PHYS - Physics

PHYS 101 Contemporary Physics for Non-Science Majors

(Designed for students majoring in humanities and social sciences.) Non-mathematical survey of selected areas of contemporary science. Emphasis on ideas and concepts of physics, including its role in society.

3

PHYS 104 The Big Bang

Non-mathematical presentation of selected topics regarding the latest theories of the formation of the universe including ideas from special and general relativity.

1

PHYS 107 Particles and Waves

Introductory level course on topics of special interest not covered in regular courses.

1-3

PHYS 111 Introduction to Physical Sciences

An inquiry and algebra based approach to the major topics of physics: motion, conservation laws, heat, electricity, optics, and introductory atomic physics.

3

PHYS 117 Sound, Light and Color

A course for the non-major covering topics in acoustics (especially musical acoustics), optics, light, lasers, holograms, and theories of color. The approach is mostly conceptual with some use of simple algebra. Emphasis will be on the physics, but some discussion of perceptual issues concerning the ear, eye, and brain will be included.

3

PHYS 118 Introduction to Astronomy

An introduction to the study of astronomy, from the early historical development of astronomy as a science to our modern understanding of stars, galaxies, and the Universe. The mathematics will be at the level of high school algebra and geometry.

3

PHYS 121 College Physics I

A non-calculus lecture sequence: motion, dynamics, conservation theorems, heat. Students requiring a laboratory component should include PHYS 123. Student must have taken MATH 105 or N.Y.S. Regents Math B.

3

PHYS 122 College Physics II

A non-calculus lecture sequence: wave motion, sound, electromagnetic fields, circuits, optics, quantum phenomena. Students requiring a laboratory component should include PHYS 124.

3

Prerequisites

PHYS 121

PHYS 123 College Physics Lab I

One three-hour laboratory session per week treating topics covered in PHYS 121.

1

Prerequisites

PHYS 121*

Cross Listed Courses

* Indicates that the course can be taken in the same semester

PHYS 124 College Physics II Lab

One three-hour laboratory session per week treating topics covered in PHYS 122.

1

Prerequisites

PHYS 122*

Cross Listed Courses

* Indicates that the course can be taken in the same semester

PHYS 131 Waves and Light

This course explores both mechanical wave and electromagnetic (light) wave properties and behaviors. Wave motion will be described pictorially, graphically and mathematically in order to investigate the characteristics of the wave. Interactions with light and matter will be studied with a particular focus on basic optics. The material will be covered at a high level under the presumption that students are able to perform basic algebraic and geometry calculations

3

PHYS 152 Observing the Sky

An introductory astronomy course aimed at exploring the historical and modern techniques by which scientists observe objects in the sky. Topics will include the historical development of science, motions in the sky, light and telescopes, and digital imaging. While some classes will be held in the planetarium, no nighttime telescope work will be required. The mathematics will be at the level of high school algebra and geometry.

3

PHYS 199 Special Topics

Introductory level course on topics of special interest not covered in regular courses.

1-3

PHYS 200 Engineering Graphics

Introduction to tools, language, and procedures basic to training of an engineering draftsperson. Emphasis on drafting techniques, two-dimensional and isometric representation.

2

PHYS 205 Science and Civilization

A survey of the major scientific discoveries, the scientists behind these discoveries, and the effect that these discoveries have had on the progress of civilization. The course will discuss historical developments from Thales to Einstein.

3

PHYS 206 Genesis of the Universe

A non-mathematical course covering historical, philosophical, theological and scientific aspects concerning the genesis of the universe.

3

PHYS 230 University Physics I

Calculus-based lecture sequence for science and mathematics majors who have completed a course or courses in University Calculus or the equivalent. Kinematics, dynamics, gravitation. A recitation is included.

4

Prerequisites

MATH 122

Corequisites

PHYS 232

PHYS 231 University Physics II

Calculus-based lecture sequence for science and mathematics majors who have completed a course or courses in University Calculus or the equivalent. Electricity and magnetism. A recitation is included.

