Physics Courses

Semester specific course descriptions

101, 102. Introduction to Astronomy.
People of every time and culture have studied the skies, named the arrangements of stars and used the apparent motions of the sun and moon to mark time. This course, designed for the non-scientist, surveys the known contents of the universe and explores the dynamic natures of celestial objects through study of their motions, interactions and evolutions. To foster appreciation for the methods of science, naked-eye observations are required of each student and attention is given to Western culture’s slow path toward understanding the cosmos and our place within it. Physics 102 is taught in the studio format where lectures are combined with laboratory experiences fostering interaction among the students and instructor. This course fills the natural science with lab distribution requirement. Physics 101 is taught in a lecture format, and it fills the natural science distribution requirement. There is no prerequisite for either course. Major credit restricted.

103, 104. College Physics.
This sequence is designed to provide a general survey of physics. It emphasizes the relationship between basic physical principles and observations, both in the laboratory and in everyday events around us. It covers topics in mechanics, wave phenomena, electricity and magnetism, and modern physics. The mathematical level of presentation assumes elementary algebra and basic trigonometry. While it serves as the appropriate physics course for students in the life sciences, it is designed to be accessible to all who have an interest in the subject. It can be used to fulfill the natural science distribution requirement. One laboratory period per week in addition to class work.

107. Energy.
This course explores the nature of energy, its application in modern society and a variety of issues associated with that use. The course will cover the physical principles of energy in general, and of electrical energy, electromagnetic (optical) energy, nuclear energy and thermodynamics in particular. Applications and related issues will include the role of energy in society, fossil fuels, electric power plants, automobiles, global warming and the ozone layer and energy conservation; other topics may include nuclear, solar and other sources of energy. This course makes extensive use of elementary algebra and scientific notation. Physics 107 has a lab component and fills the natural science with lab distribution requirement. Physics 105 is taught in a lecture format with shorter integrated lab activities and fills the natural science distribution requirement. Also offered as Environmental Studies 105, 107.

110. The Scientific Revolution.
This course covers the development of scientific thought in the period 1500 to 1725. It examines changing views of nature in the fields of anatomy and physiology, astronomy and physics. Although the primary focus is on specific scientific developments, they are discussed in the context of concurrent social, economic and religious changes. There are no prerequisites for this course, which can be used to fulfill the science studies distribution requirements. Major credit restricted. Also offered as History 110 and through European Studies.

112. Global Climate.
Climate is perhaps the single most important and pervasive factor controlling global ecosystems and human well-being. This interdisciplinary course examines global climate from a historical perspective, beginning with the formation of the solar system and continuing through geologic time to the present. Topics covered include the development of the atmosphere; the workings of the global “heat engine” of atmosphere, oceans and continents; evidence for past climate change; causes of global climate change; the effects of climate change on human evolution and the effects of human evolution on the global climate system. This is a team-taught studio lab course satisfying the natural science distribution requirement. Also offered as Environmental Studies 112 and Geology 112 and through Global Studies.

120. Physics and Perception of Music.
Music is an interaction between the production of sound and the listeners’ perceptive abilities. In this course, the physical details of the production and perception of “musical” sound and their interaction will be explored. In a hands-on, experiment-based course, the physics of sound vibrations and waves, the overtone series, the workings of the human ear, the construction of various types of musical instruments, methods of sound recording (both analog and digital), and other topics will be explored. This is a team-taught course satisfying the natural science distribution requirement. Also offered as Music 120.

151, 152. University Physics.
A general study of conservation laws, Newtonian dynamics, special relativity, electricity and magnetism, thermal and statistical physics and the wave nature of light and matter presented at the level of elementary calculus and organized according to the major unifying principles of physics. These courses are recommended for all students majoring in the physical sciences. One laboratory period per week in addition to class work. Prerequisite: at least one year of high school physics, Physics 103, 104 or permission of instructor. Corequisite: Mathematics 135, 136.

221, 222. Modern Physics.
A systematic study of the new ideas and discoveries that have transformed physics in the twentieth century. Topics include special relativity, atomic structure, wave-particle duality, basic quantum mechanics, solid-state physics, nuclear structure and elementary particles. One laboratory per week in addition to class work. Prerequisites: Mathematics 136 and Physics 104 or 152.

