Physics Courses
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David N McIlroy, Dept. Chair, Dept. of Physics; (323 Engineering/Physics Bldg. 83844-0903; phone 208/885-5768; physics@uidaho.edu)
Credit Limitations: Phys 100 carries no credit after Phys 111 or Phys 211; Phys 111 carries no credit after Phys 211; Phys 112 carries no credit after Phys 212.
Phys 100 Fundamentals of Physics (3 cr)
For students in nontechnical fields. Conceptual study of laws of nature and their application, including mechanics, heat, electricity and magnetism, light, and modern physics. Three lec and one 2-hr lab a wk. (Spring only)
Phys 100L Fundamentals of Physics Lab (1 cr)
For students in nontechnical fields. Conceptual study of laws of nature and their application, including mechanics, heat, electricity and magnetism, light, and modern physics. Three lec and one 2-hr lab a wk. (Spring only)
Phys 103 General Astronomy (3 cr)
Descriptive and physical astronomy; development of astronomical thought; properties and evolution of the solar system, stars, galaxies, and the universe. (Fall only)
Phys 104 Astronomy Lab (1 cr)
May be used as general education credit in J-3-b. Naked eye, telescopic, and photographic observations of constellations, stars, and planets. One 2-hr lab a wk; some evening meetings.
Prereq or Coreq: Phys 103
Phys 111 General Physics I (3 cr)
Kinematics, forces and dynamics, conservation laws, thermodynamics, waves. Three lec, one recitation, and one 2-hr lab a wk.
Prereq: Math 143
Phys 111L General Physics I Lab (1 cr)
Kinematics, forces and dynamics, conservation laws, thermodynamics, waves. Three lec, one recitation, and one 2-hr lab a wk.
Prereq: Math 143
Phys 112 General Physics II (3 cr)
Electricity, magnetism, optics, and modern physics. Three lec, one recitation, and one 2-hr lab a wk.
Prereq: Phys 111
Phys 112L General Physics II Lab (1 cr)
Electricity, magnetism, optics, and modern physics. Three lec, one recitation, and one 2-hr lab a wk.
Prereq: Phys 111/111L
Phys 200 (s) Physics Seminar (1 cr, max 8)
Introductory-level discussion of topics in modern physics; introduction to physics research topics and scientific information search techniques; written and/or oral reports of a pertinent topic in current physics. (Fall only)
Phys 211 Engineering Physics I (3 cr)
Kinematics and dynamics, Newton's laws, work and energy, rotational dynamics, linear and angular momentum, collisions, static equilibrium, oscillations, gravity and central forces. Three lec, one recitation, and one 2-hr lab a wk.
Prereq or Coreq: Math 170
Phys 211L Engineering Physics I Lab (1 cr)
Kinematics and dynamics, Newton's laws, work and energy, rotational dynamics, linear and angular momentum, collisions, static equilibrium, oscillations, gravity and central forces. Three lec, one recitation, and one 2-hr lab a wk.
Prereq or Coreq: Math 170
Phys 212 Engineering Physics II (3 cr)
Electric fields and potentials, magnetic fields, capacitance and inductance, DC and AC circuits, electromagnetic waves. Three lec, one recitation, and one 2-hr lab a wk.
Prereq: Phys 211
Prereq or Coreq: Math 175
Phys 212L Engineering Physics II Lab (1 cr)
Electric fields and potentials, magnetic fields, capacitance and inductance, DC and AC circuits, electromagnetic waves. Three lec, one recitation, and one 2-hr lab a wk.
