeatable to a maximum of 15 cr hrs or 3 completions.

Principally involves the state and transport of water, heat and gas within soil, and the associated soil physical properties. Prereq: Not open to students with credit for ENR 5261. Cross-listed in ENR.

Provides an introduction to machine learning and advanced algorithms, with an emphasis on practical physics-based applications, using publicly available data sets. The goal is to provide an introduction to Data Science for students who may want to pursue this as a career option and/or apply these techniques in a research environment. Prereq: A grade of C+ or above in 1251, 1251H, 1261, or 1271; and CSE 1222, 1223, 1224, Engr 1221, 1281H, or Astron 1221; and enrollment in Physics, Engineering Physics, or Astronomy major; or permission of instructor.

Experimental and theoretical aspects of areas of current interest in Computational Physics. Prereq: 5500 or 5500H; and CSE 1222, 1223, 1224, Astron 1221, Engr 1221, or 1281H; or permission of instructor.