Undergraduate Courses in Physics

2004-2006 Catalog

The numbering sequence at Old Dominon University places undergraduate courses at the 100, 200, 300, and 400 levels. Coursed that may have graduate as well as undergraduate students enrolled are listed in a dual mode, e.g., 456/556. Graduate students may enroll in the 500, 600, 700 and 800 levels. Master's and doctoral courses are dual-listed at 700/800 levels. Courses marked with + may not be counted for credit in physics graduate programs.

Physics — PHYS

101N-102N. Elementary Physics. Lecture 3 hours; laboratory 2 hours; 4 credits each semester. PHYS 101N is a prerequisite for 102N. An introductory descriptive course which develops and illustrates the concepts of physics in terms of phenomena encountered in daily life. The first semester covers mechanics, electricity and magnetism. The second semester covers sound, light, fluids and heat. (offered fall-spring sequence)

103N-104N. Introductory Astronomy. Lecture 3 hours; laboratory 2 hours; 4 credits each semester. PHYS 103N is a prerequisite for 104N. 103N is a study of the physical principles and scientific investigation of objects in our solar system. 104N emphasizes the study of stars, star systems, cosmology and relativity. Both semesters stress how we acquire knowledge of celestial objects to develop models of our universe. (offered fall, spring, summer)

109. Introductory Astronomy Laboratory. Laboratory 2 hours; 1 credit. Prerequisite: written permission of the chief departmental advisor of the Physics Department. An introductory laboratory course in astronomy dealing with experiments about the laws of nature that apply to objects in our solar system. (offered fall, spring, summer)

111N-112N. Introductory General Physics. 111N is prerequisite to 112N. Lecture 3 hours; laboratory 2 hours; 4 credits each semester. Prerequisite: MATH 102M or 162M or MATH 166. 111N emphasizes mechanics, wave motion and heat and will also cover the needed elements of trigonometry and vectors. 112N emphasizes electricity, light, and introduction to modern physics. Students receiving credit for PHYS 111N cannot receive credit for PHYS 102N either simultaneously or subsequently. (offered fall, spring, summer)

113. Physics Laboratory. Laboratory 2 hours; 1 credit. Prerequisite: written permission of the chief departmental advisor of the Physics Department. An introductory laboratory covering experiments from mechanics, wave motion, heat and sound. (offered fall, spring, summer)

114. Physics Laboratory. Laboratory 2 hours; 1 credit. Prerequisite: written permission of the chief departmental advisor of the Physics Department. An introductory laboratory covering experiments from electricity, magnetism, and optics. (offered spring, summer)

120. Physics in the 21st Century. Lecture 1 hour; 1 credit. This seminar will provide students with a broad introduction to the cutting edge of physics research and its applications in diverse areas of contemporary physics. Recommended for incoming students interested in physics and the natural sciences.

126N-127N. Honors: Introductory Astronomy. Lecture 3 hours; laboratory 2 hours; 4 credits. Open only to students in the Honors College. A special honors version of PHYS 103N-104N.

210. Physics in Everyday Life. Lecture 3 hours; laboratory 2 hours; 4 credits. An introductory descriptive course of physics that discusses the basic principles of motion, electricity and magnetism, and thermal physics. Topics emphasized include simple machines, magnets, energy balance, and energy sources.

226N-227N. Honors: University Physics. Lecture 3 hours; laboratory 2 hours; recitation 1 hour; 4 credits. Open only to students in the Honors College. A special honors version of PHYS 231N-232N.

231N-232N. University Physics. Lecture 3 hours; laboratory 2 hours; recitation 1 hour (fall and spring); 4 credits each semester. Corequisite: MATH 211 or permission of instructor. 231N is prerequisite to 232N. A general introduction to physics in which the principles of classical and modern physics are applied to the solution of physical problems. The reasoning through which solutions are obtained is stressed. This course is designed for majors in the physical sciences, engineering, mathematics, and computational sciences. Students receiving credit for PHYS 231N-232N cannot simultaneously or subsequently receive credit for any 100-level physics course except Astronomy. (offered fall, spring, summer)

303-304. Intermediate Experimental Physics. Laboratory 6 hours; 3 credits each semester. Prerequisite: PHYS 232N. 303 is a prerequisite to 304. A laboratory oriented course designed to provide students with a broad introduction to instrumentation and techniques used in modern physics laboratories. Topics to be covered include: basic electronics, vacuum technology, optics and lasers, nuclear instrumentation, LabView programming and computer interfacing, and glassblowing. (offered fall-spring sequence)

