Physics and Astronomy Courses

Physics

Number	Name	Units	Description
PHY 161	General Physics I	1	Mechanics, thermodynamics, wave motion, and sound. Lecture and laboratory. Partially satisfies the Natural World LADR. Prerequisite: Mat 112 or 121, or concurrent enrollment.
PHY 185	General Physics II	1	Electricity and magnetism, light, relativity. Lecture and laboratory. (Replaces Phy 125.) Prerequisites: Phy 161.
PHY 225	Modern Physics	1	Experimental and theoretical basis of modern concepts of atomic and nuclear structure and some of their applications. Prerequisite: 185
PHY 320	Thermal Physics	1	Temperature and heat, kinetic theory, the laws of thermodynamics with applications, phase space probability distribution and approach to equilibrium, equilibrium ensembles, and ideal quantum gases. Prerequisite: 185.
PHY 329	History of Physics	1	The evolution of ideas in physics, with philosophical perspectives, from Babylonians and pre-Socratics through Hellenistic years, to medieval times, to Newtonian and post-Newtonian physics and cosmology, to the scientific revolution of modern times. No prerequisites.
PHY 331	Classical Mechanics	1	Formal introduction to classical mechanics. Newton's laws, symmetry and conservation theorems, central motion, non-inertial reference frames, systems of particles, rigid-body motion, Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations, scattering, and oscillations and waves. Prerequisite: 161.
PHY 332	Electricity and Magnetism	1	Electric and magnetic fields and their interactions with charges and currents. Topics include electrostatics, magnetostatics, electromagnetic properties of matter, Maxwell's equations and electromagnetic waves. Prerequisite: 185.
PHY 340	Optics	1	Theoretical and experimental study of the properties of light: wave motion, propagation of light in media, geometrical optics, polarization, interference, diffraction, Fourier optics and coherence theory. Prerequisite:185.
PHY 341	Advanced Physics Laboratory	1	Experiments in upper-level physics topics requiring measurement using optical, mechanical and electrical devices; report writing including standard methodologies and techniques in data handling, analysis and display. Offered alternate years. Prerequisite: Phy 225.
PHY 408	Senior Thesis	0.5	A two-semester equivalent of 471. .50 unit each.
PHY 409	Senior Thesis	0.5	A two-semester equivalent of 471. .50 unit each.
PHY 420	Special Relativity	1	Space time and reference frames, Lorentz transformations, relativistic effects, Minkowski space and 4-vectors, relativistic dynamics and collisions, relativity and electrodynamics, principle of equivalence. Prerequisite: 185.
PHY 432	Quantum Mechanics	1	Wavefunctions and the Schrodinger equation, 1-dimensional problems, uncertanity, angular momentum, central potentials and the Hydrogen atom, Dirac formalism, spin, approximation methods, several-electron atoms. Prerequisite: Phy 331.

Astronomy

Number	Name	Units	Description
AST 111	Life in the Universe	1	An introduction to physical conditions and dynamics in the known universe as they permit or preclude life, examining the compatibility of presently accepted cosmology and cosmogony with the dynamics and time scales of evolutionary change in living systems viewed as quantitatively circumscribable processes.
AST 165	Stars and the Universe	1	An in-depth introduction to the physical processes occurring in and causing the dynamical evolution of stars, to the dynamics of galaxies, and to physical processes and the evolution of a variety of cosmological models of the universe. Laboratory work emphasizes hands-on experiences including data collection and manipulation. Partially satisfies Natural World LADR. Not open to students with prior credit in Ast 145.
AST 166	The Solar System	1	Replaces NW 111. Explores current understanding of the solar system from its formation to possible final states. Study of the planetary system and the sky both as a system offering humans objective truths and as a battleground of competing human conceptions of the system of the world. Partially satisfies Natural World LADR. Not open to students with prior credit in Ast 135 or NW 111.
AST 237	Intermediate Astronomy	1	Equilibrium structure of stars; dynamics and evolution of galaxies; origin, structure, and dynamics of the universe.