4

Prerequisites

MATH 123 and PHYS 230

Corequisites

PHYS 233

PHYS 232 University Physics I Lab

One three-hour laboratory session per week treating topics covered in PHYS 230.

1

Corequisites

PHYS 230

PHYS 233 University Physics II Lab

One three-hour laboratory session per week treating topics covered in PHYS 231.

1

Corequisites

PHYS 231

PHYS 234 Modern Physics

Lecture course for students who have completed University Physics. Topics covered include Special Relativity, wave properties, an introduction to Quantum Mechanics, atomic, solid state, and nuclear physics.

3

Prerequisites

PHYS 231

PHYS 235 Modern Physics Lab

Lab course developing skills in experimental design and implementation along with scientific writing. This course includes a stronger emphasis on assignment of and propagation of uncertainty, and methods of linear fitting, non-linear fitting and statistical analysis. Experiments explore the areas of Special Relativity, wave properties, an introduction to Quantum Mechanics, atomic, solid state, and nuclear physics.

1

PHYS 311 Acoustics I

Elements of physics bearing directly on production and assimilation of musical tones: wave motion, resonance, complex waves, physiology of hearing, musical scales, simple acoustical models of musical instruments, and architectural acoustics.

3

Prerequisites

PHYS 121 or PHYS 230

PHYS 312 Acoustics II

Psychoacoustics and architectural acoustics. A study of the mechanics and neurological foundations of the perception of pitch, loudness, timbre, and direction, followed by a contrasting study of the behavior, measurement, and evaluation of sound and music in a variety of environments, utilizing both objective techniques and the psychoacoustical insights gained from the first part of the course.

3

Prerequisites

PHYS 311

PHYS 318 Basic Electronics

Introduction to electronic circuits, devices, and systems with practical applications to recording engineering and biomedical instrumentation. Non-majors only.

3

Prerequisites

(MATH 120 or MATH 122) and (PHYS 122 or PHYS 231)

PHYS 321 Engineering Statics

A calculus treatment of statics applied to the equilibrium of rigid and elastic bodies, including fundamentals of mechanics, vector algebra, free body diagrams, equivalent force/moment systems, distributed forces, centroids and center of gravity, equilibrium of particles and rigid bodies, trusses, frames, beams, internal forces in structural members, friction, first and second moments of area and moments and products of inertia, and methods of virtual work and total potential energy.

3

Prerequisites

PHYS 230

PHYS 322 Mechanics of Solids

Continuation of PHYS 321 including stress and strain tensors, mechanical properties of solids, multidimensional stress-strain relations, section forces in beams, stresses in beams, deflection of beams, torsion, stresses and strain relations at a point, Mohr's circle, energy methods, elastic stability, and vibrations.

4

Prerequisites

PHYS 321

PHYS 323 Circuit Analysis

A development of network analysis including Ohm's and Kirchhoff's laws, dependent and independent voltage and current sources, circuit simplification techniques including node-voltage, mesh-current methods, Thevenin and Norton equivalents, energy-storage elements, operational amplifiers, natural and step response of RL, RC and RLC circuits, sinusoidal steady- state analysis, introduction to Laplace Transforms, passive filters.

4

Prerequisites

PHYS 231

PHYS 324 Circuit Analysis II

Continuation of PHYS 323 including sinusoidal excitation and phasors, AC steady state analysis, three-phase circuits, complex frequency and network functions, frequency response, transformers, Fourier and Laplace transforms.

3

Prerequisites

PHYS 323

PHYS 325 Electronics

Course treats analog electronics, AC and DC circuits and laws of network analysis. Elements of semiconductor physics. Diodes, rectifiers, filters and regulated power supplies. Bipolar and FET transistors and transistor amplifier circuits. Feedback and operational amplifiers. Discrete and integrated circuit oscillators, multivibrators, and waveshaping.

