Course Descriptions

Courses numbered 1000-1999 are open to freshmen; 2000-2999 to sophomores; 3000-3999 to juniors; 4000-4999 to seniors. It is recommended that students elect courses in the years for which they are listed. Freshmen will be admitted to courses above the 2000 level only with the consent of the instructor and the student’s advisor. Juniors and seniors taking freshman courses may be expected to do additional work. Any course above 4999 is a graduate course.

NOTE:
The number in parentheses following the course title indicates the semester hours of credit assigned to the course.
An H following the course number indicates an honors level course.

PHYS 1001
General Physics I [Course] (3) (Liberal Arts)
This lecture and demonstration course is the first of two courses that present fundamental concepts and methods of classical and modern physics including kinematics, dynamics, energy and momentum, gravitation, properties of matter, electromagnetism, wave motion, light, atomic theory, nuclear theory, and particle physics. Algebra and trigonometry are used extensively. Little or no calculus is used. Prerequisites: high school algebra, trigonometry, and physics.

PHYS 1001
General Physics I [Laboratory] (1) (Liberal Arts)
Laboratory work illustrates the major concepts of PHYS 1001, which is to be taken concurrently. Course fee applicable.

PHYS 1002
General Physics II [Course] (3) (Liberal Arts)
This lecture and demonstration course is the second of two courses that present fundamental concepts and methods of classical and modern physics including kinematics, dynamics, energy and momentum, gravitation, properties of matter, thermodynamics, circuits, electricity and magnetism, oscillations, wave motion, fluids and light. If time allows, atomic theory, nuclear theory, and particle physics may also be covered. Accompanying lab provides hands-on experience with lecture material. Algebra and trigonometry are used extensively. Little or no calculus is used. Prerequisite: PHYS 1001.

PHYS 1002
General Physics II [Laboratory] (1) (Liberal Arts)
This lab accompanies PHYS 1002 and provides hands-on experience with lecture material. Course fee applicable.

PHYS 1010
Physics of Music [Course/Lab] (3) (Liberal Arts)
The student is introduced to the physics of music through the study of wave mechanics, the production of the voice, musical instruments, and acoustics. The student will have an opportunity to investigate wave phenomena, build musical instruments, and explore the acoustics of spaces on campus in the laboratory time. This course fulfills the general education lab science requirement. Prerequisites: high school algebra and trigonometry. Course fee applicable

PHYS 1100
Survey of Engineering [Course] (1) (Liberal Arts)
As a seminar course, students will listen to invited speakers talk about their degree, field of engineering and job experience. Through this and a subsequent discussion, students will gain exposure to multiple fields of engineering which will help them to make an informed decision about the field of engineering they would like to pursue. In addition to this, students will read about and discuss the importance of engineering and famous engineering faux pas. Included in this course is a visit to RIT to check out their mechanical and microelectronic engineering programs and research facilities. If sufficient interest arises, we may also visit either RPI or Clarkson University to learn about their programs. By the end of this course, students will have explored the various fields of engineering and have officially entered the engineering program, complete with an individualized 3 or 5 year planned curriculum to guide their studies over the course of their program.

PHYS 2001
Physics for Engineers and Scientists I [Course] (3) (Liberal Arts)
Presents Newtonian mechanics, rotational, projectile and oscillatory motion in addition to conservation laws including momentum and energy with extensive vector calculus (introduced in class). Prerequisites: high school physics, algebra, and trigonometry. Corequisite: MATH 2281.

PHYS 2001
Physics for Engineers and Scientists I [Laboratory] (1) (Liberal Arts)
Laboratory work illustrates the major concepts of PHYS 2001, which is to be taken concurrently. Course fee applicable.

PHYS 2002
Physics for Engineers and Scientists II [Course] (3) (Liberal Arts)
Relativity and electricity and magnetism are discussed, including the nature of time, coordinate transformations, velocity transformations, four-momentum, electrostatics, fields, potential, conductors, currents, magnets, flux, Gauss's and Ampere's law, the electromagnetic field and an introduction to Maxwell's equations and electromagnetic waves through the extensive use of vector calculus. Prerequisite: PHYS 2001 or equivalent. Corequisite: MATH 2282.

