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Astronomy Courses :
100
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200
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400
AST-101 Solar System Astronomy
Overview of behavior and properties of planets, satellites, and minor members of the solar system. Subjects include basic phenomena of the visible sky, gravitation and orbital mechanics, results of telescopic and space research, and theories of the origin and evolution of the solar system. Course satisfies science distribution requirement for nonscience majors. Three classes and a laboratory.
AST-102 Stellar Astronomy
Overview of current knowledge about the universe beyond the solar system from a physical and evolutionary standpoint. Subjects include observational properties of stars, methods of observation and analysis of light, nature of stellar systems and interstellar material, principles of stellar structure and evolution, and overall structure and development of the physical universe. Course satisfies laboratory science distribution requirement for nonscience majors. Three classes and a laboratory.
AST-208 Topics in Astronomy
A detailed investigation of a topic of current interest in astronomy. The course sets forth a major subdiscipline of astronomy at a level beyond that of the introductory astronomy sequence, presuming some knowledge of the scale and structure of astronomical objects, the vocabulary of astronomy, and the fundamentals of physics. Topics may include the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, Exploration of the Planetary System, Variable Stars and Stellar Evolution, or Galaxies and Cosmology. The class will examine the observational data, the techniques of research in the field, the state of knowledge in the field at present, and the major questions that form the focus of current research.
AST-460 Individualized Study-Research
Individualized research counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F
Physics Courses: 100 | 200 | 300 | 400
PHY-101 The Evolving Universe
Overview of the fundamental principles of classical physics (including gravitation and electromagnetism), the theory of relativity, and quantum physics. Course includes a discussion of the four fundamental forces of nature; nuclear and atomic physics; elementary particles; grand unified theories; and cosmology, including the origin and fate of the universe. Does not count toward the major. Three class hours.
PHY-102 Contemporary Physics
Designed for nonscience majors. Course concentrates on the relationship between physical principles, modern technology, and the world in which we live. Topics include heat and thermodynamics, lasers and other optical instruments, electricity and circuits, medical diagnostics, and radiation effects. Not appropriate for students taking Math 112. Three class hours and three laboratory hours. No prerequisite.
PHY-103 Elementary Physics
General coverage of the fields of classical and modern physics. Course is structured for students in biology, environmental science, the health professions, etc. While particularly useful for biology majors, the two-course sequence serves any student as an introduction to a wide range of topics in physics. Prerequisite: Facility in algebra and geometry. Three class hours and three laboratory hours.
PHY-104 Elementary Physics
General coverage of the fields of classical and modern physics. Course is structured for students in biology, environmental science, the health professions, etc. While particularly useful for biology majors, the two-course sequence serves any student as an introduction to a wide range of topics in physics. Prerequisite: Facility in algebra and geometry. Three class hours and three laboratory hours.
PHY-107 Physics of Music
An introduction to the physical basis of music and sound production. Topics include the mechanical and sonic characteristics of common musical instruments, room acoustics, human perception of sound, and the mechanics of the human ear. Special emphasis is placed on how fundamental concepts from math and physics (vibrations and waves, logarithmic measurement scales, the Fourier Series, frequency spectra) explain many of the aspects of how music is produced and perceived.
PHY-111 Introductory Modern Physics I
An introduction to conservation laws and modern physics: the conservation of momentum, energy, and angular momentum as fundamental laws, vectors and the concept of velocity, superposition and the interference of waves, the photoelectric effect, introductory principles of quantum physics, applications in nuclear and atomic physics.
PHY-112 Introductory Modern Physics II
An introduction to classical mechanics and relativistic dynamics: the kinematics of acceleration, the Newtonian model of how a single object responds to an external force, orbital mechanics, the Newtonian synthesis of terrestrial and celestial mechanics,inertial and noninertial reference frames, the special theory of relativity. Differential and integral calculus is introduced and used.
PHY-211 Intermediate Physics
An introduction to classical electromagnetic theory and applications: electrostatic fields, currents, magnetic fields, magnetic induction, and Maxwell's equations. Other topics include waves, light as a propagating electromagnetic disturbance, optics, and quantum mechanics.
PHY-240 Electronics
Principles of electronic devices and circuits using integrated circuits, both analog and digital, including amplifiers, oscillators, and logic circuits. Three class hours and six laboratory hours.
