| Faculty | BS Major | BA Major | BA Minor | Course Offerings |
253.535.7534
www.nsci.plu.edu/phys
Physics is the scientific study of the material universe at its most fundamental level: the mathematical description of space and time, and the behavior of matter from the elementary particles to the universe as a whole. A physicist might study the inner workings of atoms and nuclei, the size and age of the universe, the behavior of high-temperature superconductors, or the life cycles of stars.
Physicists use high-energy accelerators to search for quarks; they design new laser systems for applications in medicine and communications; they heat hydrogen gases to temperatures higher than the sun's core in the attempt to develop nuclear fusion as an energy resource. From astrophysics to nuclear physics to optics and crystal structure, physics encompasses some of the most fundamental and exciting ideas ever considered.
Faculty: Starkovich, Chair; Greenwood, Louie, Tang.
The physics major offers a challenging program emphasizing a low student-teacher ratio and the opportunity to engage in independent research projects. There are two introductory course sequences, College Physics and General Physics; the General Physics sequence incorporates calculus and is required for the Bachelor of Science major.
PHYS 153, 154, 163, 164, 223, 331, 332, 333, 336, 354, 356, 499A, 499B.
Strongly recommended: PHYS 401 and 406
Chemistry 341 may be substituted for PHYS 333
Required supporting courses: CHEM 120 or 125; MATH 151, 152, 253
A typical BS physics major program is as follows:
| First-year |
PHYS 153, 163 MATH 151, 152 |
| Sophomore |
PHYS 154, 164, 223, 354 MATH 253 |
| Junior |
PHYS 331, 332, 336, 356 CHEM 120 |
| Senior |
PHYS 333, 401, 406, 499A, 499B |
PHYS 153 or 125; 154 or 126; 163 or 135; 164 or 136; 223, 499A, 499B
Plus eight additional, upper-division semester hours in physics.
Required supporting courses: MATH 151, 152, 253.
PHYS 153 or 125; 154 or 126; 163 or 135; 164 or 136
Plus 12 additional semester hours in physics (excluding PHYS 110), of which at least eight must be upper division.
Also available is a major in Applied Physics, which includes a substantial selection of courses from engineering to provide a challenging and highly versatile degree. Applied Physics can lead to research or advanced study in such areas as roboticswith application in space exploration or joint and limb prosthetics; growth of single-crystal metals, which would be thousands of times stronger than the best steels now available; mechanics of material failure, such as metal fatigue and fracture; turbulence in fluid flow; photovoltaic cell research for solar energy development; or applications of fluid flow and thermodynamics to the study of planetary atmospheres and ocean currents.
While many Applied Physics graduates pursue professional careers in industry immediately after graduation from PLU, the program also provides excellent preparation for graduate study in nearly all fields of engineering.
PHYS 153, 154, 163, 164, 223, 331, 334, 354, 356, 499A, 499B
CSCE 131
Plus four courses, one of which must be upper division, selected from:
CSCE 245, 345, 346
PHYS 233, 234, 333; PHYS 336 may be substituted for PHYS 234
CHEM 341 may be substituted for Physics 333
Required supporting courses:
CHEM 120 or 125
CSCE 144 or 240
MATH 151, 152, 253.
A typical applied physics program is as follows:
| First-year |
PHYS 153, 163 CSCE 131 MATH 151, 152 |
| Sophomore |
PHYS 154, 164, 233, 234, 354 MATH 253 |
| Junior |
PHYS 223, 333, 356 CHEM 120 Computer Science 144 |
| Senior |
PHYS 331, 334, 499A, 499B CSCE 245 |
| Fall |
PHYS 110, 125, 135, 154, 164, 233, 331, 333, 336, 356, 401, 499A |
| Spring |
PHYS 126, 136, 153, 163, 223, 234, 321, 332, 334, 354, 406, 499B |
| Summer |
PHYS 110, 125, 126, 135, 136, |
| Alternate Years |
PHYS 321, 332, 406, |
PHYS 110: Astronomy NS, SM
Stars and their evolution, galaxies and larger structures, cosmology, and the solar system. Emphasis on observational evidence. Evening observing sessions. Prerequisite: MATH 111. (4)
PHYS 125: College Physics I NS, SM
An introduction to the fundamental topics of physics. It is a non-calculus sequence, involving only the use of trigonometry and college algebra. Concurrent registration in (or previous completion of) PHYS 135 is required. Prerequisite: MATH 140 (or equivalent by placement exam). (4)
PHYS 126: College Physics II NS, SM
An introduction to fundamental topics of physics. It is a non-calculus sequence, involving only the use of trigonometry and college algebra. Concurrent registration in (or previous completion of) PHYS 136 is required. Prerequisite: PHYS 125. (4)
PHYS 135 : College Physics I Laboratory
Basic laboratory experiments are performed in conjunction with the College Physics sequence. Concurrent registration in PHYS 125 is required. (1)
PHYS 136: College Physics II Laboratory
Basic laboratory experiments are performed in conjunction with the College Physics sequence. Concurrent registration in PHYS 126 is required. (1)
PHYS 153: General Physics I NS, SM
