The Senior Capstone Experience is required of allmajors in Physics. It consists of an experimental,theoretical, or computational investigation of acurrent topic in physics under the guidance of afaculty mentor. Results of these investigationswill be presented in the weekly Physics Seminarand may also result in conference posters orpublication in professional journals. Academiccredit equivalent to one semester course (fourcredits) is granted upon successful completion ofthe Senior Capstone Experience, and a grade ofHonors, Pass or Fail will be recorded on thestudent's transcript along with the title of theinvestigation.

This course traces the evolving concepts of space,time, and motion through the main contributions ofGalileo, Newton, Einstein, and Bohr. Topicsinclude sizing up the universe surrounding us,the kinematics and dynamics of motion, the greatconservation laws, the unification of space-timeand gravity in theories of special and generalrelativity, the physics of black-holes, and thequantum structure of matter.

[Students interested in pursuing Physics orEngineering studies must take PHY 111.] Analgebra-based introduction to physics forstudents interested in life sciences or healthcareprofessions. Kinematics in one and two dimensions,Newton's laws of motion, work-energy theorem,conservation of energy, conservation of linearmomentum, collisions, rotational kinematics anddynamics, simple harmonic motion, Newton's law ofgravitation, fluid mechanics, temperature, heat,kinetic theory, and thermodynamics. Prerequisite:High school algebra and trigonometry, orpermission of the instructor.

[Students interested in pursuing Physics orEngineering studies must take PHY 112.] Secondpart of two-semester algebra-based introduction tophysics for students interested in life sciencesor healthcare professions. Electric charge,electric field and potential, conductors,dielectrics, capacitors, electric circuits andpower; magnetic fields, forces on moving chargesand on current-carrying wires, fields ofcurrent-carrying wires, electromagnetic induction;wave motion, superposition, physical and rayoptics; quantum physics of atoms and atomicnuclei.

A survey of the universe, beginning with theEarth, Moon, the planets, and the Sun, andcontinuing outwards to distant stars, galaxies,galactic clusters, superclusters, and large-scalestructure. The emphasis is on the interplaybetween physical theory and observation that leadsto the modern astrophysical perspective of theuniverse. Topics include the origin and evolutionof stars, formation of red giants, planetarynebulae, white dwarfs, neutron stars, supernovae,and black holes. We explore the present state ofour knowledge of these objects and how thisknowledge is acquired. The course concludes with adiscussion of quasars and the past, present, andfuture of the universe according to the Big Bangcosmology.

A calculus-based introduction to physics forfurther study in the physical sciences andengineering. Mechanics: kinematics and dynamics ofparticles, conservation of momentum and energy,the law of universal gravitation, oscillations,and fluids.

Second part of two-semester calculus-basedintroduction to physics. Thermodynamics: internalenergy, heat, work, entropy, and their statisticalfoundations. Waves: wave propagation,superposition, interference, and physical and rayoptics. Electric and magnetic fields: Coulomb'slaw, Gauss's law, electric potential, steadycurrents, magnetic forces, Ampere's and Faraday'slaws.

Topics not regularly offered in a department'snormal course offerings, chosen based on currentstudent interest and faculty expertise. Specialtopic courses can only be offered 3 times; afterthis, the course must be approved as a regularcourse. Graded A-F or Pass/Fail.

An agreement between a sponsoring faculty memberand a student researching a topic of interest thatis relevant to a student's major or minor.Research is conducted on campus. Students must beenrolled before the research can begin. GradedA-F or Pass/Fail. 45 hours are required percredit.

An agreement between a sponsoring faculty memberand a student researching a topic of interest thatis relevant to a student's major or minor.Research is conducted off-campus. Students must beenrolled before the research can begin. Graded A-For Pass/Fail. 45 hours are required per credit.

The study of areas of physics not covered in othercourses. Instructor and student meet weekly todiscuss any progress. Designed for studentsinterested in pursuing a professional career inphysics or engineering. Available to physicsmajors and others by agreement of instructor. 45hours are required per credit.

The first part of the course will explain thespecial theory of relativity: simultaneity, timedilation, length contraction, Lorentz'stransformations, and relativistic dynamics. Thesecond part of the course will introduce thefundamental ideas of quantum physics: Planck'shypothesis, Bohr's model of the hydrogen atom,wave-particle duality, Schr dinger's equation, andbasic applications of the formalism to atomic andmolecular physics.