PHY-255 Math Techniques for Physicists
Intermediate treatment of mathematical methods used in physics. Topics include elements of vector calculus, complex variables, ordinary and partial differential equations, solution of Laplace's equation, special functions, determinants, and matrices. Three class hours.
PHY-310 Atomic and Nuclear Physics
Introduction to quantum mechanics. Potential wells, barriers, one electron atoms, and multielectron atoms are studied. Other topics include nuclear models,decay, and nuclear reactions. Three class hours and six laboratory hours.
PHY-312 Thermodynamics & Stat Physics
Temperature, heat, first and second laws of thermodynamics, and introductory statistical mechanics of physical systems based on the principle of maximum entropy. Topics include the ideal gas, Fermi-Dirac and Bose-Einstein 'gases,' electrons in metals, blackbody radiation, low temperature physics, and elements of transport theory. Three class hours.
PHY-315 The Nature of Space: Philosophical Revolutions in Physics
Study of the notion of space as it has developed from Aristotle to Einstein. Particular focus will be given to relations between scientific accounts of the structure of space and the larger philosophical context in which they arose.
PHY-319 Classical Mechanics
Intermediate-level course in mechanics for upperclass physics majors. Topics include chaos, nonlinear dynamics, central forces, oscillations, and the formalisms of Lagrange and Hamilton. Three class hours.
PHY-325 Advanced Physics Laboratory
Laboratory course with experiments drawn from various areas of physics, such as optics, electromagnetism, atomic physics, and nuclear physics, with particular emphasis on contemporary methods. Error analysis, experimental techniques, and written and oral communication are stressed.
PHY-330 Electricity & Magnetism
Intermediate course in electromagnetism, including vector fields and vector calculus, electrostatic field theory, dielectrics, magnetic phenomena, fields in matter, Maxwell's equations, Laplace's equation and boundary value problems, and electromagnetic waves. Three class hours.
PHY-341 Quantum Mechanics
Introduction to the Schrodinger and Heisenberg formulations of quantum mechanics. Topics include free particles, harmonic oscillator, angular momentum, hydrogen atom, matrix mechanics, spin wave functions, helium atom, and perturbation theory. Three class hours.
PHY-343 From Babylonia to the Big Bang: The History and Philosophy of Cosmology
Examination of the development of views about the origin and evolution of the universe. From ancient times, humans have tried to answer the biggest of the big questions: where did it all come from? This course traces the course of the answers given from ancient mythology through contemporary models of contemporary Big Bang cosmology, focusing the interaction between advances in physical science and their philosophical ramifications.
PHY-352 Optics and Laser Physics
Intermediate treatment of physical optics and laser physics. Topics include electromagnetic theory of light, interference, diffraction, coherence, holography, Fourier optics, fundamentals of laser operations, laser spectroscopy, and fiber optics. Three class hours and six laboratory hours.
PHY-381 Special Topics in Physics
Topics in physics not covered in the usual curriculum. Topics vary from year to year and may include relativity; astrophysics; advanced topics in modern optics, solid state physics and electromagnetism; fundamental particles and nuclear structure; the physics of plasmas and various mathematical topics in physics (topology, special functions, fractals). Three class hours.
PHY-450 Individualized Study-Tutorial
Individualized tutorial counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F
PHY-451 Individualized Study-Tutorial
Individualized tutorial counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded S/U
PHY-452 Special Topics
Designed to cover physics or physics-related topics not otherwise available in the curriculum. Open to upperclass physics majors who arrange with a staff member for supervision. Possible areas of study include advanced electronics, medical physics, astrophysics, acoustics, and optics. Prerequisite: Approval by department.
PHY-460 Individualized Study-Research
Individualized research counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F
PHY-462 Individualized Study-Research
Experimental or theoretical investigation of a research-level problem selected by a student in consultation with a faculty member. Students should arrange for supervision by the end of the junior year. Open only to second semester senior physics majors. Results of the investigation are reported in a departmental colloquium. Prerequisite: Approval by department.
PHY-470 Individualized Study-Internship
Internship counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F
PHY-471 Individualized Study-Internship
Internship counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded S/U
PHY-473 Individualized Study-Internship
Internship not counting in the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded S/U
PHY-474 Summer Internship
Research participation during the summer at a recognized research laboratory such as Argonne National Labs, Department of Energy Laboratories, or Oak Ridge. Individual students are responsible for obtaining acceptance to these programs. In most cases students will be required to describe their participation in a departmental colloquium. Prerequisite: Completion of sophomore year and departmental approval.
