Plan of Study – Physics

Note: A Semester Hour (s.h.) is a unit of academic credit representing an hour of class (such as lecture class) or three hours of laboratory work each week for an academic semester. Most courses are two, three or four semester hours.

Physics: Minor

Minor Courses (Minimum of 20 semester hours required.)

PHY 2630 Physics for Scientists and Engineers I (3 s.h.)

This is the first of two calculus-based physics sequence for students planning to major in engineering, pre-med, chemistry, Mathematics and computer science. This course covers motion and Newton’s laws, energy, momentum, rigid body mechanics, gravitation, simple harmonic motion, waves and sound and thermal physics. Lecture will meet 3 hours per week. Corequisites: MTH 2510, PHY 2630.LB.

PHY2630L Physics for Scientists and Engineers I Lab (1 s.h.)

This is the first of two calculus-based physics sequence for students planning to major in engineering, pre-med, chemistry, Mathematics and computer science. This course covers motion and Newton’s laws, energy, momentum, rigid body mechanics, gravitation, simple harmonic motion, waves and sound and thermal physics. Lab will meet for 3 hours per week. Corequisite: MTH 2510; PHY 2630.

PHY 2640 Physics for Scientists and Engineers II (3 s.h.)

Fundamentals of electricity, magnetism and Nature of electric charges, electric field, magnetic field and concept of electromagnetic waves. Understanding wave interference, reflection and refraction of light waves. Fundamentals of mirrors and lenses and optical instruments. Lecture will meet for 3 hours per week. Prerequisites: MTH 2510 and PHY 2630. Corequisite: PHY 2640.LB.

PHY2640L Physics for Scientists and Engineers II Lab (1 s.h.)

Experiments in electricity, magnetism, and optics. Nature of electric charges, electric field, magnetic field and concept of electromagnetic waves. Understanding wave interference, reflection and refraction of light waves. Fundamentals of mirrors and lenses and optical instruments. These would all be explored through experiments. Lab will meet 3 hours per week. Prerequisites: MTH 2510 and PHY 2630. Corequisite: PHY 2640.

PHY 2710 Fundamental Electronics (3 s.h.)

Study of power and energy of A.C. and D.C. circuits; introduction to diodes, transistors, transducers, and their applications in circuits and modern instruments. Lecture will meet 3 hours per week. Prerequisite: PHY 2540 or departmental approval. Corequisite: PHY 2710.LB.

PHY2710L Fundamental Electronics Lab (1 s.h.)

Study of power and energy of A.C. and D.C. circuits; introduction to diodes, transistors, transducers, and their applications in circuits and modern instruments. Lab will meet 3 hours per week. Prerequisite: PHY 2540 or departmental approval. Corequisite: PHY 2710.

PHY 3510 Modern Physics: Atomic and Nuclear (3 s.h.)

Investigation of properties of atoms and the nucleus, the changes under the influence of relativity, and the impact of the quantum theory. Applications of instruments in studying nuclear reactions. Lecture will meet 3 hours per week. Prerequisite: PHY 2540 or departmental approval. Corequisite: PHY 3510.LB.

PHY3510L Modern Physics: Atomic and Nuclear Lab (1 s.h.)

PHY 4510 Electronics: Digital Techniques (3 s.h.)

An introduction to the complex circuitry leading to digital design and knowledge of the techniques of a computer, i.e., number systems, digital codes, and Boolean algebra used in digital logic circuits. Prerequistie: PHY 312

PHY4510L Electronics: Digital Techniques Lab (1 s.h.)

Number systems, digital codes, and Boolean algebra used in analysis of digital logic circuits; logic gates, encoding and decoding; Flip-flops, counters, registers and integrated circuits. Introduction to interfacing. Lab will meet 3 hours per week. Prerequisite: PHY 2540 or equivalent; PHY 2710 recommended. Corequisite: PHY 4510.

Required Support Courses

Support Course (Minimum of 5 semester hours required.)

MTH 2510 Calculus with Analytic Geometry I (5 s.h.)

Topics include a study of limits, continuity, derivatives of algebraic and transcendental functions, applications of derivatives, integrals, and the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus. Prerequisite: MTH 1210 or departmental approval. Computer Science majors must complete this course with a grade of C (2.0) or better within the first 20 semester hours of their major.