Physics (PHYS) Course Descriptions

• PHYS 1003 Physics of Sound Laboratory

  Prerequisite(s): MATH 1313
  Corequisite(s): PHYS 1403

  This is the laboratory portion of PHYS 1403, Physics of Sound.

• PHYS 1011 Astronomy and the Universe Laboratory

  Prerequisite(s): MATH 1313
  Corequisite(s): PHYS 1411

  This is the laboratory portion of PHYS 1411, Astronomy and the Universe.

• PHYS 1016 General Physics I Laboratory

  Prerequisite(s): MATH 1434 or MATH 1451 or a satisfactory score on a departmental placement exam
  Corequisite(s): PHYS 1416

  This is the laboratory portion for PHYS 1416, General Physics I.

• PHYS 1017 General Physics II Laboratory

  Prerequisite(s): PHYS 1416
  Corequisite(s): PHYS 1417

  This is the laboratory portion of PHYS 1417, General Physics II.

• PHYS 1403 Physics of Sound

  Prerequisite(s): MATH 1313 (Basic knowledge of musical notation is recommended.)
  Restriction(s): This course does not count towards a physics major.

  This course is an introduction to the physical principles behind sound and music. Topics include the fundamental theory of vibration, sound waves and propagation, diffraction and interference, free, coupled and driven oscillations, resonance and oscillation modes. The anatomy and psychophysics of the ear are also covered as well as musical scales, and the nature of sound from the musical instruments. The course includes one semester hour credit for laboratory experiments.

• PHYS 1411 Astronomy and the Universe

  Prerequisite(s): MATH 1313
  Restriction(s):  This course does not count towards a physics major.

  Designed for non-science majors, this course is an overview of the solar system, astronomical instruments, the origin and evolution of stars, galaxies, black holes, quasars, cosmology, and the structure and origin of the universe. Concepts and critical thinking are strongly emphasized. The course includes one semester hour credit for laboratory investigations consisting of computer work and observation sessions.

• PHYS 1416 General Physics I

  Prerequisite(s): MATH 1434 or MATH 1451 or a satisfactory score on a departmental placement exam
  Restriction(s): This course may not be counted as part of the physics, chemistry, or biochemistry/molecular biology major.

  A precalculus-based introduction to Newton’s laws of motion, gravitation, fluids, and sound. This course includes one semester hour credit for laboratory sessions.

• PHYS 1417 General Physics II

  Prerequisite(s): PHYS 1416
  Restriction(s): This course may not be counted as part of the physics, chemistry, or biochemistry/molecular biology major.

  A precalculus-based introduction to the general principles of thermodynamics, electricity, magnetism, and geometric wave optics. This course includes one semester hour credit for laboratory sessions.

• PHYS 2013 Principles of Physics I Laboratory

  Prerequisite(s): MATH 1451
  Corequisite(s): PHYS 2413

  This is the laboratory portion of PHYS 2413, Principles of Physics I.

• PHYS 2023 Principles of Physics II Laboratory

  Prerequisite(s): PHYS 2413
  Corequisite(s): PHYS 2423

  This is the laboratory portion of PHYS 2423, Principles of Physics II.

• PHYS 2181 Special Topics/Independent Study

  Prerequisite(s): None

  Topics are selected on basis of student need and academic qualifications of staff. If regular lectures are not given, a minimum of 30 hours of work for each hour credit must be included. Laboratory may or may not be included.

• PHYS 2281 Special Topics/Independent Study

  Prerequisite(s): None

  Topics are selected on basis of student need and academic qualifications of staff. If regular lectures are not given, a minimum of 30 hours of work for each hour credit must be included. Laboratory may or may not be included.

• PHYS 2343 Introductory Theoretical Physics

  Prerequisite(s): PHYS 2423 or concurrent enrollment in MATH 1452

  Designed as an introduction to mathematical methods used in classical mechanics, electromagnetism and quantum mechanics. Topics include separation of variables and solving Laplace’s equation, special functions, differential and integral vector calculus.