Prereq: Phys 211/211L
Prereq or Coreq: Math 175
Phys 213 Engineering Physics III (3 cr)
Fluid dynamics, waves in elastic media, sound waves, temperature, heat and thermodynamics, kinetic theory, geometric and physical optics. Three lec, one recitation, and one 2-hr lab a wk. (Spring only)
Prereq: Phys 211
Prereq or Coreq: Math 175
Phys 213L Engineering Physics III Lab (1 cr)
Fluid dynamics, waves in elastic media, sound waves, temperature, heat and thermodynamics, kinetic theory, geometric and physical optics. Three lec, one recitation, and one 2-hr lab a wk. (Spring only)
Prereq: Phys 211/211L
Prereq or Coreq: Math 175
Phys 301 Junior Physics Lab (2 cr)
Experimental techniques in modern physics, including optics, atomic, nuclear, and solid state physics; computer uses, error analysis, and scientific literature searches. One 1-hr lec and one 3-hr lab a wk. (Spring only)
Prereq: Phys 213/213L or Permission
Phys 305 Modern Physics (3 cr)
Quantum and relativity theories with applications to atomic, solid state, nuclear, and elementary particle physics. (Spring only)
Prereq: Phys 212/212L
Coreq: Math 275 and Phys 213/213L
Phys 321 Analytical Mechanics (3 cr)
Kinematics and dynamics of particles; oscillating systems; dynamics of the rigid body.
Prereq: Phys 212/212L and Math 275
Phys 322 Analytical Mechanics (3 cr)
Principle of least action, dynamics of systems of particles, theory of oscillations, mechanics of continuous media.
Prereq: Phys 321
Phys 341 Electromagnetic Fields I (3 cr)
Theory using vector calculus; electrostatics; magnetostatics, electromagnetism, analysis of AC and DC circuits; Maxwell's equations; radiation and propagation of electromagnetic waves.
Prereq: Phys 212/212L and Math 275
Phys 342 Electromagnetic Fields II (3 cr)
Theory using vector calculus; electrostatics; magnetostatics, electromagnetism, analysis of AC and DC circuits; Maxwell's equations; radiation and propagation of electromagnetic waves.
Prereq: Phys 341
Phys 351 Introductory Quantum Mechanics I (3 cr)
One-dimensional theory; free particle, bound states, potential barriers, harmonic oscillator, matrix methods, and Dirac notation; interpretations of quantum theory.
Phys 371 Mathematical Physics (3 cr)
Same as Math 371. Mathematical techniques needed in upper-division physics courses, including vector analysis, matrices, Sturm-Liouville problems, special functions, partial differential equations, complex variables.
Prereq: Phys 212/212L, Math 275
Phys 400 (s) Seminar (cr arr)
Phys 403 (s) Workshop (cr arr)
Phys 404 (s) Special Topics (cr arr)
Phys 411 Physical Instrumentation I (3 cr)
Methods and instruments used in experimental physics; electronic techniques; design problems in electronic measurement of physical quantities encountered in research. Two lec and one 3-hr lab a wk.
Prereq: Phys 212/212L or Phys 213/213L, and Math 275
Phys 412 Physical Instrumentation II (3 cr)
Methods and instruments used in experimental physics; electronic techniques; design problems in electronic measurement of physical quantities encountered in research. Two lec and one 3-hr lab a wk.
Prereq: Phys 411
Phys J425/J525 Relativity (3 cr)
Introduction to the Special and General Theories of Relativity. Principle of relativity, Poincare and Lorentz transformations and their consequences. Four-dimensional formulation of relativistic mechanics and electromagnetism. Principle of equivalence and the geometric theory of gravitation. Additional projects/assignments required for graduate credit.
Prereq for 425: Phys 305 and Senior standing
Prereq for 525: Admission to physics graduate program or Permission
Phys J428/J528 Numerical Methods (3 cr)
Phys 428 same as Math 428 and Engr 428. Systems of equations, root finding, error analysis, numerical solution to differential equations, interpolation and data fitting, numerical integration, related topics and applications. Additional projects and/or assignments required for graduate credit in Phys 528.
Prereq: Math 310
Phys J433/J533 Statistical Thermodynamics (3 cr)
Phys 433 same as Chem 495. Classical thermodynamics, entropy, thermodynamic potentials, kinetic theory, classical and quantum statistical mechanics, ensembles, partition functions, introduction to phase transitions. Additional assignments required for graduate credit.
Prereq: Chem 306 or Phys 305 or equivalent
Phys J443/J543 Optics (3 cr)
Geometrical optics, wave optics and physical optics with emphasis on modern instrumentation and methods of measurement. Additional projects/assignments required for graduate credit.
