| Fall |
PHYS 110, 125, 135, 154, 164, 240, 331, 333, 356, 499A |
| Spring |
PHYS 126, 136, 153, 163, 210, 223, 321, 332, 334, 336, 354, 499B |
| Summer |
PHYS 110, 125, 126, 135, 136 |
| Alternate Years |
PHYS 321, 332, 401, 406 |
A grade of C- or better is required in all prerequisite courses.
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 or PLU Math Placement score of 111 or above. (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 128 or MATH 140 (or equivalent by placement exam) with a C- or higher. (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 with a C- or higher. (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, and thermodynamics. Concurrent registration in (or previous completion of) PHYS 163 is required. Concurrent registration (or previous completion of) MATH 152 is strongly recommended. Prerequisite: MATH 151 with a C- or higher. (4)
PHYS 154: General Physics II – NS, SM
A calculus-level survey of the general fields of physics, including electricity and magnetism, and optics. Concurrent registration in (or previous completion of) PHYS 164 is required. Prerequisites: MATH 152, PHYS 153 with a C- or higher. (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 210: Musical Acoustics - NS, SM
A
study of sound and music using physical methods; vibrating systems;
simple harmonic motion; wave motion; complex waves and Fourier
synthesis; wave generation in musical instruments; physiology of
hearing; architectural acoustics; electronic recording and
amplification. Includes weekly laboratory. No prerequisites in physics
or mathematics beyond the PLU entrance requirements are assumed. (4)
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 240: Engineering Statics - NS
Engineering
statics using vector algebra; equilibrium of rigid bodies; equivalent
force and moment systems; centroids and center of gravity; trusses and
frames; methods of virtual work; shear and bending moment diagrams;
moments of inertia. Prequisite: PHYS 153. (4)
PHYS 321: Introduction to Astrophysics - NS
Application of physics to the study of stellar structure, galactic astronomy, and cosmology. Introduction to observational techniques. 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, polymers, composites, and alloys. Focus on how useful material properties can be engineered through control of microstructure. Prerequisites: PHYS 154; CHEM 115. (4)
PHYS 336: Classical Mechanics – NS
Applications of differential equations to particle dynamics; rigid body dynamics, including the inertia tensor and Euler's equations; calculus of variations; Lagrange's equations and the Hamiltonian formulation of mechanics; symmetries and conservation laws. Prerequisites: PHYS 154 and MATH 253.(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. Concurrent registratrion in (or previous completion of) PHYS 356 is required. (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 (1–4)
PHYS 497: Research (1–4)
PHYS 498: Research (1–4)
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. (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)
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