3

Prerequisites

PHYS 231

Corequisites

PHYS 327

PHYS 326 Digital Logic

TTL characteristics, Boolean algebra, logic functions, and minimization procedures. Logic gates and implementation. Design of combinational and sequential circuits. Flipflops, counters, shift registers, and arithmetic circuits. Analog to digital and digital to analog conversion. Solid state memories and simple processors.

3

Corequisites

PHYS 328

PHYS 327 Electronics Lab

Laboratory to accompany and supplement PHYS 325.

1

Corequisites

PHYS 325

PHYS 328 Digital Lab

Laboratory to accompany and supplement PHYS 326.

1

Corequisites

PHYS 326

PHYS 329 Engineering Dynamics

Mechanics applied to the motion of particles and rigid bodies, including kinematics and dynamics of particles, relative motion, work-energy and impulse-momentum methods, and kinematics and dynamics of rigid bodies, including rotation and simple vibration.

3

Prerequisites

PHYS 230

PHYS 330 Thermodynamics

Concepts of temperature, laws of thermodynamics, entropy, thermodynamic relations and potentials, processes, properties and cycles, applications to physical systems, introduction to statistical mechanics. MATH 223 is recommended (may be taken concurrently).

3

Prerequisites

PHYS 230

PHYS 331 Theoretical Mechanics

Vector-tensor approach to classical mechanics including kinematics, dynamics, oscillations, Lagrange's and Hamilton's equations, transformations, central force, and rigid body motion.

3

Prerequisites

MATH 224 and PHYS 230

PHYS 333 Electricity and Magnetism

Mathematical theory of electrostatics and electromagnetism employing vector calculus. Applications of Maxwell's equations.

3

Prerequisites

PHYS 231 and (PHYS 425 or MATH 420)

PHYS 340 Optics

An introduction to geometrical, physical, and modern optics.

3

Prerequisites

PHYS 231

Corequisites

PHYS 341

PHYS 341 Optics Laboratory

Laboratory to accompany and supplement PHYS 340.

1

Corequisites

PHYS 340

PHYS 350 Astrophysics

A survey of modern astrophysics, applying the physical and mathematical tools learned in the prerequisites. Topics covered include the physics of stars, interstellar gas and dust, galaxies, and cosmology.

3

Prerequisites

PHYS 231 and MATH 223

PHYS 352 Measuring the Sky

A laboratory course covering techniques in modern observational astrophysics. Students will be trained to operate the telescope on campus and will gain expertise in the acquisition and analysis of digital images. Nighttime work outside of formal class meeting time will be required.

1

Prerequisites

PHYS 152 or PHYS 231

PHYS 400 Undergraduate Seminar

Presentations by students discussing topics in physics. Counted once for the physics credit hour requirements.

1

PHYS 401 Special Relativity

Tensor calculus approach to relativistic kinematics, dynamics, optics, electrodynamics, and selected applied topics.

3

Prerequisites

PHYS 234

PHYS 425 Mathematical Physics I

Applied methods including cartesian and non-cartesian vector and tensor analysis, complex numbers and functions, linear algebra, vectors and coordinate transforms, eigenvectors and eigenvalues, infinite series, multiple integrals, Jacobians, Green's Theorem, Divergence Theorem, Stoke's Theorem and Fourier Series.

3

Prerequisites

MATH 224

PHYS 426 Mathematical Physics II

Applied methods including Fourier and Laplace transforms, partial differential equations, boundary value problems, special functions, Green's functions, and functions of a complex variable.

3

Prerequisites

PHYS 425

PHYS 431 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics

Concept of wave-particle duality, Schroedinger's wave equation with applications to potential problems, to the hydrogen atom, and to atomic spectra; perturbation theory, and spin-orbit interaction.

3

Prerequisites

PHYS 234

Corequisites

PHYS 425

PHYS 434 Solid State Physics

Crystal structure, conduction theory, binding and energy levels and other properties of conductors, semiconductors, dielectrics, and magnetics.