Prereq for Phys 443: Phys 342
Prereq for Phys 543: Admission to Physics Graduate program or Permission
Phys J444/J544 Quantum Optics (3 cr)
Introduction to the physics of lasers, laser spectroscopy, non-linear optical effects, and the interaction of radiation and matter. Additional projects/assignments required for graduate credit.
Prereq for Phys 444: Phys 212/212L or Phys 213/213L, Math 175, and Senior standing or Permission
Prereq for Phys 544: Admission to Physics Graduate program or Permission
Phys J464/J564 Materials Physics and Engineering (3 cr)
See MSE J464/J564.
Phys J465/J565 Particle and Nuclear Physics (3 cr)
Particle production and detection, properties and classification of particles, the quark model of hadrons, symmetries and conservation laws, interactions, grand unification, the strong interaction and nuclear forces, models for nuclear structure and reactions. Additional projects/assignments required for graduate credit. Cooperative: open to WSU degree-seeking students.
Prereq for 465: Phys 305
Prereq for 565: Admission to physics graduate program or Permission
Phys J484/J584 Astrophysics (3 cr)
Celestial mechanics; planets and planetary systems; structure and evolution of stars and star systems; special and general relativity; cosmology. Additional projects/assignments required for graduate credit. Phys 484 is a cooperative course available to WSU degree-seeking students.
Prereq for Phys 484: Phys 305 or Math 275; or Permission
Prereq for Phys 584: Admission to physics graduate program or Permission
Phys 490 Research (1-6 cr, max 6)
Undergrad thesis.
Prereq: Junior standing in physics and Permission of department
Phys 499 (s) Directed Study (cr arr)
Phys 500 Master's Research and Thesis (cr arr)
Phys 501 (s) Seminar (cr arr)
Graded Pass/Fail.
Prereq: Permission
Phys 502 (s) Directed Study (cr arr)
Phys 503 (s) Workshop (cr arr)
Phys 504 (s) Special Topics (cr arr)
Phys 521 Advanced Mechanics (3 cr)
Classical mechanics; Lagrange's and Hamilton's principles, two-body problem, rigid body motion, special relativity, canonical transformation, Hamilton-Jacobi theory, small oscillations, and Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations for continuous systems and fields. Cooperative: open to WSU degree-seeking students.
Prereq: Phys 322
Phys 525 Relativity (3 cr)
Phys 528 Numerical Methods (3 cr)
See Phys J428/J528.
Phys 533 Statistical Thermodynamics (3 cr)
See Phys J433/J533.
Phys 541 Electromagnetic Theory (3 cr)
Includes Maxwell's equations, electrostatics, magnetostatics, currents and their interactions, general theory of emission, propagation and absorption of electromagnetic waves, boundary value problems, relativistic formulation of electrodynamics. Cooperative: open to WSU degree-seeking students.
Phys 542 Electromagnetic Theory (3 cr)
Includes Maxwell's equations, electrostatics, magnetostatics, currents and their interactions, general theory of emission, propagation and absorption of electromagnetic waves, boundary value problems, relativistic formulation of electrodynamics. Cooperative: open to WSU degree-seeking students.
Phys 543 Optics (3 cr)
See Phys J443/J543.
Phys 544 Quantum Optics (3 cr)
See Phys J444/J544.
Phys 550 Quantum Mechanics (3 cr)
Physical basis; Schroedinger wave formulation, Heisenberg matrix formulation, transformation theory, approximation methods, radiation theory, theory of scattering; application to atomic systems. Cooperative: open to WSU degree-seeking students.
Phys 551 Quantum Mechanics (3 cr)
Physical basis; Schroedinger wave formulation, Heisenberg matrix formulation, transformation theory, approximation methods, radiation theory, theory of scattering; application to atomic systems. Cooperative: open to WSU degree-seeking students.
Phys 564 Materials Physics and Engineering (3 cr)
See Phys J464/J564.
Phys 565 Particle and Nuclear Physics (3 cr)
See Phys J465/J565.
Phys 571 Mathematical Methods of Physics (3 cr)
Methods and problems. Cooperative: open to WSU degree-seeking students.
Prereq: Phys 322 or Permission
Phys 584 Astrophysics (3 cr)
See Phys J484/J584.
Phys 600 Doctoral Research and Dissertation (cr arr)