307. Classical Mechanics.
A formal presentation of the principles of Newtonian mechanics at the intermediate level. Dynamics of particles and rigid bodies, resonance, rotating reference frames, planetary motion, wave motion and Lagrange’s equations. Prerequisites: Physics 152, Mathematics 205.

308. Electricity and Magnetism.
A formal study of electricity and magnetism leading to Maxwell’s equations and physical optics. Prerequisites: Physics 152, Physics/Mathematics 333 or permission of instructor.

311. 19th and 20th-Century Science.
In this course we examine a few of the major scientific developments of the 19th and 20th centuries in some detail. Topics include evolution, genetics and a synthesis of the two; the wave theory of light and special relativity; the discovery of the atomic and nuclear structure of matter; and the Manhattan Project. We also examine the various ways historians of science construct the stories they write as well as some of the historiographic issues they face. This course satisfies the science studies distribution requirement. Also offered as History 311 and through European Studies.

315. Gender and Science.
This course is an upper-level seminar-style course on the relationships between gender issues and science. Many kinds of questions can be asked about gender and science: questions regarding the social context of science with respect to gender issues; questions regarding the historical development of science and how the changing roles of women in society have affected science; and questions regarding the epistemological and ethical implications of these changing relationships. Two of the most important ongoing issues raised by the study of gender and science are, If there has been gender bias in scientific practice, has this affected the content of scientific knowledge, and if so, in what ways? If there has been gender bias in the practice of science, are there important ethical problems resulting from this bias? Prerequisite: Philosophy 100 or 101 or 102 or 103 or 202 or Gender Studies 103, or permission of instructor. This course satisfies the science studies distribution requirement. Also offered as Gender Studies 315 and Philosophy 315.

317. Instrumentation Lab.
This course is designed to introduce students to a variety of instrumentation used in the physics lab. Computer techniques for acquiring data and controlling experiments are taught. A primary goal of this lab is to foster a spirit of independence in the student researcher. Each student will complete an independent project. Corequisite: Physics 307 or permission of instructor.

318. Electronics Lab.
This course is designed to teach basic electronics. Students learn enough in this course to put together simple circuits such as voltage dividers, filters and amplifiers. A primary goal of this lab is to foster a spirit of independence in the student researcher. Each student will complete an independent project. Prerequisites: Physics 152 and Math 136.

333. Mathematical Methods of Physics.
Important problems in the physical sciences and engineering often require powerful mathematical methods for their solution. This course provides an introduction to the formalism of these methods and emphasizes their application to problems drawn from diverse areas of classical and modern physics. Representative topics include the integral theorems of Gauss and Stokes, Fourier series, matrix methods, selected techniques from the theory of partial differential equations and the calculus of variations with applications to Lagrangian mechanics. The course also introduces students to the computer algebra system Mathematica as an aid in visualization and problem solving. Prerequisites: Physics 152, Mathematics 205. Also offered as Mathematics 333.

401, 402. Quantum Mechanics.
Intended for physics majors preparing for graduate study in physics and closely related areas, this course applies methods of advanced analysis to quantum mechanics and other topics. Prerequisite: Physics 307, 308 or permission of the department.

403, 404. Topics in Advanced Physics.
Seminars, projects or participation in faculty research designed to meet individual needs of advanced students. Offered on demand. Prerequisite: Physics 307, 308 or permission of the department.

451, 452, 453, 454. Seminar in Contemporary Physics.
A weekly seminar in which both students and faculty present reports on currently active fields of research in physics. Representative topics are solar neutrinos, high-temperature superconductivity, the search for gravity waves, chaos and fractals. Up to four semesters of enrollment are permitted at one-half course unit per semester. Prerequisite: Physics 222 or permission of instructor.

489, 498. SYE: Advanced Laboratory.
This course for physics majors consists of an individual project selected from an area of common interest between the student and one of the faculty members. A written report of the project is defended at an oral presentation. Physics 498 is the honors version of this course. Prerequisite or corequisite: Physics 308, 317, and 318 or permission of the department.