• PHYS 2381 Special Topics/Independent Study

  Prerequisite(s): None

  Topics are selected on basis of student need and academic qualifications of staff. If regular lectures are not given, a minimum of 30 hours of work for each hour credit must be included. Laboratory may or may not be included.

• PHYS 2413 Principles of Physics I

  Prerequisite(s): MATH 1451

  An introduction to Newton’s laws of motion, gravitation, fluids, and sound. This course includes one semester hour credit for laboratory sessions.

• PHYS 2423 Principles of Physics II

  Prerequisite(s): PHYS 2413

  An introduction to the physical principles of thermodynamics, kinetic theory, electricity, magnetism, simple AC and DC circuits, and geometric wave optics. This course includes one semester hour credit for laboratory sessions.

• PHYS 2481 Special Topics/Independent Study

  Prerequisite(s): None

  Topics are selected on basis of student need and academic qualifications of staff. If regular lectures are not given, a minimum of 30 hours of work for each hour credit must be included. Laboratory may or may not be included.

• PHYS 3013 Modern Physics I Laboratory

  Prerequisite(s): PHYS 2343 or consent of the instructor
  Corequisite(s): PHYS 3413

  This is the laboratory portion of PHYS 3413, Modern Physics I.

• PHYS 3023 Modern Physics II Laboratory

  Prerequisite(s): PHYS 3413
  Corequisite(s): PHYS 3423

  This is the laboratory portion of PHYS 3423, Modern Physics II.

• PHYS 3033 The Art of Electronics Laboratory

  Prerequisite(s): PHYS 2423 or 3413
  Corequisite(s): PHYS 3433

  This is the laboratory portion of PHYS 3433, The Art of Electronics.

• PHYS 3043 Computational Physics Laboratory

  Prerequisite(s): PHYS 3313 or 3413 or 3323 (or concurrent enrollment)
  Corequisite(s): PHYS 3443

  This is the laboratory portion of PHYS 3443, Computational Physics.

• PHYS 3181 Special Topics/Independent Study

  Prerequisite(s): None

  Topics are selected on basis of student need and academic qualifications of staff. If regular lectures are not given, a minimum of 30 hours of work for each hour credit must be included. Laboratory may or may not be included.

• PHYS 3281 Special Topics/Independent Study

  Prerequisite(s): None

  Topics are selected on basis of student need and academic qualifications of staff. If regular lectures are not given, a minimum of 30 hours of work for each hour credit must be included. Laboratory may or may not be included.

• PHYS 3313 Mechanics

  Prerequisite(s): PHYS 2343 and MATH 1452

  Topics include single-particle Newtonian mechanics, oscillations, gravitation, calculus of variations, Lagrangian and Hamiltonian dynamics, central-force motion and dynamics of system of particles.

• PHYS 3323 Electricity and Magnetism

  Prerequisite(s): PHYS 2343 and MATH 1452

  Topics include solving Laplace’s and Poisson’s equations, the method of images, multi-pole expansion, electrostatics and magnetostatics in the presence of matter, Maxwell’s equations, electromagnetic waves and radiation.

• PHYS 3381 Special Topics/Independent Study

  Prerequisite(s): None

  Topics are selected on basis of student need and academic qualifications of staff. If regular lectures are not given, a minimum of 30 hours of work for each hour credit must be included. Laboratory may or may not be included.

• PHYS 3383 Mathematical Methods for Science and Engineering

  Prerequisite(s): Completion of or concurrent enrollment in MATH 3333 or MATH 3414

  Advanced techniques in applied mathematics for students of science and engineering, with topics chosen from partial differential equations, Laplace transforms, Fourier series, complex analysis and vector analysis. Fourier series. (Offered also as MATH 3383.)

• PHYS 3413 Modern Physics I

  Prerequisite(s): PHYS 2343

  An introduction to special relativity, pre-quantum physics and basic concepts of quantum mechanics and atomic structure. This course includes one semester hour credit for laboratory sessions designed as investigations of optical phenomena and fundamental constants.

• PHYS 3423 Modern Physics II

  Prerequisite(s): PHYS 3413

  A continuation of PHYS 3413. Topics include many-electron atoms, molecules, solid state, nuclear structure, and elementary particles. This course includes one semester hour credit for laboratory sessions.

