PHYS-PHYSICS -- 2000-01 Catalog
Physics Department

Selected topics in physics with applications to contemporary issues in science and technology. Intended to provide non-science students with an understanding of basic physical concepts. Not open to students who have credit in a college physics course. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: MATH 117, MATH 118 or MATH 120.

An introductory course in mechanics emphasizing motion, force, and energy. Not open for credit to students having a grade of C- or better in PHYS 131. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: MATH 118 and high school trigonometry, or MATH 120.

Continuation of PHYS 121. Topics include properties of materials, fluids, waves and vibrations, sound, heat, light and optics. Not open for credit to students having a grade of C- or better in PHYS 132. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: PHYS 121.

Continuation of PHYS 121 and 122. Electrostatics, electric current, magnetic fields and induction. Elements of modern physics. Not open for credit to students having a grade of C- or better in PHYS 133. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: PHYS 121. Recommended: PHYS 122.

Fundamental principles of mechanics. Vectors, particle kinematics, statics and dynamics. Equilibrium of a rigid body. Work and energy, linear momentum, rotational kinematics and dynamics. Primarily for engineering and architecture students, and for students majoring in the physical sciences. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: MATH 141 with grade C- or better, and MATH 142 (or concurrent enrollment). High school physics recommended.

Oscillations, waves in elastic media, sound waves. Temperature, heat and the first law of thermodynamics. Kinetic theory of matter, second law of thermodynamics. Geometrical and physical optics. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: PHYS 131.

Charge and matter, electric field, electric potential, dielectrics, capacitance, current and resistance, electromotive force and circuits, magnetic fields, magnetic field of a moving charge, induced emf. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: PHYS 131, MATH 132 or MATH 142.

Applied physics problems related to architecture. Damped, forced, and coupled oscillations in mechanical structures and electric circuits. Earthquakes and structures. Elementary electric circuit and wiring concepts. Energy transport, and efficient use of energy and passive solar energy in buildings. For College of Architecture and Environmental Design majors. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: PHYS 132, MATH 142.

Individual investigation, research, studies, or surveys of selected problems. Total credit limited to 4 units, with a maximum of 2 units per quarter. Prerequisite: Consent of department chair.

Act as a tutor in the Physics Learning Center. Help students with problem solving techniques and introductory physics course material. Total credit limited to 3 units, with a maximum of 1 unit per quarter. Credit/No Credit grading only. Prerequisite: PHYS 133 and consent of instructor.

Introduction to computer algebra system for solving problems in physics: differential equations, matrix manipulations, simulations and numerical techniques, nonlinear dynamics. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: PHYS 133, MATH 242 (or concurrent enrollment) and GE F1 elective.

L-R-C circuits and electronic circuit elements emphasizing the applications of analog and digital electronics to instrumentation in modern physics. 3 lectures. Prerequisite: PHYS 133, MATH 143, GE F1 elective, and concurrent enrollment in PHYS 256.

Special relativity, fundamental principles of quantum mechanics, emphasizing the modern description of atomic phenomena. Kinetic theory, wave particle duality, Bohr theory, Schroedinger equation, elementary atomic structure. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: PHYS 123 or PHYS 132 and PHYS 133, and MATH 133 or MATH 241.

Applications of quantum physics to atoms, nuclei, and elementary particles. Quantum statistics, principles of the laser. Topics in solid state physics such as the free electron theory of metals, bonding in solids and energy bands. Nuclear structure and nuclear energy. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: PHYS 211.

Wave nature of sound. Musical instruments and production of sound, overtones and tone quality, musical scales, decibels and noise hazards. Speech and hearing. Recording and reproduction of sound. Electronic instruments and synthesizers. Room acoustics. 3 lectures. Prerequisite: PHYS 104 or PHYS 122 or PHYS 132 or PSC 101 or consent of instructor.

Experimental studies of circuit analysis and electronics; introduction to digital techniques; instrumentation. 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: PHYS 133, MATH 143, and concurrent PHYS 206.

Thermodynamics and statistical mechanics. Entropy, temperature, chemical potential, free energy. Selected applications including paramagnetism, ideal gas, Fermi-Dirac distribution. 3 lectures. Prerequisite: PHYS 132, PHYS 211, MATH 241.

Vector analysis, laws of motion, kinematics and dynamics of a particle. Work and energy. Oscillatory motion (damped and forced oscillation). Center of mass. Linear and angular momentum. 3 lectures. Prerequisite: PHYS 131, MATH 242.

Dynamics of a rigid body. Three-dimensional motion of a rig-id body. Introduction to Lagrange's and Hamilton's equations. 3 lectures. Prerequisite: PHYS 302. Concurrent: MATH 304.

Physics and mathematics applied to broad energy topics. Efficient usage, transportation, solar energy, nuclear fission and fusion. Plasma, hydrogen economy, fuel cells, wind wave, tidal, and geothermal energy. Transmission, storage, fossils. National planning, and energy economics. 3 lectures. Prerequisite: PHYS 133.

Properties of the atmosphere, atmospheric motions, solar and terrestrial radiation. Atmospheric optics and cloud physics. 3 lectures. Prerequisite: PHYS 132 or PHYS 122 and MATH 143 or equivalent.

