Courses

Courses

Fall 2008

  • Visit Bearings to search for courses by title, instructor, department, and more.
  • Login to Blackboard. Instructional materials are available on a course-by-course basis.
062. Contermporary Astronomy
Yoshi Sato T 8:30 - 9:55, TH 8:30 - 9:55
A mix of qualitative and quantitative discussion of topics including the night sky, the solar system and its origin, the nature of stars and galaxies, stellar evolution, and the formation and evolution of the universe. Several night-time observing sessions are required. Students who have credit for or are concurrently taking any physics course numbered 100 or above do not receive credit for this course.

093. Introduction to Physical Reasoning
Madeleine Msall T 10:00 - 11:25, TH 10:00 - 11:25
Climate science. Quantum Physics. Bioengineering. Rocket science. Who can understand it? Anyone with high school mathematics (geometry and algebra) can start. Getting started in physics requires an ability to mathematically describe real world objects and experiences. This course will help students prepare for additional course work in physical science and engineering by focused practice in quantitative description, interpretation, and calculation. The course will include hands-on measurements, some introductory computer programming and lots of questions about the physics all around us.

103. Introductory Physics I
Thomas Baumgarte M 8:30 - 9:25, W 8:30 - 9:25, F 8:30 - 9:25
An introduction to the conservation laws, forces, and interactions that govern the dynamics of particles and systems. The course shows how a small set of fundamental principles and interactions allow us to model a wide variety of physical situations, using both classical and modern concepts. A prime goal of the course is to have the participants learn to actively connect the concepts with the modeling process. Three hours of laboratory work per week.

103. Introductory Physics I
Dale Syphers M 9:30 - 10:25, W 9:30 - 10:25, F 9:30 - 10:25
An introduction to the conservation laws, forces, and interactions that govern the dynamics of particles and systems. The course shows how a small set of fundamental principles and interactions allow us to model a wide variety of physical situations, using both classical and modern concepts. A prime goal of the course is to have the participants learn to actively connect the concepts with the modeling process. Three hours of laboratory work per week.

104. Introductory Physics II
Mark Battle M 11:30 - 12:25, W 11:30 - 12:25, F 11:30 - 12:25
An introduction to the interactions of matter and radiation. Topics include: the classical and quantum physics of electromagnetic radiation and its interaction with matter, quantum properties of atoms, and atomic and nuclear spectra. Three hours of laboratory work per week will include an introduction to the use of electronic instrumentation.

223. Electric Fields and Circuits
Karen Topp M 10:30 - 11:25, W 10:30 - 11:25, F 10:30 - 11:25
The basic phenomena of the electromagnetic interaction are introduced. The basic relations are then specialized for a more detailed study of linear circuit theory. Laboratory work stresses the fundamentals of electronic instrumentation and measurement with basic circuit components such as resistors, capacitors, inductors, diodes, and transistors. Three hours of laboratory work per week.

257. Atmosphere and Ocean Dynamics
Mark Battle M 9:30 - 10:25, W 9:30 - 10:25, F 9:30 - 10:25
A mathematically rigorous analysis of the motions of the atmosphere and oceans on a variety of spatial and temporal scales. Covers fluid dynamics in inertial and rotating reference frames, as well as global and local energy balance, applied to the coupled ocean-atmosphere system.

262. Astrophysics
Dale Syphers  M 11:30 - 12:25, W 11:30 - 12:25, F 11:30 - 12:25
A quantitative discussion that introduces the principal topics of astrophysics, including stellar structure and evolution, planetary physics, and cosmology.

300. Methods of Theoretical Physics
Thomas Baumgarte M 1:30 - 2:25, W 1:30 - 2:25, F 1:30 - 2:25
Mathematics is the language of physics. Similar mathematical techniques occur in different areas of physics. A physical situation may first be expressed in mathematical terms, usually in the form of a differential or integral equation. After the formal mathematical solution is obtained, the physical conditions determine the physically viable result. Examples are drawn from heat flow, gravitational fields, and electrostatic fields.

310. Introductory Quantum Mechanics
Yoshi Sato M 2:30 - 3:25, W 2:30 - 3:25, F 2:30 - 3:25
A mathematically rigorous development of quantum mechanics, emphasizing the vector space structure of the theory through the use of Dirac bracket notation. Linear algebra will be developed as needed.