AST-101 Solar System Astronomy
Overview of behavior and properties of planets, satellites, and minor members of the solar system. Subjects include basic phenomena of the visible sky, gravitation and orbital mechanics, results of telescopic and space research, and theories of the origin and evolution of the solar system. Course satisfies science distribution requirement for nonscience majors. Three classes and a laboratory.
AST-102 Stellar Astronomy
Overview of current knowledge about the universe beyond the solar system from a physical and evolutionary standpoint. Subjects include observational properties of stars, methods of observation and analysis of light, nature of stellar systems and interstellar material, principles of stellar structure and evolution, and overall structure and development of the physical universe. Course satisfies laboratory science distribution requirement for nonscience majors. Three classes and a laboratory.
AST-208 Topics in Astronomy
A detailed investigation of a topic of current interest in astronomy. The course sets forth a major subdiscipline of astronomy at a level beyond that of the introductory astronomy sequence, presuming some knowledge of the scale and structure of astronomical objects, the vocabulary of astronomy, and the fundamentals of physics. Topics may include the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, Exploration of the Planetary System, Variable Stars and Stellar Evolution, or Galaxies and Cosmology. The class will examine the observational data, the techniques of research in the field, the state of knowledge in the field at present, and the major questions that form the focus of current research.
AST-460 Individualized Study-Research
Individualized research counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F
Physics Courses: 100 | 200 | 300 | 400
PHY-101 The Evolving Universe
Overview of the fundamental principles of classical physics (including gravitation and electromagnetism), the theory of relativity, and quantum physics. Course includes a discussion of the four fundamental forces of nature; nuclear and atomic physics; elementary particles; grand unified theories; and cosmology, including the origin and fate of the universe. Does not count toward the major. Three class hours.
PHY-102 Contemporary Physics
Designed for nonscience majors. Course concentrates on the relationship between physical principles, modern technology, and the world in which we live. Topics include heat and thermodynamics, lasers and other optical instruments, electricity and circuits, medical diagnostics, and radiation effects. Not appropriate for students taking Math 112. Three class hours and three laboratory hours. No prerequisite.
PHY-103 Elementary Physics
General coverage of the fields of classical and modern physics. Course is structured for students in biology, environmental science, the health professions, etc. While particularly useful for biology majors, the two-course sequence serves any student as an introduction to a wide range of topics in physics. Prerequisite: Facility in algebra and geometry. Three class hours and three laboratory hours.
PHY-104 Elementary Physics
General coverage of the fields of classical and modern physics. Course is structured for students in biology, environmental science, the health professions, etc. While particularly useful for biology majors, the two-course sequence serves any student as an introduction to a wide range of topics in physics. Prerequisite: Facility in algebra and geometry. Three class hours and three laboratory hours.
PHY-107 Physics of Music
An introduction to the physical basis of music and sound production. Topics include the mechanical and sonic characteristics of common musical instruments, room acoustics, human perception of sound, and the mechanics of the human ear. Special emphasis is placed on how fundamental concepts from math and physics (vibrations and waves, logarithmic measurement scales, the Fourier Series, frequency spectra) explain many of the aspects of how music is produced and perceived.
PHY-111 Introductory Modern Physics I
An introduction to conservation laws and modern physics: the conservation of momentum, energy, and angular momentum as fundamental laws, vectors and the concept of velocity, superposition and the interference of waves, the photoelectric effect, introductory principles of quantum physics, applications in nuclear and atomic physics.
PHY-112 Introductory Modern Physics II
An introduction to classical mechanics and relativistic dynamics: the kinematics of acceleration, the Newtonian model of how a single object responds to an external force, orbital mechanics, the Newtonian synthesis of terrestrial and celestial mechanics,inertial and noninertial reference frames, the special theory of relativity. Differential and integral calculus is introduced and used.
PHY-211 Intermediate Physics
An introduction to classical electromagnetic theory and applications: electrostatic fields, currents, magnetic fields, magnetic induction, and Maxwell's equations. Other topics include waves, light as a propagating electromagnetic disturbance, optics, and quantum mechanics.
PHY-240 Electronics
Principles of electronic devices and circuits using integrated circuits, both analog and digital, including amplifiers, oscillators, and logic circuits. Three class hours and six laboratory hours.
PHY-255 Math Techniques for Physicists
Intermediate treatment of mathematical methods used in physics. Topics include elements of vector calculus, complex variables, ordinary and partial differential equations, solution of Laplace's equation, special functions, determinants, and matrices. Three class hours.
