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Physics/Astronomy
Course Offerings
| Physical Science 501 | 1 – 5 (crs.) |
| Waves and Fields for Teachers | |
| The main purpose of this course is to sharpen your teaching skills in the area of waves and fields. The philosophy of the course is simple: for teachers to adopt and successfully use best teaching practices, they must experience the effectiveness of those methods firsthand. Therefore, in this course, teachers will be exposed to a wide-range of research-based teaching techniques. These include: the use of computer-based probes and detectors, modeling discourse, Socratic questioning, interactive lecture demonstrations and the bridging analogies. Prerequisite: Permission from the instructor. | |
| Physical Science 505 | 1 – 5 (crs.) |
| Optics for Teachers | |
| The main purpose of this course is to sharpen your teaching skills in the areas of geometric and physical optics. The philosophy of the course is simple: for teachers to adopt and successfully use best teaching practices, they must experience the effectiveness of those methods firsthand. Therefore, in this course, teachers will be exposed to a wide-range of research-based teaching techniques. Cross-listed: Secondary Ed 505/Physical Science 505. Students may receive credit for only one of the two cross-listed courses. Prerequisite: Permission from the instructor. | |
| Physical Science 510 | 1 – 5 (crs.) |
| Classical Mechanics for Teachers | |
| The main purpose of this course is to sharpen your teaching skills in the area of classical mechanics. The philosophy of the course is simple: for teachers to adopt and successfully use best teaching practices, they must experience the effectiveness of those methods firsthand. Therefore, in this course, teachers will be exposed to a wide-range of research-based teaching techniques. Cross-listed: Secondary Ed 510/Physical Science 510. Students may receive credit for only one of the two cross-listed courses. Prerequisite: Permission from the instructor. | |
| Physics/Astronomy 505 | 3 (crs.) |
| Electronic Circuits and Devices | |
| DC and AC circuit theory with emphasis placed on the external electrical properties of analog electronic devices and their practical applications. Prerequisite: Physics 108 or Physics 110 or instructor’s permission. 305/505 (2+2) | |
| Physics/Astronomy 507 | 3 (crs.) |
| Physical Optics | |
| Review of geometrical optics, interference, diffraction, polarization, double refraction, electromagnetic theory of light, introduction to quantum optics and lasers. Prerequisite: Physics 110 and Mathematics 172. 307/507 (3+0) | |
| Physics/Astronomy 511 | 4 (crs.) |
| Digital Instrumentation | |
| Fundamentals and applications of combinational and sequential digital circuits, memory and storage, microprocessors, digital-to-analog and analog-to-digital conversion, emphasizing use in measurement and instrumentation. Credit may not be earned for both Physics 211 and 311/511. Prerequisite: Previous physics or electronics course, Mathematics 122 or consent of instructor. 311/511 (3+2) | |
| Physics/Astronomy 519 | 3 (crs.) |
| Digital Signal Processing | |
| The fundamentals of digital signal processing techniques with an emphasis on their computer implementation: linear shift-invariant systems, the Z-transform, the discrete and continuous fourier transforms, digital filter design, and inverse filters. Familiarity with calculus, complex numbers, and BASIC or FORTRAN is assumed. 319/519 (3+0) | |
| Physics/Astronomy 533 | 3 (crs.) |
| Our Changing View of the Physical Universe | |
| This course traces the evolution of our conception of the physical universe from its prehistoric beginnings to the current cosmological theories. 333/533 (3+0) | |
| Physics/Astronomy 535 | 3 (crs.) |
| Demonstration and Laboratory Techniques in Physics | |
| A laboratory course to provide the high school physics teacher with opportunities to handle the physical apparatus used in modern physics curricula. Prerequisite: A two-semester sequence in General Physics. 335/535 (1+3) | |
| Physics/Astronomy 608 | 3 (crs.) |
| Statistical Physics and Thermodynamics | |
| Temperature, entropy, and other thermal quantities introduced from microscopic considerations and related to macroscopic thermodynamic variables. Calculation of macroscopic properties of matter from microscopic models. Prerequisite: Physics 320. 408/608 (3+0) | |
| Physics/Astronomy 615 | 3 (crs.) |
| Microprocessor Applications | |
| Hardware and software for input-output applications on microprocessors, use of polling and interrupts, and comparison of various microprocessors for I/O applications. Laboratory included. Prerequisite: Physics 211 or 311, and Computer Science 310. 415/615 (2+2) | |
| Physics/Astronomy 617 | 3 (crs.) |
| Electricity and Magnetism | |
| An advanced treatment of important topics in electricity and magnetism. Prerequisite: Physics 320. 417/617 (3+0) | |
