A.B. Physics

PHY 101 Introductory Physics I Fall STL A course in fundamental physics that covers classical mechanics, fluid mechanics, basic thermodynamics, sounds, and waves. Meets premedical requirements. One lecture, three classes, one three-hour laboratory. Staff

PHY 102 Introductory Physics II Spring STL Continuation of 101. A course in fundamental physics that covers electricity, magnetism, and an introduction to the quantum world. Meets premedical requirements. Two 90-minute lectures, one preceptorial, and one three-hour laboratory. Staff

PHY 103 General Physics I Fall STL The physical laws that govern the motion of objects, forces, and forms of energy in mechanical systems are studied at an introductory level. Calculus-based, primarily for engineering and science students, meets premedical requirements. Some preparation in physics and calculus is desirable; calculus may be taken concurrently. One demonstration lecture, three classes, one three-hour laboratory. Staff

PHY 104 General Physics II Spring STL Continuation of 103. Electromagnetism from electrostatics, DC and AC circuits to optics, and topics of modern physics are treated at an introductory level. Some preparation in physics and calculus is desirable; calculus may be taken concurrently. Calculus-based, primarily for engineering and science students, meets premedical requirements. One demonstration lecture, three classes, one three-hour laboratory. Staff

PHY 105 Advanced Physics (Mechanics) Fall STL This course parallels 103 at a level that assumes a good preparation in physics and calculus. The material is treated in more depth and with more mathematical sophistication than in 103. Students interested in 105 should enroll in 103. After three weeks, the course will reorganize with those students who qualify and are interested in entering 105 for the remainder of the term. Either course can lead to a major in physics. One demonstration lecture, three classes, one three-hour laboratory. Staff

PHY 106 Advanced Physics (Electromagnetism) Spring STL Parallels 104 at a more sophisticated level, emphasizing the unification of electric and magnetic forces and electromagnetic radiation. To enter this course, students must have done well in 103 or 105. 103 students must attend the lectures on special relativity given in reading period as part of 105. Three lectures, one class, one three-hour laboratory. Staff

PHY 115A Physics for Future Leaders (also

STC 115A

PHY 115B Physics for Future Leaders (also

STC 115B

PHY 191 An Integrated Introduction to Engineering, Mathematics, Physics (See EGR 191)

PHY 192 An Integrated Introduction to Engineering, Mathematics, Physics (See EGR 192)

PHY 205 Classical Mechanics Fall STN Classical mechanics, with emphasis on the Lagrangian method. The underlying physics is Newtonian, but with more sophisticated mathematics introduced as needed to understand more complex phenomena. Topics in this intensive course include the formalism of Lagrangian mechanics, central-force motion and scattering, rigid body motion and noninertial forces, small oscillations, coupled oscillations, and waves. Prerequisite: 103-104, or 105-106 (recommended), or permission of instructor; prior completion of MAT 201 or 203 recommended. Two 90-minute lectures. Staff

PHY 207 Mechanics and Waves Not offered this year STN Covers the basics of analytical mechanics, but shifts the emphasis to wave phenomena before moving on to aspects of quantum mechanics and quantum statistical mechanics. Special relativity is given greater weight than it usually is in PHY 205. Offers students a path toward the physics concentration that is less intensive than PHY 205 and more accessible to students with less mathematical background. Prerequisites: PHY103-104, or PHY105-106; one 200-level math course; or permission of instructor. Two 90-minute lectures. Staff

PHY 208 Principles of Quantum Mechanics Spring STN An introduction to quantum mechanics, the physics of atoms, electrons, photons, and other elementary particles. Topics include state functions and the probability interpretation, the Schrödinger equation, the uncertainty principle, the eigenvalue problem, operators and their algebras, angular momentum and spin, perturbation theory, and the hydrogen atom. Prerequisites: PHY 106, PHY 205, or PHY 207 and MAT 203 or MAT 217, and MAT 204 or MAT 218 (MAT 204/MAT 218 can be taken concurrently); or instructor's permission. Two 90-minute lectures. Staff

