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Academic Catalog

Physics (PS)

PS 101  Physics in Everyday Life  (5)  

An integrated lecture and laboratory course designed for people pursuing degrees outside the natural or health sciences and who are interested in understanding how physics forms the backdrop of modern life. Topics include motion, gravity, energy, heat, sound, light, electricity, and magnetism, discussed in terms of impact on modern society and everyday life. Laboratory exercises demonstrate physical concepts while emphasizing the scientific process of data collection and analysis. This course requires no previous science or mathematics background and cannot count towards Physics Department degree programs. Fulfills the general education requirement of a natural science course with lab. Course consists of three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory exercises per week. Prerequisites: None.
Course Attributes:
  • Gen Ed AY 2024-2025: Natural and Physical Sciences
  • Gen Ed AY 2024-2025: Scientific Reasoning and Literacy
  • Gen Ed Pre-AY 2024-2025: Natural Science
  • USLO: Quantitative and Scientific Reasoning and Literacy

PS 103  Physics & Engineering Seminar I  (1)  

An overview of the fields and practice of physics and engineering. Students will participate in weekly readings and discussions, and complete at least one written piece and at least on presentation. Specific content will change each time the course is offered.

PS 108  Physical Science  (3)  

Introduces basic physics and chemistry with an emphasis on the understanding and significance of accepted fundamental principles. It provides an opportunity to develop critical thinking suited to pursuing any science, as well as giving a larger perspective than can be obtained by study of a single science. Explores contemporary issues as well as the methods, limitations, and societal implications of scientific advancement. Students will be encouraged to explore the relationship between science and everyday life. For non-majors. Recommended for partial fulfillment of the graduation requirement in natural science. Prerequisite: MA 112 Essential Mathematics or MA 116 College Algebra or higher, or concurrent enrollment.
Course Attributes:
  • Gen Ed AY 2024-2025: Scientific Reasoning and Literacy
  • Gen Ed Pre-AY 2024-2025: Natural Science
  • USLO: Quantitative and Scientific Reasoning and Literacy

PS 120  Meteorology  (3)  

The Earth’s atmosphere and basic circulation patterns including types and classification of clouds and air masses, the formation of fronts, winds aloft computations, principles of forecasting, energy considerations and other associated physical processes. Prerequisite: MA 095 or higher.
Course Attributes:
  • Gen Ed AY 2024-2025: Scientific Reasoning and Literacy
  • Gen Ed Pre-AY 2024-2025: Natural Science
  • USLO: Quantitative and Scientific Reasoning and Literacy

PS 126  Physical Science for Elementary Educators  (5)  

This course introduces the fundamentals of physics and chemistry, for the pre-service elementary school teacher. The course features lab-based, hands-on activities, and collaborative, inquiry-based exercises. Course activities serve to improve confidence in both scientific process and content learning, with methods applicable to elementary curricula.
Course Attributes:
  • Gen Ed AY 2024-2025: Natural and Physical Sciences
  • Gen Ed AY 2024-2025: Scientific Reasoning and Literacy
  • Gen Ed Pre-AY 2024-2025: Natural Science
  • USLO: Quantitative and Scientific Reasoning and Literacy

PS 131  Biological Physics for the Health and Life Sciences  (3)  

A one-semester course covering classical and modern physics, designed primarily for students in the health professions. Typical subjects include the laws of motion, gravity, heat, sound, light, electricity, and magnetism. Subjects are treated conceptually along with the use of basic data. Recommended for partial fulfillment of the graduation requirement in natural science. Not applicable toward credit for physics major requirements. Students will not receive credit for both PS 101 and PS 131. Prerequisite: MA 112 Essential Mathematics or MA 116 College Algebra or higher, or concurrent enrollment.
Course Attributes:
  • Gen Ed AY 2024-2025: Scientific Reasoning and Literacy
  • Gen Ed Pre-AY 2024-2025: Natural Science
  • USLO: Quantitative and Scientific Reasoning and Literacy

PS 132  Biological Physics for the Health and Life Sciences Laboratory  (1)  

A laboratory exploring classical and modern physics, designed primarily for students in the health professions. Experiments in motion, gravity, heat, sound, light, electricity, and magnetism are designed to teach physics concepts and basic laboratory techniques. The course is designed to introduce students to laboratory techniques used in physics emphasizing instrumentation, data acquisition, and analysis. One three-hour laboratory period per week. Recommended for partial fulfillment of the graduation requirement in natural science. Not applicable toward credit for physics major requirements. Prerequisite: PS 131 Biological Physics for the Health and Life Sciences or concurrent enrollment. Concurrently enrolled students may not drop PS 131 and remain enrolled in PS 132.

PS 261  College Physics I  (5)  

Recommended for medical arts and general science students. Mechanics, heat, and sound are studied. Lecture-recitation and laboratory. Prerequisite: MA 117 or MA 123 or MA 151 (or concurrent).
Course Attributes:
  • Gen Ed AY 2024-2025: Natural and Physical Sciences
  • Gen Ed AY 2024-2025: Scientific Reasoning and Literacy
  • Gen Ed Pre-AY 2024-2025: Natural Science
  • USLO: Quantitative and Scientific Reasoning and Literacy

PS 262  College Physics II  (5)  

A continuation of College Physics I. Electricity, optics and modern physics. Lecture-recitation and laboratory. Prerequisite: PS 261 with a grade of C or better.