309. Physics on the Back of an Envelope. Lecture 1 hour; 1 credit. Corequisite: PHYS 102N, 112N or 232N. Physicists should be able to estimate the order-of-magnitude of anything. How many atoms of Julius Ceasar do you eat every day? How much waste does a nuclear power plant generate? Will develop concepts, relations and numbers useful for estimation. Will cover little new material, emphasizing already acquired knowledge. Will help students apply physics to real-life questions and understand which physical effects are appropriate on which scales. Seminar course. (offered spring)

311. Color in Nature and Art. Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisite: MATH 102M. Explores the relationship between light as stimulus and color perceived by us. Develops underlying concept of technology of art and applied art. Describes basis for optical phenomena involved in many facets of daily life. Topics include: the interaction of light and the visual perception it produces; the basic concept of spectra; wave, ray, and quantum optics; polarized light; photography; paintings; pigments; rainbows and mirages; color theory systems; formation of images; optical instruments. There is no physics prerequisite for this course. (offered fall, odd numbered years)

312. Elements of Optics. Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisites: PHYS 112N or 232N. Corequisite: MATH 212. Light as an electromagnetic wave. Lens, mirror and fiber optical systems, polarization, interference and diffraction. Introduction to quantum and contemporary optics.

313. Elements of Astrophysics. Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisite: PHYS 232N. A one-semester course covering the important topics of modern astrophysics. The physical basis of stellar evolution and chemical element formation is derived from first principles. Observational details of white dwarfs, neutron stars, pulsars, and black holes are developed. (offered spring, odd numbered years)

319. Analytical Mechanics. Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisite: PHYS 232N. Corequisite: MATH 307. Fundamentals of Newtonian mechanics. Topics include kinematics, dynamics, energy and momentum, central forces and planetary motion, and resonance phenomena. (offered fall)

320. Introduction to Electromagnetic Theory. Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits. Corequisite: MATH 312. Prerequisite: PHYS 232N. A study of the classical theory and phenomena of electricity and magnetism. Topics include the calculation of electric and magnetic fields, magnetic and dielectric properties of matter, and an introduction to Maxwell’s equations. (offered spring)

323. Modern Physics. Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits. Corequisite: MATH 212. Prerequisite: PHYS 232N. Introduction to the wave nature of matter, with applications in materials science, atomic, and nuclear physics. Introduction to relativity, including applications in mechanics and electrodynamics. (offered fall, spring)

332W. Physics of Music and Musical Reproduction. Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisite: MATH 102M. This course explores the topics of: the nature of sound, vibrations, resonance, the human ear, loudness, pitch, timbre, musical scales, dissonance and consonance, musical instruments, sound recording and reproduction, electronic music, noise, and acoustics. (offered fall, even numbered years)

350. Light and Lasers. Lecture and demonstrations 3 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisite: PHYS 102N or 112N or 232N. An analysis of those concepts of geometrical physical optics needed for the understanding of laser resonators, optical propagation, and radiation detection. A study of laser diodes, molecular, neutral and ion gas lasers, tuneable dye and excimer lasers. Laser applications in medicine, communications, information processing, holography, pollution detection, and material testing and fabrication are stressed. (offered spring)

352. Introduction to Quantum Mechanics. Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisites: PHYS 319 and 323. Introduction to the physical and mathematical structure of quantum theory, including the historical and experimental origins of the subject. The curriculum includes techniques for solving the Schrodinger wave equation, particularly for the harmonic oscillator and the hydrogen atom. (offered spring)

367. Cooperative Education. 1-3 credits each semester (may be repeated for credit). Prerequisite: approval of the department and Career Management in accordance with the policy for granting credit for Cooperative Education programs. Available for pass/fail grading only. Student participation for credit based on the academic relevance of the work experience, criteria, and evaluative procedures as formally determined by the department and Career Management prior to the semester in which the work experience is to take place. (qualifies as a CAP experience)

368. Internship. 1-3 credits. Prerequisite: approval by department and Career Management. Available for pass/fail grading only. Academic requirements will be established by the department and will vary with the amount of credit desired. Allows students to gain short duration career-related experience. (qualifies as a CAP experience)

387, 388. Honors Program in Physics. 1-3 credits each semester. Prerequisites: junior standing and formal admission to the Honors Program.