PHY 209 Computational Physics Seminar Fall STL Introduction to Python coding and its application to data collection, analysis and statistical inference. The course consists of weekly hands-on labs that introduce the students to the Linux coding environment with Jupyter and Python modules. Labs involve configuring a Raspberry Pi to interface with hardware sensors to collect interrupt-driven measurements. Multivariate discriminators and confidence levels for hypothesis testing will be applied to data samples. Labs are drawn from different forms of sensors data from accelerometers and photodetectors to external sources including radio-astronomy and XRF analysis of Art Museum paintings. Staff

PHY 210 Experimental Physics Seminar Spring STL This seminar introduces fundamental techniques of electronics and instrumentation. The course consists of weekly hands-on labs that introduce the students to the fascinating world of electronics. We begin with learning how to build circuits and probe their behavior and then explore what can be done to create instrumentation and make measurements. We start with analog electronics and then proceed with programmable digital logic with FPGAs. The final project involves Machine Learning implemented in FPGAs, a glimpse of what modern electronics can do. C. Tully

PHY 231 An Integrated, Quantitative Introduction to the Natural Sciences I (See ISC 231)

PHY 232 An Integrated, Quantitative Introduction to the Natural Sciences I (See ISC 232)

PHY 233 An Integrated, Quantitative Introduction to the Natural Sciences II (See ISC 233)

PHY 234 An Integrated, Quantitative Introduction to the Natural Sciences II (See ISC 234)

PHY 301 Thermal Physics Fall STN A unified introduction to the physics of systems with many degrees of freedom: thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, both classical and quantum. Applications will include phase equilibrium, classical and quantum gases, and properties of solids. Three lectures. Prerequisites: Any one of PHY 106, 205, 207 or 208, or instructor's permission. Staff

PHY 304 Advanced Electromagnetism Spring STN Extensions of electromagnetic theory including some important applications of Maxwell's equations. Solutions to Laplace's equation--boundary value problems. Retarded potentials. Electromagnetic waves and radiation. Special relativity. Mathematical tools developed as required. Two 90-minute lectures. Prerequisites: 104 or 106. Staff

PHY 305 Introduction to the Quantum Theory Fall STN A second course on the basic principles of quantum mechanics with emphasis on applications to problems from atomic and solid-state physics. Two 90-minute lectures. Prerequisites: 208. Staff

PHY 309 The Science of Fission and Fusion Energy (See AST 309)

PHY 312 Experimental Physics Spring STL The course offers six different experiments from the advanced laboratory collection. Experiments include Josephson effect, ß-decay, holography, Mössbauer spectroscopy, optical pumping. Lectures stress modern experimental methods and devices. One lecture, one laboratory. Staff

PHY 321 General Relativity (See AST 301)

PHY 371 Global Geophysics (See GEO 371)

PHY 401 Cosmology (See AST 401)

PHY 402 Stars and Star Formation (See AST 403)

PHY 403 Mathematical Methods of Physics (also

MAT 493

PHY 405 Modern Physics I: Condensed-Matter Physics Not offered this year STN An introduction to modern condensed-matter physics, this course builds on quantum and statistical mechanics to study the electronic properties of solids, including band theory. Metals, quantum Hall effects, semiconductors, superconductors and magnetism, as well as phase transitions in condensed systems and structure and dynamic of solids and liquid crystals. Two 90-minute lectures. Prerequisites: PHY 208, PHY 301, and PHY 305. Staff

PHY 406 Modern Physics II: Nuclear and Elementary Particle Physics Not offered this year STN The basic features of nuclear and elementary particle physics are described and interpreted, primarily in the context of the "Standard Model." Problems of current interest are discussed. Two 90-minute lectures. Staff

PHY 408 Modern Classical Dynamics Spring STN The course discusses some of the most important and beautiful phenomena described by classical dynamics. This includes generalized Hamiltonian systems and variational principles, shock waves propagation, gravitational instabilities, simple solitons and vortices plus elementary exposition of the theories of turbulence and period doubling. Two 90-minute lectures. Prerequisite: PHY 205 or 207. Staff

PHY 419 Physics and Chemistry of Earth's Interior (See GEO 419)

PHY 442 Geodynamics (See GEO 442)