PHYS 2002
Physics for Engineers and Scientists II [Laboratory] (1) (Liberal Arts)
Laboratory work illustrates the major concepts of PHYS 2002, which is to be taken concurrently. Course fee applicable.

PHYS 2003
Physics for Engineers and Scientists III [Course] (3) (Liberal Arts)
Thermal and quantum physics are discussed, including the wave and particle nature of light and matter, atoms, spectra, nuclear behavior, ideal gases, processes, laws of thermodynamics, entropy and heat engines through the extensive use of vector calculus. Prerequisites: PHYS 2002 and MATH 2282.

PHYS 2003
Physics for Engineers and Scientists III [Laboratory] (1) (Liberal Arts)
This lab accompanies PHYS 2003. In this advanced lab students use lab equipment to recreate famous experiments throughout history and to perform advanced labs. Students gain familiarity with typesetting software, such as LaTeX and submit individual advanced lab reports. Course fee applicable.

PHYS 2110
Statics [Course] (3) (Liberal Arts)
This course is a study of the fundamental concepts of the statics of particles and rigid bodies using a vector analysis approach. Topics include forces, torques, equilibrium conditions, centroid, trusses, frames, machines, beams, cables, and friction. Prerequisite: PHYS 2001.

PHYS 2120
Electric Circuits [Course] (3) (Liberal Arts)
This course is a study of the fundamental concepts of electric circuits. Topics include Ohm's law, DC circuits, network theorems, resistors, capacitors, inductors, switching behaviors, transient analysis, oscillatory circuits, power, and resonance. If time allows, complex numbers, sinusoids, phasors, AC circuits, frequency response, and impedance may also be discussed. Prerequisite: PHYS 2002. (Offered alternate years)

PHYS 3000
Structured Study [Course/Lab] (1 - 3) (Liberal Arts)
Students complete a structured study of approved advanced topics in physics. May be repeated with different topics. (Offered on demand)

PHYS 3010
Classical Mechanics [Course] (3) (Liberal Arts)
Particle and rigid body dynamics, conservative motion, central forces, accelerated coordinate systems and Lagrange's equations of motion are covered with a brief survey of chaos and Hamiltonian Mechanics. Prerequisites: PHYS 2001 and MATH 2283. (Offered alternate years)

PHYS 3020
Electricity & Magnetism [Course] (3) (Liberal Arts)
This study of the fundamental concepts and applications of electromagnetism includes vector calculus, electrostatics, magnetostatics, electromagnetic induction, electric circuits, and an introduction to the use of Maxwell's equations. Prerequisites: PHYS 2002 and MATH 2283. (Offered alternate years)

PHYS 3220
Physical Optics [Course/Lab] (4) (Liberal Arts)
This course / lab and demonstration is a study of electromagnetic waves. This course includes general descriptions, production, polarization, coherence, interference, diffraction, and the principles and applications of lasers. Laboratory experience provides hands-on interaction with the course material. Course fee applicable Prerequisites: PHYS 2003 and MATH 2283. (Offered alternate years)

PHYS 4030
Nuclear and Particle Physics [Course] (3) (Liberal Arts)
The fundamentals of quantum theory are studied, with applications to atomic and molecular systems. Prerequisites: PHYS 2003 and MATH 2283 (Offered alternate years)

PHYS 4050
Nuclear & Particle Phys [Course] (3) (Liberal Arts)
This is a study of the fundamentals of nuclear and particle physics. Prerequisites: PHYS 4030. (Offered on demand)

PHYS 4500
Internship [Practicum] (3 - 6) (Liberal Arts)
This internship provides the opportunity to gain practical experience in a laboratory or field placement. (Offered on demand)

PHYS 4980
Undergraduate Research [Course] (1 - 3) (Liberal Arts)
Students conduct research under supervision of a faculty member. A written report is required. Permission of instructor is required. Prerequisites: 1. Junior standing 2. A minimum of 9 semester hours in the discipline of the Independent Study 3. A minium of grade point average of 2.50 in the discipline 4. Proof of motivation and ability to work independently 5. Approval of the department in which the study is to be taken 6. Permission from the student's advisor, the course instructor, the Department Chair, and the Registrar. The course may be repeated. Offered on demand