Robert I. Boughton, Chair
104 Overman Hall
Charles T. Shirkey, Undergraduate Advisor
115 Physical Sciences Bldg.
Phone: 419-372-2421
Fax: 419-372-9938
PHYS 211, 212, 301 and 311 (14)
PHYS 307, 317, 401, 416, 417 and 418 (17)
PHYS 429 or 470 (1)
It is recommended that a student majoring or minoring in physics take the following:
CHEM 125, 127 and 128 (10)
MATH 332 (3)
For students expecting to continue on to graduate school, the following courses are also recommended:
PHYS 303, 309, 402, and 419 (12)
A student may elect to specialize in microcomputer systems. The following courses should be included as part of the major:
PHYS 303, 428, and 429 (9)
In addition, the following courses must be taken:
CS 101 (3)
CS 207, 208, 205, and 307 (12)
MATH 332 (3)
No minor is required
A student may elect to specialize in applied physics, with emphasis on the areas of current interest in the modern optics and solid state fields. The following courses should be included as part of the major:
PHYS 303, 306, 309, 410, 428 and 429 (18)
In addition the following courses must be taken:
CS 101 (3)
MATS 401, 402 (6)
CHEM 125, 127 and 128 (10)
No minor is required
(30 hours of physics plus MATH 232)
PHYS 211 and 212 (10)
PHYS 301, 311, 307 and 317 (8)
PHYS 303 (3)
MATH 232 (5)
PHYS electives at 300/400 level (9)
Five courses chosen from ASTR 201, 212, 305, 307, 309, 321 and 403 (13-15) Additional courses in PHYS (6)
This program is intended for students with an avocational interest in astronomy. Students planning a career in astronomy should major in physics and choose astronomy courses as electives.
ASTR 201 (3)
Two other courses in ASTR among: 212, 305, 307, 403, 321 (5 or 6)
ASTR 201. Modern Astronomy (3) I, II, III. Recent astronomical discoveries, space travel among planets, birth and death of stars, supernovas, pulsars, black holes, x-ray stars, radio galaxies, quasars, extra-galactic phenomena, and origin of universe; some observational work. Three one-hour lectures. Equipment fee.
ASTR 212. The Solar System (3) I, III. Planetary, solar and space science. The moon, solar interior and atmosphere, solar/terrestrial relations, planetary structure and atmospheres, comets, asteroids, meteoroids, space exploration, origin of solar system. Three one-hour lectures. Equipment fee.
ASTR 270. Independent Study (1-3) On demand. Introduction to research in physics and astronomy; projects chosen in consultation with advisor. May include library and laboratory work. For lower division students only. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
ASTR 305. Life in the Universe (3) II. Alternate years. Possibilities for life on other planets and other star systems, methods for communicating with other intelligent life, movement of human life into space. Three one-hour lectures.
ASTR 307. Understanding the Cosmos (3) II. Alternate years. The universe as a whole, gravity black holes, structure of space; other galaxies and the universal redshift, clusters of galaxies and other large scale structure; big bang and steady state models; the three degree background radiation; first moments of creation. Three one-hour lectures.
ASTR 309. Observational Astronomy (2) I. Alternate years. Instrumentation and techniques used in making astronomical observations. Includes operation of an astronomical telescope, working knowledge of celestial coordinates, obtaining photographics images of astronomical objects and digital images with data reduction. One-hour lecture and one two-hour laboratory. Open only to majors and minors in physics or astronomy. Lab fee.
ASTR 321. Recent Progress in Astronomy (2) I. Alternate years. Pulsar dynamics, gravitational collapse and black holes, galaxies, large-scale structure in the universe, active galaxies and quasars, cosmology. Two two-hour lectures. Prerequisite: PHYS 212, or PHYS 202 and MATH 232. Not open to students with credit for PHYS 321.
ASTR 403. Stellar Structure and Evolution (3) II. Alternate years. Basic data, stellar interiors, theoretical models; adsvanced evolutionary states; red giants, white dwarfs, neutron stars, supernovas, black holes. Three one-hour lectures. Prerequisites: PHYS 301 and consent of instructor. Not open to students with credit for PHYS 403.
ASTR 470. Independent Study in Astronomy (1-3) On demand. Introduction to research in astronomy; projects chosen in consultation with advisor, may include library and laboratory work. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
PHYS 100. Basic Physics (3) III. For the non-science student; major principles and concepts; application to other fields. Three one-hour lecture-recitations. Not acceptable toward physics major or minor.