PHY-310 Atomic and Nuclear Physics
Introduction to quantum mechanics. Potential wells, barriers, one electron atoms, and multielectron atoms are studied. Other topics include nuclear models,decay, and nuclear reactions. Three class hours and six laboratory hours.
PHY-312 Thermodynamics & Stat Physics
Temperature, heat, first and second laws of thermodynamics, and introductory statistical mechanics of physical systems based on the principle of maximum entropy. Topics include the ideal gas, Fermi-Dirac and Bose-Einstein 'gases,' electrons in metals, blackbody radiation, low temperature physics, and elements of transport theory. Three class hours.
PHY-315 The Nature of Space: Philosophical Revolutions in Physics
Study of the notion of space as it has developed from Aristotle to Einstein. Particular focus will be given to relations between scientific accounts of the structure of space and the larger philosophical context in which they arose.
PHY-319 Classical Mechanics
Intermediate-level course in mechanics for upperclass physics majors. Topics include chaos, nonlinear dynamics, central forces, oscillations, and the formalisms of Lagrange and Hamilton. Three class hours.
PHY-325 Advanced Physics Laboratory
Laboratory course with experiments drawn from various areas of physics, such as optics, electromagnetism, atomic physics, and nuclear physics, with particular emphasis on contemporary methods. Error analysis, experimental techniques, and written and oral communication are stressed.
PHY-330 Electricity & Magnetism
Intermediate course in electromagnetism, including vector fields and vector calculus, electrostatic field theory, dielectrics, magnetic phenomena, fields in matter, Maxwell's equations, Laplace's equation and boundary value problems, and electromagnetic waves. Three class hours.
PHY-341 Quantum Mechanics
Introduction to the Schrodinger and Heisenberg formulations of quantum mechanics. Topics include free particles, harmonic oscillator, angular momentum, hydrogen atom, matrix mechanics, spin wave functions, helium atom, and perturbation theory. Three class hours.
PHY-343 From Babylonia to the Big Bang: The History and Philosophy of Cosmology
Examination of the development of views about the origin and evolution of the universe. From ancient times, humans have tried to answer the biggest of the big questions: where did it all come from? This course traces the course of the answers given from ancient mythology through contemporary models of contemporary Big Bang cosmology, focusing the interaction between advances in physical science and their philosophical ramifications.
PHY-352 Optics and Laser Physics
Intermediate treatment of physical optics and laser physics. Topics include electromagnetic theory of light, interference, diffraction, coherence, holography, Fourier optics, fundamentals of laser operations, laser spectroscopy, and fiber optics. Three class hours and six laboratory hours.
PHY-381 Special Topics in Physics
Topics in physics not covered in the usual curriculum. Topics vary from year to year and may include relativity; astrophysics; advanced topics in modern optics, solid state physics and electromagnetism; fundamental particles and nuclear structure; the physics of plasmas and various mathematical topics in physics (topology, special functions, fractals). Three class hours.
PHY-450 Individualized Study-Tutorial
Individualized tutorial counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F
PHY-451 Individualized Study-Tutorial
Individualized tutorial counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded S/U
PHY-452 Special Topics
Designed to cover physics or physics-related topics not otherwise available in the curriculum. Open to upperclass physics majors who arrange with a staff member for supervision. Possible areas of study include advanced electronics, medical physics, astrophysics, acoustics, and optics. Prerequisite: Approval by department.
PHY-460 Individualized Study-Research
Individualized research counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F
PHY-462 Individualized Study-Research
Experimental or theoretical investigation of a research-level problem selected by a student in consultation with a faculty member. Students should arrange for supervision by the end of the junior year. Open only to second semester senior physics majors. Results of the investigation are reported in a departmental colloquium. Prerequisite: Approval by department.
PHY-470 Individualized Study-Internship
Internship counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F
PHY-471 Individualized Study-Internship
Internship counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded S/U
PHY-473 Individualized Study-Internship
Internship not counting in the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded S/U
PHY-474 Summer Internship
Research participation during the summer at a recognized research laboratory such as Argonne National Labs, Department of Energy Laboratories, or Oak Ridge. Individual students are responsible for obtaining acceptance to these programs. In most cases students will be required to describe their participation in a departmental colloquium. Prerequisite: Completion of sophomore year and departmental approval.
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