Interaction of radiation with matter, theory of laser action, characteristics and modification of laser output, types of lasers. Holography and other applications. 3 lectures. Prerequisite: PHYS 133, or PHYS 123 and MATH 143.

Fundamental experiments and basic postulates of special relativity. Simultaneity, length and time measurements. Lorentz transformations. Four-Vectors. Space-time diagrams. Relativistic mechanics and electromagnetism. 3 lectures. Prerequisite: PHYS 211.

Geometric optics, lens systems, aberration, physical optics and polarization. 4 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: PHYS 133, MATH 241.

Experimental studies of the quantum properties of atoms and nuclei. Measurements of fundamental constants. Statistics and data analysis. 1 lecture, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: PHYS 212 and PHYS 256.

Advanced experimental studies of quantum properties of atoms and nuclei. Interactions with radiation, particles and fields. Courses must be taken in numerical order. PHYS 341: 1 laboratory; PHYS 342: 2 laboratories. Prerequisite: PHYS 340.

Advanced analog and digital electronics, computer interfacing to experiments, robotics. 2 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: PHYS 206 and PHYS 256.

Study and oral presentation of physics topics of interest to students and faculty. Discussion of projects and research by students and faculty. 2 seminars.

Individual investigations, research, studies, or surveys of selected problems. Total credit limited to 4 units, with a maximum of 2 units per quarter. Prerequisite: Consent of department chair.

Additional topics in thermodynamics and statistical physics, including chemical equilibrium, phase transitions, transport processes, and cryogenics. 3 lectures. Prerequisite: PHYS 301.

Advanced nuclear physics topics. The two-nucleon problem at low energy. The deuteron. Subnuclear particles and their structure. Elementary particles. Symmetries and conservation laws. Parity, charge conjugation and time reversal invariance. Hadronic interactions. The weak interaction. 3 lectures. Prerequisite: PHYS 212 and PHYS 405.

Wave nature of matter and the basic postulates of quantum mechanics. The wave function, operators, and their interpretation. Schroedinger's Equation and its solutions in one and more dimensions. The hydrogen atom and the periodic table. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: PHYS 211, MATH 242. Recommended: PHYS 212, MATH 304.

Angular momentum operators and problems in three dimensions including the hydrogen atom. The elements of matrix mechanics and spin wave functions. Perturbation theory. 3 lectures. Prerequisite: PHYS 405.

Electric and magnetic field theory using vector analysis. Electric fields, dielectric materials, magnetic fields, induced emf's, magnetic materials, Maxwell's equations, wave equations, plane electromagnetic waves. Dipole radiation, radiation from an accelerated charge. 4 lectures, 3 lectures. Prerequisite: MATH 304, PHYS 206 or consent of instructor.

Gravity and the figure of the Earth. Body wave seismology, structure and composition of the Earth, heat flow and heat sources, Earth tides, rotational dynamics, the geomagnetic field and its source, paleomagnetism. 3 lectures. Prerequisite: PHYS 133 and MATH 242 or equivalent.

Physics of the solid state of matter. Relationship between atomic bonding and the structural, mechanical, thermal, optical, and electronic properties of solids. Emphasis on those properties that influence electronic behavior and processes in metals, insulators, and semiconductors. 3 lectures. Prerequisite: PHYS 211 or MATE 340, MATH 242.

Semiconducting devices, including junction and field-effect transistors, LED's, and diode lasers. Magnetic properties of solids. Superconductivity, including discussion of high-temperature superconductors. Other topics of current interest in solid state physics. 3 lectures. Prerequisite: PHYS 412.

Lens aberrations, interference and diffraction, Fourier optics, quantum optics, image formation and holography, non-linear optics. Miscellaneous course fee required-see Class Schedule. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: PHYS 323.

Contour integration in the complex plane, properties of the delta function, properties of some common functions of theoretical physics, Green's function techniques for solving differential equations. 3 lectures. Prerequisite: PHYS 133, MATH 304, MATH 318.

Selected experiments on the solid state of matter using electrical, optical, and x-ray methods. 1 laboratory. Prerequisite or concurrent: PHYS 412.

Selection and completion of a project under faculty supervision. Projects typical of problems which graduates must solve in their fields of employment. Project results are presented in a formal report. Minimum 120 hours total time.

Selection and completion of a laboratory research project under faculty supervision. Projects typical of problems which graduates will encounter in industry or graduate school. Project results are presented in a formal report. Minimum 120 hours total time. 2 laboratories. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

Directed group study of selected topics for advanced students. Open to undergraduate and graduate students. Class Schedule will list topic selected. Total credit limited to 6 units. 1 to 3 lectures. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

Directed group laboratory study of selected topics for advanced students. Open to undergraduate and graduate students. Class Schedule will list topic selected. Total credit limited to 6 units. 1 to 3 laboratories. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

Part-time work experience in business, industry, government, and other areas of student career interest. Positions are paid and usually require relocation and registration in course for two consecutive quarters. Formal report and evaluation by work supervisor required. Total credit limited to 16 units. Credit/No Credit grading only. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing and consent of instructor.

Full-time work experience in business, industry, government, and other areas of student career interest. Positions are paid and usually require relocation and registration in course for two consecutive quarters. Formal report and evaluation by work supervisor required. Total credit limited to 16 units. Credit/No Credit grading only. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing and consent of instructor.