This course features a detailed examination of theunique interaction between the Earth's geosphere,biosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere, and howthese systems contrast with those of the otherplanets in the solar system. The course includes alecture and an integrated lab component. Thelecture discussion and reading emphasizes thehistory of Earth systems, from the birth of thesolar system and differentiation of the Earth, tothe emergence of biological life, chemicalevolution of the modern atmosphere, and thechanges to the Earth's climate, ocean andlithosphere throughout geologic history. The labintroduces students to important tools in EarthScience research, including radiometric dating,chemical studies of natural materials, remotesensing and database analysis. The course providesadvanced students with the necessary scientificand intellectual background for pursuing furtherstudies in Earth and planetary science, geography,and environmental studies.

This course serves as a focused introduction toprogramming for scientists and engineers. Topicsinclude algorithm development, statistical tests,the fast Fourier transform (FFT), simulating thedynamics of systems represented by coupledordinary differential equations (e.g. planetarymotion via Runge-Kutta methods), numericalintegration, root finding, fitting functions toexperimental data, and the creation ofpublication-quality graphics. Students choose andcomplete an independent research project on atopic related to their major. This course enablesstudents to integrate computation into advancedcourses in theoretical and/or experimentalscience. Programming language: Python.

A learning contract is developed prior toenrollment in an internship. Evaluation of studentperformance is completed by the faculty mentorbased on the fulfillment of the contract terms andwritten evaluation by the internship sitesupervisor. Students must work at least 45 hoursfor each internship credit and be enrolled in thecourse prior to beginning work. Graded A-F orPass/Fail.

The departmental seminar consists of weeklymeetings of students and faculty. Meetings includeboth formal presentations and informal discussion.Students solve problems in physics, conductreviews of current scientific literature, deliveroral presentations, and develop writing skillsappropriate to the physics discipline. The physicsseminar is also the venue for presentations of SCEprojects. One credit per semester. The course isopen for credit to physics majors and minors only.

Topics not regularly offered in a department'snormal course offerings, chosen based on currentstudent interest and faculty expertise. Specialtopic courses can only be offered 3 times; afterthis, the course must be approved as a regularcourse. Graded A-F or Pass/Fail.

An agreement between a sponsoring faculty memberand a student researching a topic of interest thatis relevant to a student's major or minor.Research is conducted on campus. Students must beenrolled before the research can begin. GradedA-F or Pass/Fail. 45 hours are required percredit.

An agreement between a sponsoring faculty memberand a student researching a topic of interest thatis relevant to a student's major or minor.Research is conducted off-campus. Students must beenrolled before the research can begin. Graded A-For Pass/Fail. 45 hours are required per credit.

The study of areas of physics not covered in othercourses. Instructor and student meet weekly todiscuss any progress. Designed for studentsinterested in pursuing a professional career inphysics or engineering. Available to physicsmajors and others by agreement of instructor. 45hours are required per credit.

Kinematics and dynamics of particles and rigidbodies. Topics include: Conservationlaws, central forces, motion in non-inertialframes, small oscillations, and Lagrangianand Hamiltonian equations of motion.

An introduction to the fundamental principles ofquantum mechanics: quantum states and theprinciple of superposition, probabilitydistributions and expectation values,observables and operators, operatorrepresentations, and perturbation theory. Therewill be a discussion of selected applications ofthe theory to atomic, solid state, andnuclear physics.

An in-depth presentation of the three laws ofthermodynamics and their applicationsfollowed by a study of the statisticalfoundations that underpin these phenomenologicallaws. Additional topics include the theory ofideal gases, heat engines, statisticalproperties of systems of particles, the Boltzmanndistribution, entropy, partition functionsand quantum gases. Other topics may be includedat the discretion of the instructor.

Electric and magnetic fields in vacuum. A surveyof experiments and theory leading to Maxwell'sequations. Topics include: electrostatics,electric currents, magnetic fields,electromagnetic induction, Maxwell's equations,and electromagnetic waves.

The study of electronics as it is used in thephysical sciences. Theory, operation andapplications of R-L-C electrical circuits, diodes,transistors, operational amplifiers, timers,analog, digital, mixed-signal and microprocessorcircuits.

This is a first course on electromagnetic waves,a physics/engineering students or otherscience/math majors with the necessary physics andmathematics background. Topics include geometricaloptics and lens systems, the human eye and visioncorrection, the interaction of light with matter,interference and diffraction effects, and thetheory and applications of lasers. A selectednumber of more advanced topics are covered as timeallows, which may include waveguides, Fourieroptics, nonlinear optics, or optical pulses anddispersion. The lab component focuses on teachingoptics related skills and techniques commonly usedin physics, chemistry, and engineering research.

