PHYS 110, SEMINAR 1, 0 credits.

Seminar for students majoring in physics. Presentations will be given by outstanding guest scientists and Fisk scientists, on state-of-the-art topics. Students will also participate in scientific projects sponsored by the Student Physics Club.

 

PHYS 120, SEMINAR 2, 0 credits. Seminar for students majoring in physics. Presentations will be given by outstanding guest scientists and Fisk scientists, on state-of-the-art topics. Students will also participate in scientific projects sponsored by the Student Physics Club.

 

PHYS 130, UNIVERSITY PHYSICS I, 3 credits. Three lectures and one problem session weekly. An introductory treatment of mechanics, vibration, wave motion, sound, heat, and thermodynamics. Differentiation and integration are developed and used at appropriate points during the semester. Prerequisite: MATH 110 or departmental permission; students should enroll concurrently in PHYS 130L laboratory.

 

PHYS 130L, EXPERIMENTS IN GENERAL PHYSICS I, 1 credit. One laboratory weekly. Experiments cover topics in mechanics, sound, and heat, with emphasis on the use of good laboratory and research techniques to obtain and handle experimental data. Use of significant figures and evaluation of results are stressed. Accompanies PHYS 121 or PHYS 130, in which students must be concurrently enrolled or must have passed.

 

PHYS 140, UNIVERSITY PHYSICS II, 3 credits. Three lectures and one problem session weekly. Continuation of PHYS 130, emphasizing electricity and magnetism, geometrical and physical optics, and topics in atomic and nuclear physics. Prerequisite: PHYS 130; students should also enroll concurrently in PHYS 140L laboratory.

 

PHYS 140L, EXPERIMENTS IN GENERAL PHYSICS II, 1 credit. One laboratory weekly. A continuation of PHYS 130L, with experiments on topics in electricity and magnetism, optics, and modern physics. Accompanies PHYS 122 or PHYS 140, which students must have passed or must be concurrently enrolled. Prerequisite: PHYS 130L or equivalent.

 

PHYS 232, MODERN PHYSICS, 3 credits. Three lectures weekly. Development of theories leading to a knowledge of the electron, the atom, the wave nature of matter, x-rays, radioactivity, the nuclear structure and the application of this knowledge in present day technology. Prerequisite: PHYS 140 or equivalent.

 

PHYS 234, EXPERIMENTS IN MODERN PHYSICS, 1 credit. One laboratory weekly. Designed to accompany PHYS 232, in which students should be concurrently enrolled. Experiments in atomic structure, electron properties, black body radiation, spectroscopy, x-rays, and radioactivity.

 

PHYS 252, ELECTRONICS, 3 credits. Two lectures and one laboratory session per week. A survey of electronic principles and their practical application in scientific instruments. Designed for physics, chemistry, and biology majors who require a working knowledge of electronic circuits and devices. Prerequisites: PHYS 130, 130L, 140, 140L, and MATH 120.

 

PHYS 262, HEAT AND THERMODYNAMICS, 3 credits. Temperature, gas laws, specific heats, heat transfer, first and second laws and their consequences, thermodynamic relations, phase transitions, and low temperature phenomena. Prerequisites: PHYS 130, 130L, 140, 140L; and MATH 120.

 

PHYS 330, INTRODUCTION TO ASTROPHYSICS, 3 credits. An introductory calculus-based astrophysics course suitable for Physics and other science or engineering majors, which will provide students – physics majors, other science/engineering majors – with an overview of modern astrophysics, structured around Origins-related themes. The objective will be to introduce the tools of astronomy, and to trace the modern search for astronomical origins through the physical processes that govern the chemical evolution of the Universe on all scales. This will naturally lead to a survey of the formation and evolution of galaxies, stars, and planets, while taking full advantage of the physics precepts and math abilities with which these students are already facile. Prerequisite: PHYS 130, co-requisite: MATH 130.

 

PHYS 340, METHODS IN THEORETICAL PHYSICS, 4 credits. A survey of mathematical and theoretical methods in physics. Topics include infinite series, ordinary differential equations, partial differential equations, complex analysis and function theory.

 

PHYS 341, THEORETICAL MECHANICS, 4 credits. An introduction to the classical mechanics of particles and rigid bodies, covering topics such as kinematics and dynamics of systems of particles, rotation properties of rigid bodies, and motion under a central force. Prerequisites: PHYS 130, 130L, 140, 140L; and MATH 120.

 

PHYS 351, INTERMEDIATE ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM, 4 credits. The fundamental theorem in electrostatics; dielectric phenomena; magnetic fields and their association with currents; electromagnetic radiation; and introduction to Maxwell's equations. Prerequisites: PHYS 130, 130L, 140, 140L; and MATH 210.

 

PHYS 359, INTRODUCTION TO MATERIALS SCIENCE, 4 credits. The study of the rela tionship between the structure and properties of materials. Both theoretical and experimental aspects will be covered. Lecture and laboratory sessions. Prerequisites: PHYS 130, 130L, 140, 140L and MATH 130.

 

PHYS 381, SPECIAL PROBLEMS IN EXPERIMENTAL PHYSICS, 2 to 4 credits. Provision is made for students to practice individually with advanced laboratory techniques and to solve special experimental problems. Prerequisites: PHYS 130, 130L, 140, 140L; and MATH 210.

 

PHYS 382, SPECIAL PROBLEMS IN THEORETICAL PHYSICS, 2 to 4 credits. Provision is made for students to practice individually with advanced theoretical techniques and to solve special theoretical problems. Prerequisites: PHYS 130, 130L, 140, 140L; and MATH 210.

 

PHYS 430, TOPICS IN HIGH ENERGY ASTROPHYSICS, 3 credits. A topical course in high-energy astrophysics., suitable for physics and other science or engineering majors. This course will provide students who have taken PHYS 330 with a more in-depth exposure to topics in high-energy astrophysics, structured around SEU-related themes. The objective will be to give students an introduction to advanced topics such as X-ray and gamma-ray astronomy, including relativistic processes in the universe.

 

PHYS 441, SOLID STATE PHYSICS, 3 credits. An introduction to the modern theory and experimental methods used in understanding the properties of solids. Prerequisites: PHYS 130, 130L, 140, 140L; and MATH 210.

 

PHYS 451, QUANTUM MECHANICS, 4 credits. Development of the Schrodinger theory to include operator formalism and perturbation theory. Prerequisites: PHYS 341, 351.

 

PHYS 472, INTRODUCTION TO MODERN OPTICS, 3 credits. An introduction, at an intermediate level, to recent developments in optics__ interference; diffraction; polarization; coherence; emission of light by atoms, molecules and solids; theory of lasers and elementary holographic techniques. Prerequisites: PHYS 130, 130, 140, 140L; and MATH 210.