| Physics/Astronomy 618 | 3 (crs.) |
| Analytical Mechanics | |
| Advanced treatment of important topics in classical mechanics. Prerequisite: Physics 320. 418/618 (3+0) | |
| Physics/Astronomy 619 | 3 (crs.) |
| Introductory Quantum Mechanics | |
| Development of quantum mechanics principles and application to important simple physical systems. Prerequisite: Physics 320. 419/619 (3+0) | |
| Physics/Astronomy 649 | 3 (crs.) |
| Quantum Physics: Nuclei and Solids | |
| Quantum physics applied to nuclei and elementary particles, special relativity, statistics of particles and physics of solids. Prerequisite: Physics 320. 449/649 (3+0) | |
| Physics/Astronomy 670 | 3 (crs.) |
| Solid State Physics | |
| Introduction to the structure of solids, lattice vibrations, heat capacity, electrical conductivity of metals and semi-conductors, superconductivity, magnetic and mechanical properties of solids and a survey of non-crystalline condensed matter states. Prerequisite: Physics 109 and 110. 470/670 (3+0) | |
| Physics/Astronomy 746 | 1 – 3 (crs.) |
| Workshop on Current Topics | |
| A workshop in special topics of interest. This course may be repeated for credit with different topics. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Special course fees may apply. | |
| Physics/Astronomy 771 | 2 (crs.) |
| Theory of Atomic Structure | |
| Methods of determining the atomic states in multi-electron atoms up to the rare earths. Hartree-Fock Hamiltonian and the single electron spherical harmonic wave functions. The multiple states, the term states and their energies are derived using perturbation theory, coupling of angular momentum and the Wigner-Eckart Theorem. Prerequisite: Physics 419/619. (2+0) | |
| Physics/Astronomy 772 | 3 (crs.) |
| Magnetic Resonance | |
| Techniques and theory of electron paramagnetic resonance and nuclear magnetic resonance as applied to the properties of solids and liquids. Prerequisite: Modern physics course or consent of instructor. (3+0) | |
| Physics/Astronomy 773 | 3 (crs.) |
| Advanced Signal Processing | |
| Advanced digital signal processing techniques important to applied physics such as the numerical solution of partial differential equations, digital inverse theory, power spectral estimation, and state-space variable methods. Applications will be taken from areas of current student/faculty research interest, normally instrumentation and seismology. Prerequisite: Physics 519 or consent of instructor. (3+0) | |
| Physics/Astronomy 775 | 2 (crs.) |
| Atomic Collision Theory | |
| The quantum mechanics of scattering theory will be developed with emphasis in the area of atomic collisions. A range of methods that have been found of use in research will be surveyed. Prerequisite: Physics 619. (2+0) | |
| Physics/Astronomy 776 | 3 (crs.) |
| Seismology | |
| The use of seismic waves for exploring the earth’s interior. Emphasis is placed on reflection seismology: its data acquisition, processing, and interpretation. Familiarity with geological concepts, calculus, complex numbers, and BASIC or FORTRAN is assumed. (3+0) | |
| Physics/Astronomy 777 | 3 (crs.) |
| Advanced Physics Microcomputer Instrumentation | |
| Applications of real-time programming and digital control to data acquisition, experimental system and device testing, and experiment and production control. Expertise in user language and assembler programming and knowledge of digital and analog electronics are assumed. (2+2) | |
| Physics/Astronomy 778 | 3 (crs.) |
| Advanced Electronics Topics | |
| Advanced digital and analog electronic topics are covered. Areas suitable to microcomputer interfacing for experimental control are emphasized. Design of programmable logic array applications, use of instrumentation and isolation amplifiers and phase-locked loops, devices and techniques used in radio and microwave electronics will be included. Knowledge of basic analog and digital electronics assumed. (2+2) | |
| Physics/Astronomy 791 | 1 (crs.) |
| Graduate Seminar | |
| Reading, consultation and discussions by graduate students and faculty members concerning current research and recent developments in Physics. 1-credit each registration with a maximum accumulation of 3 credits. Prerequisite: Graduate standing. | |
| Physics/Astronomy 795 | 1 – 6 (crs.) |
| Physics Thesis | |
| Each registration with maximum accumulation of 6 cr. Registration for Physics students for thesis credit. Prerequisite: Thesis Proposal and Advisor Approval Form must be filed with Graduate Office prior to registration. Pass/Fail course. | |
| Physics/Astronomy 796 | 1 – 3 (crs.) |
| Independent Study in Physics | |
| Each registration with maximum accumulation of 6 cr. Registration for advanced Physics students for independent work on topics chosen by the student and an instructor. Prerequisite: Independent Study Topic and Instructor Approval Form must be filed at or prior to registration. | |