A learning contract is developed prior toenrollment in an internship. Evaluation of studentperformance is completed by the faculty mentorbased on the fulfillment of the contract terms andwritten evaluation by the internship sitesupervisor. Students must work at least 45 hoursfor each internship credit and be enrolled in thecourse prior to beginning work. Graded A-F orPass/Fail.

The departmental seminar consists of weeklymeetings of students and faculty. Meetings includeboth formal presentations and informal discussion.Students solve problems in physics, conductreviews of current scientific literature, deliveroral presentations, and develop writing skillsappropriate to the physics discipline. The physicsseminar is also the venue for presentations of SCEprojects. One credit per semester. The course isopen for credit to physics majors and minors only.

The departmental seminar consists of weeklymeetings of students and faculty. Meetings includeboth formal presentations and informal discussion.Students solve problems in physics, conductreviews of current scientific literature, deliveroral presentations, and develop writing skillsappropriate to the physics discipline. The physicsseminar is also the venue for presentations of SCEprojects. One credit per semester. The course isopen for credit to physics majors and minors only.

Topics not regularly offered in a department'snormal course offerings, chosen based on currentstudent interest and faculty expertise. Specialtopic courses can only be offered 3 times; afterthis, the course must be approved as a regularcourse. Graded A-F or Pass/Fail.

An on-campus summer research project guided by afaculty mentor. Based on mutual interests, thestudent and faculty mentor develop a researchproject supported by a reading list and involvingtheoretical, laboratory, or field investigationssupervised by the faculty mentor. Participantsproduce a final report detailing the findings oftheir research. Selection of students depends onacademic background, scholastic achievement, andthe results of a personal interview with thefaculty mentor.

An agreement between a sponsoring faculty memberand a student researching a topic of interest thatis relevant to a student's major or minor.Research is conducted off-campus. Students mustbe enrolled before the research can begin. GradedA-F or Pass/Fail. 45 hours are required percredit.

The study of areas of physics not covered in othercourses. Instructor and student meet weekly todiscuss any progress. Designed for studentsinterested in pursuing a professional career inphysics or engineering. Available to physicsmajors and others by agreement of instructor. 45hours are required per credit.

Advanced experiments in mechanics,electromagnetism, waves, physical andgeometrical optics, thermal and statisticalphysics, atomic, and nuclear physics.

A learning contract is developed prior toenrollment in an internship. Evaluation of studentperformance is completed by the faculty mentorbased on the fulfillment of the contract terms andwritten evaluation by the internship sitesupervisor. Students must work at least 45 hoursfor each internship credit and be enrolled in thecourse prior to beginning work. Graded A-F orPass/Fail.

The departmental seminar consists of weeklymeetings of students and faculty. Meetings includeboth formal presentations and informal discussion.Students solve problems in physics, conductreviews of current scientific literature, deliveroral presentations, and develop writing skillsappropriate to the physics discipline. The physicsseminar is also the venue for presentations of SCEprojects. One credit per semester. The course isopen for credit to physics majors and minors only.

Weekly meetings of students and faculty. Studentsare required to read journal articles of currentinterest in physics and astronomy and give oralpresentations summarizing their contents. Onecredit per semester. Can be taken up to fourtimes for credit. Open for credit to physicsmajors and minors only.

Topics not regularly offered in a department'snormal course offerings, chosen based on currentstudent interest and faculty expertise. Specialtopic courses can only be offered 3 times; afterthis, the course must be approved as a regularcourse. Graded A-F or Pass/Fail.

An on-campus summer research project guided by afaculty mentor. Based on mutual interests, thestudent and faculty mentor develop a researchproject supported by a reading list and involvingtheoretical, laboratory, or field investigationssupervised by the faculty mentor. Participantsproduce a final report detailing the findings oftheir research. Selection of students depends onacademic background, scholastic achievement, andthe results of a personal interview with thefaculty mentor.

An agreement between a sponsoring faculty memberand a student researching a topic of interest thatis relevant to a student's major or minor.Research is conducted off-campus. Students mustbe enrolled before the research can begin. GradedA-F or Pass/Fail. 45 hours are required percredit.

The study of areas of physics not covered in othercourses. Instructor and student meet weekly todiscuss any progress. Designed for studentsinterested in pursuing a professional career inphysics or engineering. Available to physicsmajors and others by agreement of instructor. 45hours are required per credit.