PS 281  General Physics I  (5)  

Required for students who wish to major in physics and astronomy and for pre-engineering students. Mechanics, heat, and sound are studied. Lecture-recitation and laboratory. Prerequisite: MA 151.
Course Attributes:
  • Gen Ed AY 2024-2025: Natural and Physical Sciences
  • Gen Ed AY 2024-2025: Scientific Reasoning and Literacy
  • Gen Ed Pre-AY 2024-2025: Natural Science
  • USLO: Quantitative and Scientific Reasoning and Literacy

PS 282  General Physics II  (5)  

A continuation of General Physics I. Electricity and magnetism, optics, and modern physics. Lecture-recitation and laboratory. Prerequisite: PS 281 with a grade of C or better.

PS 291  Elementary Computational Physics  (2)  

An introduction to computer modeling of physics problems using spreadsheet programs, computer algebra systems, and other mathematical software. Prerequisite: MA 151 or concurrent.

PS 303  Physics & Engineering Seminar II  (1)  

An overview of the fields and practice of physics and engineering. Students will participate in weekly readings and discussions, and complete at least one written piece and at least one presentation. Specific content will change each time the course is offered. Prerequisite: upper-division standing

PS 310  Relativity  (2)  

Concepts of space and time, frames of reference, Einstein's Theory of Special Relativity and Elements of General Relativity. Prerequisite: PS 262 or PS 282; MA 253.

PS 318  Earth and Space Science for STEM Educators I  (3)  

Designed to introduce the history, structure, composition, and dynamic processes that shape our planet, as well as the impact humans have on Earth’s resources, to STEM educators. Connects astronomy and geology through the study of planetary science and exploration. This course does not satisfy any physics requirement outside of the STEM education program. Prerequisites: CH 317 with a letter grade of C or higher; concurrent enrollment in ED 318.

PS 320  Electromagnetic Theory I  (3)  

The basic theory of electro-magnetic fields and waves using the calculus and vector methods. Prerequisites: PS 262 or PS 282; MA 253.

PS 321  Electromagnetic Theory II  (3)  

A continuation of Physics 320. Prerequisite: PS 320.

PS 322  Circuits and Electronics  (3)  

Design and applications of DC and AC circuits along with electrical measurement and analysis. Topics include filters, complex impedance, Fourier analysis, and semiconductor devices. Two lecture hours and three laboratory hours per week. Prerequisite: PS 262 or PS 282.

PS 330  Optics  (3)  

Physical and geometrical optics. Lecture-recitation. Prerequisite: PS 262 or PS 282.

PS 332  Optics Lab  (1)  

Experiments with lens systems, mirrors, aberrations, the spectrometer, interference and diffraction, and polarization. Prerequisite: PS 330 or concurrent enrollment.

PS 334  Thermodynamics  (3)  

Consideration of heat phenomena, first and second laws of thermodynamics, their principal consequences and application to simple systems, and the kinetic theory of gases. Prerequisite: PS 262 or PS 282; MA 253.

PS 335  Theoretical Mechanics I  (3)  

A mathematical study of classical mechanics. Rigid body statics and dynamics, kinematics and dynamics of particles and systems of particles, and conservative and non-conservative force fields. Prerequisites: PS 262 or PS 282; MA 253.

PS 336  Theoretical Mechanics II  (3)  

A continuation of Theoretical Mechanics I. Prerequisite: PS 335.

PS 340  Computer Interfacing and Instrumentation  (3)  

Design and implementation of scientific instruments via computer interfacing, emphasizing both software and hardware considerations. LabVIEW and Arduino platforms are used specifically. Two lecture hours and one three-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisites: PS 262 or PS 282

PS 350  Modern Physics I  (3)  

Phenomena specific to the extra-nuclear structure of the atom; phenomena peculiar to the atomic nucleus; introduction to quantum and wave mechanics, and relativity. Prerequisites: PS 262 or PS 282; MA 253.

PS 351  Modern Physics II  (3)  

A continuation of Physics 350. Prerequisite: PS 350.

PS 352  Modern Physics Laboratory  (1)  

Measurements of constants fundamental to atomic physics: Planck’s constant, electron charge and mass, speed of light, etc. Techniques of nuclear alpha, beta and gamma ray spectroscopy. Prerequisite: PS 350.

PS 360  Physics Research  (1, 2)  

Experimental design and techniques. Extensive use of technical literature will be necessary. Independent work is encouraged. This Capstone requires summative reflection, serving as a culminating experience for Bachelor’s degree students. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

PS 365  Introduction to Theoretical Physics  (3)  

Application of ordinary and partial differential equations, Fourier series and Transforms, partial differential equations with solution methods, and tensor analysis as applied to problems in the fields of physics and engineering. Prerequisites: PS 262 or PS 282 or concurrent enrollment; MA 253.

PS 366  Introduction to Computational Physics  (3)  

Techniques and models in computational physics. Prerequisites: PS 262 or PS 282; MA 253.

PS 368  Computational Physics Research  (1)  

Computational physics research in any of the areas of physics. A written and an oral presentation of the work is required. This Capstone requires summative reflection, serving as a culminating experience for Bachelor’s degree students. Prerequisite: Departmental permission.

PS 370  Special Subjects in Physics  (1-3)  

Offered on demand as teaching schedules permit. Material is to be chosen according to student interest from any one of a number of fields of physics. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.