103/113. CONCEPTUAL PHYSICS/CONCEPTUAL PHYSICS LABORATORY

PHYS 103 and 113 are corequisites. A non-mathematical course for non-science majors that examines how physics laws account for the world around us, from everyday phenomena to the Cosmos. The laboratory work involves experiments in mechanics, fluid mechanics, heat, wave motion, light, sound, electric and magnetic fields, and electricity. NATURAL SCIENCES FOUNDATION

104/114. PHYSICS I/PHYSICS LABORATORY I 

Prerequisite: MATH 115; PHYS 104 and 114 are corequisites A calculus-based introduction to classical and fluid mechanics. Topics include kinematics, Newton’s laws of motion, linear and rotation dynamics of point masses and rigid bodies, fluid mechanical, and their application to other disciplines especially to biology. The laboratory work involves an introduction to laboratory techniques including experimental design, statistical data analysis, and reporting of results. Experiments are drawn from different areas of mechanics. Offered every spring term. NATURAL SCIENCES FOUNDATION

105/115. PHYSICS II/PHYSICS LABORATORY II 

Prerequisite: PHYS 104/114; PHYS 105 and 115 are corequisites. A calculus based introduction to wave, acoustic, electromagnetic, and optical phenomena. Topics include wave phenomena, sound, electricity, magnetism, optics, and their application to other disciplines especially to biology. Experiments are drawn from areas of wave phenomena, sound, electricity, magnetism, and optics. Offered every fall term. NATURAL SCIENCES FOUNDATION

251. STATICS AND MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

This course includes topics, such as, bending, tension, compression, torsion, centroids, shearing stresses, modulus of elasticity and moments of inertia; laboratory activities will introduce various computer software analysis and graphing techniques relavent to the field, as well as, experimental applications of various topics covered in lecture.

304. MODERN PHYSICS IN BIOLOGY

Prerequisite: PHYS 105 and 115 or consent of instructor. This course introduces students to concepts of atomic, molecular, nuclear, and statistical physics with application to biology and medicine. These concepts are used to understand quantitatively photosynthetic energy harvesting, electron transport, thermoregulation, membrane potential generation and propagation, DNA and protein structure determination, protein dynamics and structural activation, biological and medical imaging, and interaction of nuclear radiation with biological tissues. The course includes a laboratory that introduces students to physical techniques used in modern biology and medicine. Experiments include molecular dynamics simulations, spectrophotometry, fluorescence spectroscopy, fluorescence microscopy, pulsed NMR spectroscopy and MRI, ultrasound imaging, computed tomography, and nuclear radiation detection. Spring term.

404. ELECTROMAGNETISM AND ELECTRONICS 

Prerequisites: PHYS 105/115 and MATH 201. An advanced treatment of electromagnetic theory and practice. Topics include: electrical fields, forces, and potentials; current, voltage, power, and electronic components and circuits; magnetic field and forces; electrical and magnetic materials; Maxwell’s equations and electromagnetic waves. A significant portion of the course focuses on applications of electromagnetic phenomena to biology and chemistry that include discussion of ions in aqueous media, ion channel biology, membrane potentials, nerve impulse propagation, mass spectrometry, and semi-classical theory of pulsed NMR. The course includes a laboratory with activities that focus on breadboarding; use of test and measurement equipment; experimentation with resistors, capacitors, inductors, diodes, transistors, and integrated circuits, analysis of current, voltage, power, and electronic circuits; generation of magnetic fields and electromotive forces; NMR pulse sequence analysis. Fall term of even years.

416. THERMAL AND STATISTICAL MECHANICS 

Prerequisites: PHYS 105/115 and MATH 201. An advanced treatment of thermal and statistical physics theories. Topics include: three laws of thermodynamics, probability, energy, and entropy, equilibria, Boltzmann statistics, free energy, solvation, diffusion. A significant portion of the course focuses on applications to biology and chemistry that include discussion of protein folding, molecular motion, molecular interactions (e.g., oxygen and hemoglobin), polymers and ions in solution. Fall term of odd years.

426. LIGHT AND OPTICS

Prerequisites: PHYS 105 and corequisite MATH 303. A general treatment of the principles of physical optics including theory of waves; interference, diffraction, polarization; Fourier optics; quantum aspects of lights; and applications to lasers and spectroscopy.