403/503-404/504. Electronic Instrumentation. Lecture 2 hours; laboratory 2 hours; 3 credits each semester. Prerequisite: PHYS 232N or permission of the instructor; 403 is prerequisite to 404. A laboratory-oriented course in which analog circuits in the design of instrumentation systems are covered in 403/503; digital circuits and composite circuits are covered in 404/504. The course emphasizes proper use of the oscilloscope, function generator, DMM, and X-Y recorder in laboratory test and measurement procedures. (offered fall-spring sequence)

405/505+. The Planetarium. Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisites: junior standing and an introductory course in astronomy. The course stresses the use of the planetarium as an educational tool in the teaching of astronomy. Production techniques with audio-visual equipment to enhance concepts in astronomy are presented.

406/506+. Observational Astronomy. Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisite: junior standing. Observational techniques in astronomy with emphasis on constellation identification, celestial movements, and telescopic observation. Individualized night observations are required.

408/508. Astronomy for Teachers. Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisite: junior standing. A course in astronomy dealing with stars and stellar systems. Topics will include observational astronomy, the electromagnetic spectrum, relativity, stellar and galactic structures, cosmology, and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.

411. Introduction to Atomic Physics. Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisites: PHYS 352 and MATH 307. The hydrogen atom, radiative transitions, two-electron system, many-electron atoms, interaction with external fields, theory of atomic spectra. (offered fall, odd numbered years)

413W/513. Methods of Experimental Physics. Laboratory 6 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisites: PHYS 303 and 323. Corequisite: CS 150. Experiments in classical and modern physics, designed to develop skills in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of experimental data. (offered spring)

414/514. Principles of Physical Instrumentation. Laboratory 6 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisite: PHYS 413W. Methods for design of experiments using modern physical instrumentation. Included are topics such as analog and digital data acquisition, materials science, vacuum technology, cryogenics measurement techniques, and error and data analysis. (offered fall)

415. Introduction to Nuclear and Particle Physics. Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisite: PHYS 352. Corequisite: MATH 307. An introduction to the structure of the atomic nucleus, natural and artificial radioactivity, nuclear decay processes and stability of nuclei, nuclear reactions, properties of nuclear forces, and nuclear models. Also, particle phenomenology, experimental techniques and the standard model. Topics include the spectra of leptons, mesons, and baryons; strong, weak, and electromagnetic interactions. (offered spring, even numbered years)

416/516. Introduction to Solid State Physics. Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisites: PHYS 352 and MATH 307. Introduction to solid state physics and materials science, with emphasis placed on the applications of each topic to the experimental and analytical techniques. Topics include crystallography, thermal and vibrational properties of crystals and semiconductors, metals and the band theory of solids, superconductivity and the magnetic properties of materials. (offered fall, even numbered years)

420/520. Introductory Computational Physics. Lecture 2 hours; Laboratory 2 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisites: PHYS 232N and MATH 212. Introduction of computational methods and visualization techniques for problem solving in physics.

451/551. Theoretical Mechanics. Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisites: PHYS 319 or ME 304 and MATH 312. A mathematical study of the concepts of mechanics. Vector calculus methods are used. Topics include mechanics of a system of particles, Lagrangian mechanics, Hamilton’s canonical equations, and motion of a rigid body.

453/553. Electromagnetic Radiation and Optics. Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisites: PHYS 320 or ECE 323 and MATH 312. A course in physical optics developed from Maxwell’s equations. Topics include a mathematical treatment of the phenomena of dipole radiation, scattering, reflection, refraction, diffraction, and an introduction to the techniques of modern optics. (offered fall)

454/554. Thermal and Statistical Physics. Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisites: PHYS 319 or ME 304, PHYS 323. A study of the fundamental concepts of thermodynamics, kinetic theory, and statistical mechanics. Topics include the thermodynamics of simple systems, kinetic theory of gases, statistical mechanics of gases and an introduction to quantum statistics. (offered spring)

456/556. Intermediate Quantum Mechanics. Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisites: PHYS 323 and 352 or permission of the instructor. A study of the experimental basis of quantum mechanics, basic postulates, solution of the wave equation for simple systems, uncertainty relations, potential barriers, wave packets, angular momentum, symmetry properties of wave functions, Pauli exclusion principle, Dirac notation, perturbation theory, and scattering. (offered fall)

487, 488. Honors Program in Physics. 1-3 credits each semester. Prerequisites: senior standing and formal admission to the Honors Program.

497/597. Special Problems and Research. 1-3 credits each semester. Prerequisite: senior standing. These courses afford the student an opportunity to pursue individual study and research.

499W. Senior Thesis. 3 credits. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. Each student will undertake a research experience under the supervision of a department faculty member. The experience can be of an experimental, theoretical, or calculational type. A final oral and written report are required. The research may be completed on campus or at one of the department affiliated research organizations. (offered fall, spring, summer)