PHYS 101. Physics for Society (3) II. Relation of physics to areas of natural science, cultural development and society. Two one-hour lecture-recitations and one two-hour laboratory. For non-science students; not acceptable toward physics major or minor. Lab fee.
PHYS 104. Physics for Elementary Teachers (2) I, III. Introduction to laws of motion, heat flow, electricity and magnetism, and microscopic structure of matter; concepts used in the statement of these laws and their applications. Two one-hour lecture-recitations. Not acceptable toward physics major or minor.
PHYS 201. College Physics I (5) I, II, III. First term of an introductory physics sequence intended for students without calculus. Motion, forces, energy, fluids, heat and wave motion. Four lecture-recitations and one two-hour laboratory. Prerequisites: algebra and trigonometry. Lab fee.
PHYS 202. College Physics II (5) I, II, III. Physics 201 continued. Sound, electricity, magnetism, electrical measurements, optics; atomic, nuclear and solid state physics. Four lecture-recitations and one two-hour laboratory. Prerequisites: PHYS 201. Lab fee.
PHYS 211. University Physics I (5) I. Introductory calculus-based physics sequence for science and engineering majors. Kinematics in one, two and three dimensions; Newtonian mechanics; gravitation; heat and thermodynamics. Four lecture-recitations and one two-hour laboratory. Corequisite: MATH 131. Lab fee.
PHYS 212. University Physics II (5) II. Physics 211 continued. Wave motion, sound, optics, electricity and magnetism. Four lecture-recitations and one two-hour laboratory. Prerequisite: PHYS 211. Corequisite: MATH 232. Lab fee.
PHYS 270. Independent Study (1-3) On demand. Introduction to research in physics and astronomy; projects chosen in consultation with advisor. May include library and laboratory work. For lower division students only. Prerequisites: consent of instructor.
PHYS 301. Modern Physics (3) I. Topics from relativity; quantum physics; nuclear, atomic and molecular physics. Three lecture-recitations. Prerequisites: MATH 232 and PHYS 202; or PHYS 212. Student must also register for PHYS 311.
PHYS 303. Electronics (3) II. Discussion and laboratory practice in networks, transistors, integrated circuits and associated analog circuitry. Two lecture-recitations and one three-hour laboratory. Prerequisite: PHYS 202 or PHYS 212. Lab fee.
PHYS 306. Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics (3) I. Alternate years. Thermodynamic laws, entropy, specific heat, kinetic theory, classical and quantum statisitics. Three one-hour lecture-recitations. Prerequisites: MATH 232 and PHYS 202; or PHYS 212.
PHYS 307. Mechanics and Wave Motion (3) II. Mechanics of periodic systems including: the driven harmonic oscillator and coupled oscillators. Fundamentals of wave motion and the propagation of waves in elastic media. Three one-hour lecture-recitations. Prerequisites: MATH 232 and PHYS 202; or PHYS 212.
PHYS 308. Optics (3) II. Alternate years. Propagation of electromagnetic radiation in vacuum and in optically istotropic media; geometrical optics; interference, diffraction and polarization of light with selected classical applications. Selected topics in modern quantum optics. Three one-hour lecture-recitations. Prerequisite: PHYS 301. Student must also register for PHYS 318.
PHYS 311. Modern Physics Laboratory (1) I. Laboratory work designed to accompany material presented in PHYS 301. One three-hour laboratory. Prerequisites: PHYS 202; or PHYS 212. Corequisite: PHYS 301. Lab fee.
PHYS 317. Wave Laboratory (1) II. Introduction to advanced experimental techniques and data analysis; laboratory investigation of wave phenomena. One three-hour laboratory. Prerequisites: MATH 232 and PHYS 202; or PHYS 212 Corequisite: PHYS 307. Lab fee.
PHYS 318. Optics Laboratory (1) II. Alternate years. Laboratory experiments in optics to accompany material in PHYS 308. One three-hour laboratory. Corequisite: PHYS 308.
PHYS 321. Recent Progress in Astronomy (2) I. Alternate years. Pulsar dynamics, gravitational collapse and black holes, galaxies, large-scale structure in the universe, active galaxies and quasars, cosmology. Two two-hour lectures. Prerequisite: PHYS 212, or PHYS 202 and MATH 232. Not open to students with credit for ASTR 321.