3

Prerequisites

PHYS 431

PHYS 440 Seminar: Wave Motion in Physics

The course will be devoted to the study of waves and its applications in different fields of physics. The principal objective is to develop an understanding of basic wave concepts and of their relations with one another. Readings and discussions on topics such as free and forced oscillations, superposition principle, traveling and standing waves, modulations, pulses, wave packets, bandwidth, coherence time and polarization, will serve to reach the proposed goal. Applications of different physical systems as water waves, sound waves, light waves, transmission lines, quantum waves, etc. will be illustrated through interesting examples.

1

Prerequisites

PHYS 234

PHYS 442 Computational Physics and Engineering

Numerical and computational techniques for solving a wide variety of problems in physics and engineering. Various methods for solving ordinary and partial differential equations describing mechanical oscillators (both periodic and chaotic), electrical and magnetic fields, and quantum mechanical wave functions will be explored. Students will be introduced to MATLAB, and some projects will be run in EXCEL. Familiarity with the physical systems involved is not a prerequisite. If time permits, Monte-Carlo methods will also be explored.

1

Prerequisites

MATH 223 and PHYS 230

PHYS 444 Seminar: Quantum Information and Measurement

Readings and discussion on the measurement process in quantum mechanics. Entangled states, Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox, Bell's inequality, quantum encryption and quantum computation. Experimental techniques. Philosophical issues raised by quantum theory.

1

Prerequisites

PHYS 431

PHYS 450 Advanced Laboratory

Students explore advanced experimental techniques progressing through introductory stages to applications, devoting two to four weeks to each chosen topic. Student interest accommodated in topics (and respective applications) such as Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (Magnetic Resonance Imaging-MRI), X-Ray Techniques (crystallography/elemental analysis/medical imaging), Hall effect and related techniques (semiconductor characterization/Giant Magneto Resistive computer disc readers, etc.), and Magnetization measurements (data storage/electrical and mechanical power conversion/geological surveying/bird and insect navigation, etc.).

1

Prerequisites

PHYS 234 or CHEM 316

PHYS 461 Telescope Operations and Outreach

Students enrolled learn how to lead telescope-related outreach activities under faculty supervision. Specific learning objectives include operating the telescope, identification and investigation of celestial objects of interest to the general public, presenting technical information to non-specialists, and public speaking. Approval to register must be obtained from the department. Approximately three hours of work per week, per credit hour, are expected. Course may be repeated for a maximum of 4 credit hours applicable toward fulfillment of physics or mathematics-physics major's supporting course requirements. (A major in physics or mathematics-physics is not a prerequisite.

1-2

PHYS 462 Planetarium Operations and Outreach

Students enrolled learn how to lead planetarium-related outreach activities under faculty supervision. Specific learning objectives include operating the planetarium, identification and investigation of celestial objects and topics of interest to the general public, presenting technical information to non-specialists, and public speaking. Approval to register must be obtained from the department. Approximately three hours of work per week, per credit hour, are expected. Course may be repeated for a maximum of 4 credit hours applicable toward fulfillment of physics or mathematics-physics major's supporting course requirements. (A major in physics or mathematics-physics is not a prerequisite.)

1-2

PHYS 468 Independent Study

Independent work on a theoretical or experimental topic under the supervision of a faculty member.

1-3

PHYS 469 Directed Research

Theoretical or experimental research under the supervision of a faculty member.

1-3

PHYS 470 Special Topics

Area not covered in regular courses. Broad range of topics consistent with teaching and research interests of department.

1-3

PHYS 471 Special Topics

Area not covered in regular courses. Broad range of topics consistent with teaching and research interests of department.

1-3

PHYS 472 Special Topics

Area not covered in regular courses. Broad range of topics consistent with teaching and research interests of department.

1-3

PHYS 473 Special Topics

Area not covered in regular courses. Broad range of topics consistent with teaching and research interests of department.

1-3

PHYS 474 Special Topics

Area not covered in regular courses. Broad range of topics consistent with teaching and research interests of department.

1-3

PHYS 475 Special Topics

Area not covered in regular courses. Broad range of topics consistent with teaching and research interests of department.