• PHYS 3433 The Art of Electronics

  Prerequisite(s): PHYS 2423 and PHYS 3413

  The Art of Electronics consists of basic electronics and solid state physics theories and experiments. Topics include the fundamentals of direct and alternating current circuits involving applications of Ohm’s Law and Kirchhoff’s Laws. Students learn semiconductor physics to understand the operation of diodes, transistors and op amps. In the laboratory section, students build and test circuits while developing skills in the operation of power supplies, function generators, oscilloscopes and spectrum analyzers.

• PHYS 3443 Computational Physics

  Prerequisite(s): PHYS 3313 and PHYS 3413 and completion of or concurrent enrollment in PHYS 3323

  Students learn computational techniques useful for solving problems in advanced dynamics, electromagnetism and quantum mechanics. Advanced dynamics topics include the study of deterministic chaos solving systems of ordinary differential equations. Students apply finite element method electromagnetic modeling to calculate static electric and magnetic fields, solve time dependent magnetic problems, and calculate current flow. Quantum dynamics problems are analyzed by solving the time dependent Schrodinger equation. In the laboratory, students gain hands-on experience using mathematical software to solve problems in advanced dynamics, electromagnetism, and quantum mechanics.

• PHYS 3481 Special Topics/Independent Study

  Prerequisite(s): None

  Topics are selected on basis of student need and academic qualifications of staff. If regular lectures are not given, a minimum of 30 hours of work for each hour credit must be included. Laboratory may or may not be included.

• PHYS 4181 Special Topics/Independent Study

  Prerequisite(s): None

  Topics are selected on basis of student need and academic qualifications of staff. If regular lectures are not given, a minimum of 30 hours of work for each hour credit must be included. Laboratory may or may not be included.

• PHYS 4221 Undergraduate Research Experience in Physics I

  Prerequisite(s): At least 29 hours of Physics completed

  Senior physics majors will investigate a topic of current research interest with physics faculty. The course will involve problem identification, literature search, and start of research (building the necessary background or setting up the necessary experiment(s) to solve the research problem, development of the solution of the problem). All students will meet with faculty twice a week for instruction, guidance and exploration of the topic.

• PHYS 4222 Undergraduate Research Experience in Physics II

  Prerequisite(s): PHYS 4221

  This course is a continuation of PHYS 4221. The course will involve the further development of the solution of the research problem; finding applications; acquisition of new results; completion of research; writing of research paper; preparation and delivery of oral presentation; application, preparation and presentation at the annual HCU Celebration of Scholarship Symposium. All students will meet with faculty twice a week for instruction, guidance and exploration of the topic.

• PHYS 4281 Special Topics/Independent Study

  Prerequisite(s): None

  Topics are selected on basis of student need and academic qualifications of staff. If regular lectures are not given, a minimum of 30 hours of work for each hour credit must be included. Laboratory may or may not be included.

• PHYS 4323 Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics

  Prerequisite(s): PHYS 2343

  Energy in Thermal Physics, The Second Law of Thermodynamics, Thermal Interactions.

• PHYS 4343 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics I

  Prerequisite(s): PHYS 2343 and PHYS 3413 and MATH 1452

  Foundations of quantum mechanics, Schroedinger’s equation with applications such as the square well, harmonic oscillator, hydrogen atom, and electron spin.

• PHYS 4344 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics II

  Prerequisite(s): PHYS 4343

  Continuation of PHYS 4343 covering quantum mechanics of identical particles, time-independent perturbation theory, the variational principle, WKB approximation, and time-dependent perturbation theory.

• PHYS 4381 Special Topics/Independent Study

  Prerequisite(s): None

  Topics are selected on basis of student need and academic qualifications of staff. If regular lectures are not given, a minimum of 30 hours of work for each hour credit must be included. Laboratory may or may not be included.

• PHYS 4481 Special Topics/Independent Study

  Prerequisite(s): None

  Topics are selected on basis of student need and academic qualifications of staff. If regular lectures are not given, a minimum of 30 hours of work for each hour credit must be included. Laboratory may or may not be included.