PHYS 350. Musical Acoustics (3) II. Alternate years. Nature of vibration; osund waves, sources of musical sounds - strings, air columns, percussion, voice, noise; acoustics of rooms; recording, reproduction, and synthesis of sound. Not open to students majoring in physical sciences.
PHYS 360. Environmental Physics (3) II. Applications of physics concepts to problems in the natural world. Topics such as the greenhouse effect, acid rain, ozone depletion, electromagnetic fields, solar power, nuclear energy and radiation, are examined from both environmental and scientific perspectives. Prerequisites: junior standing and ENVS 101, or consent of instructor. Not acceptable toward physics major or minor.
PHYS 395. Workshop on Current Topics in Physics (1-3) On demand. May be repeated to 6 hours. Special topics in physics or astronomy of current or unique interest to students. Does not apply to first 22 hours of minor or first 32 hours of major.
PHYS 401. Methods of Mathematical and Computational Physics I (4) I. Survey of basic methods of mathematical techniques applied to physics, including linear algebra, ordinary differential equations, and vector calculus with emphasis on how these concepts are used in physics. Parallel development is given to numerical methods used to solve physical problems. Use of an appropriate scientific programming language is included. Four lecture-recitations. Prerequisites: PHYS 212; or PHYS 202 and MATH 232.
PHYS 402. Methods of Mathematical and Computational Physics II (3) II (Alternate years). Survey of basic mathematical and computational techniques for solving partial differential equations, including the wave equation, Poisson's equation, and the heat transfer equation. Introduction to Fourier analysis with applications and the Fast Fourier Transform algorithms and their implementation. A rudimentary treatment of special functions, as they arise in solving physical problems, will be given. Prerequisite: PHYS 501 or permission of instructor.
PHYS 403. Stellar Structure and Evolution (3) I (Alternate years). Basic data, stellar interiors, theoretical models. Advanced evolutionary states; red giants, white dwarfs, neutron stars, supernovas and black holes. Prerequisites: PHYS 301 or equivalent, and permission of instructor. Not open to students with credit for ASTR 403.
PHYS 410. Solid State Physics (3) II (Alternate years). Continuum and atomic theories of solids, lattice vibrations, specific heat of solids, electron theory of metals and semiconductors. Superconductivity. Prerequisite: PHYS 307 or equivalent.
PHYS 411. Physics of Materials (3) II (Alternate years). Structure and physical properties of ceramics, composites, polymers, metallurgically important alloys and amorphous systems. Theory of physical properties of these substances: specific heat, conduction, diffusion. Prerequisite: PHYS 307 or equivalent.
PHYS 417. Quantum Mechanics (3) II. Duality of matter and radiation, state functions and interpretation, Heisenberg uncertainty principle, wave equations and principles of wave mechanics, elementary applications of Schroedinger's equation, operator methods and approximation techniques. Prerequisite: PHYS 501 or equivalent.
PHYS 418. Electricity and Magnetism I (3) I . Electric and magnetic fields; Maxwell's theory of electromagnetic field with applications in propagation, absorption, reflection, transmission of radiation. Prerequisite: PHYS 501 or equivalent.
PHYS 419. Electricity and Magnetism I I (3) II (Alternate years). PHYS
518 continued with applications to guided waves and physical optics.
Relativity.
Prerequisite: PHYS 518 or equivalent.
PHYS 428. Microcomputer Interfacing (3) I. Medium and large scale integrated circuits such as peripheral interface adapters. UARTS, A/D converters are used to interface a microcomputer to the external world of the laboratory. One class period and two three-hour laboratories. Prerequisite: permission of instructor.
PHYS 429. Selected Topics in Microelectronics (1-3) On demand. An individual, in-depth study of a microelectronics project. Designed to integrate the introductory knowledge gained in PHYS 528 into a complete microelectronics system. Arranged. Prerequisite: PHYS 528 or equivalent.
PHYS 433. Philosophy and Physics of Space and Time (3) II. Physical theories of space and time from philosophical, scientific and historical points of view. Topics include Zeno's paradoxes, Green's concepts of space and time, classical Newtonian world view, general ideas of modern theory of relativity and cosmology. Cross listed in PHIL.
Robert I. Boughton,
Chair, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy
Director, Center for Materials Science
Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403
(419)372-2421::FAX (419)372-9938
e-mail: boughton@bgnet.bgsu.edu