1-3

PHYS 476 Special Topics

Area not covered in regular courses. Broad range of topics consistent with teaching and research interests of department.

1-3

PHYS 477 Special Topics

Area not covered in regular courses. Broad range of topics consistent with teaching and research interests of department.

1-3

PHYS 478 Special Topics

Area not covered in regular courses. Broad range of topics consistent with teaching and research interests of department.

1-3

PHYS 479 Special Topics

Area not covered in regular courses. Broad range of topics consistent with teaching and research interests of department.

1-3

PHYS 480 Laboratory Supervision in Physics

Students enrolled serve as laboratory assistants under faculty supervision. Approval to register must be obtained from department. Three hours of work per week are expected for each hour of credit elected. Course may be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours applicable toward fulfillment of physics or mathematics-physics major's supporting course requirements. (A major in physics or mathematics-physics is not a prerequisite.)

1-3

PHYS 490 Honors Thesis

Research project culminating in a thesis. In most cases a full year of work will be required to complete both project and thesis.

3

PHYS 530 Kinetic Theory and Statistical Mechanics

Maxwell-Boltzmann collision theory. H-theorem, transport equation, quantum statistics partition functions, equipartition theorem, applications to thermodynamic systems, ergodicity.

3

PHYS 531 Mathematical Physics I

Mathematical methods including eigenfunctions and eigenvalues, variational principles, abstract vector spaces, integral equations, Green's functions, partial differential equations of physics.

3

PHYS 532 Mathematical Physics II

Mathematical methods including eigenfunctions and eigenvalues, variational principles, abstract vector spaces, integral equations, Green's functions, partial differential equations of physics.

3

PHYS 533 Electromagnetic Theory I

Potential theory and boundary value problems, electromagnetic field relations, magnetohydrodynamics, Leinard-Wiechert potentials.

3

Prerequisites

PHYS 531

PHYS 534 Electromagnetic Theory II

Potential theory and boundary value problems, electromagnetic field relations, magentohydrodynamics, Leinard-Wiechert potentials.

3

Prerequisites

PHYS 531

PHYS 540 Modern Optics

Green's functions and linear theory, spatial filters, geometrical theory and aberrations, interference, diffraction and image formation, matrix and coherence theory, partial polarization, Fourier Methods.

3

PHYS 541 Advanced Dynamics

Lagrangian and Hamiltonian methods, variational principles, relativistic mechanics, transformation theory, oscillations, fields.

3

Prerequisites

PHYS 531

PHYS 543 Quantum Mechanics I

Solutions to wave equations, approximation methods, time dependent problems, vector spaces, matrix formulation, identical particles, scattering, radiation, second quantization.

3

Prerequisites

PHYS 531

PHYS 544 Quantum Mechanics II

Solutions to wave equations, approximation methods, time dependent problems, vector spaces, matrix formulation, identical particles, scattering, radiation, second quantization.

3

Prerequisites

PHYS 531

PHYS 546 Reactor Physics

Nuclear reactions and radiations, reactor theory, instrumentation, control, fuel, shielding, heat transfer, and applications of nuclear reactors.

3

Prerequisites

PHYS 432

PHYS 570 Special Topics

Areas not covered in regular courses. Broad range of advanced topics consistent with teaching and research interests of department.

1-3

PHYS 630 Advanced Nuclear Physics

Current experimental and theoretical topics including nuclear properties and systematics, nucleon scattering, nuclear forces and structure, reactions, decay processes, nuclear spectroscopy.

3

Prerequisites

PHYS 531 and PHYS 432

PHYS 631 Atomic and Molecular Structure

Quantum mechanical treatment of atomic and molecular energy levels including transitions, fine and hyperfine structure, isotopic effects, beam methods, collision and ionization phenomena.

3

Prerequisites

PHYS 543

PHYS 690 Research

Experimental or theoretical research in physics including a thesis.

3

PHYS 691 Research

Experimental or theoretical research in physics including a thesis.

3