A calculus-level survey of the general fields of physics, including classical mechanics, wave motion, electricity and magnetism, and optics. Concurrent registration in (or previous completion of) PHYS 163 is required. Prerequisite: MATH 151. (4)
PHYS 154: General Physics II NS, SM
A calculus-level survey of the general fields of physics, including classical mechanics, wave motion, electricity and magnetism, and optics. Concurrent registration in (or previous completion of) PHYS 164 is required. Prerequisites: MATH 152, PHYS 153. (4)
PHYS 163: General Physics I Laboratory
Basic laboratory experiments are performed in conjunction with the General Physics sequence. Concurrent registration in PHYS 153 is required. (1)
PHYS 164: General Physics II Laboratory
Basic laboratory experiments are performed in conjunction with the General Physics sequence. Concurrent registration in PHYS 154 is required. (1)
PHYS 223: Elementary Modern Physics NS
A selected treatment of various physical phenomena which are inadequately described by classical methods of physics. Interpretations which have been developed for these phenomena since approximately 1900 are presented at an elementary level. Prerequisites: PHYS 154 and MATH 253. (4)
PHYS 233: Engineering Statics NS
Engineering statics using vector algebra; conditions for equilibrium, resultant force systems, centroid and center of gravity, methods of virtual work, friction, kinematics of particles. Prerequisite: PHYS 153. (2)
PHYS 234: Engineering Mechanics of Solids NS
Mechanics of deformable solid bodies, deformation, stress, constitutive equations for elastic materials, thermoelasticity, tension, flexure, torsion, stability of equilibrium. Prerequisites: PHYS 154, 233. (4)
PHYS 321: Introduction to Astrophysics - NS
Application of physics to the study of stellar structure, galactic astronomy, and cosmology. Introduction to observational techniques. Qualified students may wish to combine this course with observational work at PLU's W.M. Keck Observatory. Prerequisites: PHYS 154 and MATH 253. Concurrent enrollment in PHYS 223 is recommended. (4)
PHYS 331: Electromagnetic Theory NS
Electrostatics, dipole fields, fields in dielectric materials, electromagnetic induction, and magnetic properties of matter, in conjunction with the development of Maxwell's equations. Prerequisites: PHYS 153, 154 and MATH 253. (4)
PHYS 332: Electromagnetic Waves and Physical Optics NS
Proceeding from Maxwell's equations, the generation and propagation of electromagnetic waves is developed with particular emphasis on their application to physical optics. Prerequisite: PHYS 331. (4)
PHYS 333: Engineering Thermodynamics NS
Classical, macroscopic thermodynamics with applications to physics, engineering, and chemistry. Thermodynamic state variables, cycles, and potentials; flow and non-flow systems; pure substances, mixtures, and solutions; phase transitions; introduction to statistical thermodynamics. Prerequisites: PHYS 153 and MATH 253. (4)
PHYS 334: Engineering Materials Science NS
Fundamentals of engineering materials including mechanical, chemical, thermal, and electrical properties associated with metals, ceramics, polymers, composites, and semiconductors. Focus on how useful material properties can be engineered through control of microstructure. Prerequisites: PHYS 154; CHEM 120 or 125. (4)
PHYS 336: Classical Mechanics NS
Foundations of classical mechanics with an emphasis on applications to astronomy and celestial mechanics. Topics include applications of Newton's laws to particle motion in inertial and noninertial frames; systems of particles and rigid body dynamics; calculus of variations, Lagrange's equations and the Hamiltonian formulation of mechanics. Prerequisites: PHYS 154, 354 or MATH 351 (or consent of instructor). (4)
PHYS 354: Mathematical Physics I NS
Ordinary differential equations, Laplace transforms, functions of a complex variable, and contour integration are developed in the context of examples from the fields of electromagnetism, waves, transport, vibrations, and mechanics. Prerequisites: PHYS 154 and MATH 253. (4)
PHYS 356: Mathematical Physics II NS
Fourier analysis, boundary-value problems, special functions, and eigenvalue problems are developed and illustrated through applications in physics. Prerequisite: PHYS 354. (4)
PHYS 401: Introduction to Quantum Mechanics NS
The ideas and techniques of quantum mechanics are developed. Corequisite: PHYS 356. (4)
PHYS 406: Advanced Modern Physics NS
Modern theories are used to describe topics of contemporary importance such as atomic and sub-atomic phenomena, plasmas, solid-state, and astrophysical events. Prerequisite: PHYS 401. (4)
PHYS 491: Independent Studies (14)
PHYS 497: Research (14)
PHYS 498: Research (14)
PHYS 499A: Advanced Laboratory I - SR
Selected experiments from both classical and modern physics are performed using state of the art instrumentation. With 499B meets the senior seminar/project requirement. Corequisite: PHYS 331. (1)
PHYS 499B: Advanced Laboratory II SR
Continuation of PHYS 499A with emphasis on design and implementation of a project under the guidance of the physics staff. With PHYS 499A meets the senior seminar/project requirement. Prerequisite: PHYS 499A. (1)