PHYS 2920. Short Courses, Workshops, Institutes and Special Programs (1-4) Consult the dass schedule for the current offering under this number. The specific title and credit authorized will appear on the student transcript. PHYS 3160. Astrophysics (3) F Selected topics in astrophysics which may include telescopes, celestial mechanics, stellar structure and evolution, stellar pulsation, supernovae, black holes, interstellar medium, galactic structure, active galaxies, quasars, galactic clusters and super clusters, and cosmology. Prerequisite: PHYS 2220 and MATH 1200. Cross-listed with ASTR 3160. PHYS 3180. Thermal Physics (3) Sp An introduction to thermodynamics and statistical mechanics. Topics include heat and work; ideal gases; equipartition of energy; entropy; the Boltzmann, Fermi-Dirac, and Bose-Einstein distributions; applications to heat engines, refrigeration, chemical equilibrium, phase transitions, blackbody radiation, and properties of solids. Prerequisite: PHYS 2220, MATH 1200 and MATH 1220. PHYS 3190. Applied Optics (3) F Geometrical and physical optics, lasers, lenses, optical instruments, interference, thin films, interferometry holography, diffraction, gratings, crystal diffraction, polarization. Prerequisites: PHYS 2220, MATH 1200 and MATH 1220. Two lectures and one 3-hour lab a week. PHYS 3200. Solid State Physics (3) Sp (alternate years - even) Modern theory of the solid state, with emphasis on crystal structures, energy bands and fermi levels, condudion in metals and semiconductors, Hall effect, photoconductivity, junction diodes and transistors, field effed transistors, integrated circuit structure and fabrication. Co-requisite: PHYS 2710. PHYS 3300. Advanced Computational Physics (3) Sp (alternate years - even) This course extends the computational skills devdoped in PHYS 2300 to address a wider range of problems in modern physics. Students will explore the limits of computational methods and develop techniques suited to high-performance computing. Applications may be chosen from nonlinear dynamics, astrophysics, condensed matter physics, and quantum mechanics. Prerequisites: PHYS 2220 and PHYS 2300. PHYS 3410. Electronics for Scientists (4) F An introductory course in electronics for students in physics and other sciences. The course indudes D.C. and a.c. drcuit analysis using complex impedances and covers basic principles of semiconductor operation, transistors, analog and digital integrated circuits, analog-to-digital conversion techniques used in computer interfacing, and noise. Prerequisite: PHYS 2220. Three lectures and one 3-hour lab a week. PHYS 3420. Data Acquisition and Analysis (3) Sp (alternate years - odd) Intermediate-level course in computer interfacing (data acquisition and analysis) for students in physics and all other sciences. Topics may include: data acquisition with industry-standard software packages, computerized test and measurement, analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion, data acquisition dedronics, electronic sensors (thermal sensors, light sensors, etc.), least squares curve fitting, fast Fourier transforms (FFT), Nyquist's theorem, noisy and weak signals. Prerequisite: PHYS 2020 or 2220, and MATH 1200. Two lectures and one 3-hour lab a week. 365 PHYS 3500. Analytical Mechanics (3) F Particle motion, oscillating systems; planetary motion, stability of orbits; collisions; Euler's equations, gyroscopic motion; Lagrange's equations, Hamilton's equations, theory of vibrations. Prerequisites: PHYS 2220, MATH 1200 and MATH 2280. PHYS 3510. Electromagnetic Theory (3) F Vector analysis; electrostatics; calculating electric potentials; solving Laplace's equation; multipole expansions; electrostatic fields in matter; magnetostatics; charges in motion; dedrodynamics; Faraday's law; Maxwell's equations. Prerequisites: PHYS 2220, MATH 1200, MATH 2210 and MATH 2280. PHYS 3540. Mechanical and Electromagnetic Waves (3) Sp Periodic motions, free and forced vibrations; resonance; normal modes; dispersion; boundary conditions; eledromagnetic waves and light; the Fresnel equations; electromagnetic radiation from accelerating charges. Prerequisites: PHYS 3500, 3510. PHYS 3570. Foundations of Science Education (3) A thorough investigation of research in science learning and curricular standards at the state and national levels. Foundations of the philosophy of science and scientific inquiry as applicable to sdence teaching at the secondary level. This course serves as a foundation to a preservice science teacher's education coursework. PHYS 3640. Advanced Physics Laboratory (2) Sp Advanced experiments in the areas of mechanics, electricity and magnetism, modern physics, and nuclear physics. Introduction to computerized data acquisition and data analysis. Two two-hour labs each week. Prerequisite: PHYS 2220 and PHYS 3410. PHYS 4570. Secondary School Science Teaching Methods (3) F Acquaintance and practice with various teaching and assessment methods. Development of sdence curricula including lesson and unit plans. It is recommended that this course be completed immediatdy bdore student teaching. Prerequisite: Admission to the Teacher Education Program. PHYS 4610. Quantum Mechanics (3) F Wave-particle duality, Schrodinger equation, wave fundion, quantization rules, one-dimensional motion, one-electron atoms, spin and orbital angular momentum. Prerequisites: PHYS 2710, MATH 2270. Co-requisites: PHYS 3500; MATH 3710. PHYS 4620. Atomic, Nuclear, and Particle Physics (3) Sp Approximation methods, multi-electron atoms, atomic radiation, nuclear models, nudear decay, fission and fusion, nuclear forces, elementary particles, quark model, strong and eledroweak interactions, unified field theories. Prerequisite: PHYS 4610. PHYS 4800. Individual Research Problems (1-3) Su, F, Sp Time and credit to be arranged. Open to qualified students for one or more semesters. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Cross-listed with ASTR 4800. PHYS 4830. Readings in Physics/Astronomy (1-3) 5m, F, Sp Topics which can be studied indude (but are not limited to): mechanics, thermodynamics, kinetic theory, statistical mechanics, electronics, electromagnetism, optics, solid-state physics, modem physics, nudear physics, relativity, cosmology, and astrophysics. These courses may be taken at any time on a personalized basis. Time and credit to be arranged. May be repeated. Prerequisite: consent of instrudor. Cross-listed with ASTR 4830. PHYS 4890. Cooperative Work Experience (1-6) Su, F, Sp A continuation of PHYS 2890. Open to all students. General PROFILE ENROLLMENT STUDENT AFFAIRS ACADEMIC INFO DEGREE REQ GENED Engaged Learning 8 Interdisciplinary OUR/CBL HNRS/BIS ESL LIBS INTRD MINORS Applied Science 8 Technology AUSV/ATTC CMT CEET/EE CS MFET/ETM MET DGET ENGR IDT SST TBE Arts 8 Humanities MPC/MENG COMM ENGL FL DANC MUSC THEA ART/ARTH Business 8 Econ MBA MACC/MTAX ACTG BS AD/FIN MGMT MKTG SCM ECON/QUAN 1ST Education MSAT/MED CHF AT/HLTH NUTR/PEP/REC HPHP COURSES ATHL/PE EDUC Heaifh Professions MHA/MSN MSRS DENT PAR HTHS HAS/HIM MLS NRSG RADT DMS/NUCM RATH REST Science BTNY CHEM GEO MATH/MTHE MICR PHYS/ASTR ZOOL Social & Behavioral Sciences MCJ/CJ ECON GEOG HIST POLS/PHIL PSY SW/GERT SOC/ANTH AERO MILS NAVS Continuing Ed Davis Campus Weber State University 2011 - 2012 Catalog