PHYS-PHYSICS
Physics Department

PHYS 104 Introductory Physics (4) GE B3

Elementary introduction to mechanics, gases, liquids and solids, heat, vibrations and waves, light, electricity and magnetism. 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: Appropriate ELM exemption or an appropriate score on the ELM examination or MATH 104.

PHYS 107 Introduction to Meteorology (4) GE B3

Physics of Earth’s atmosphere. Topics include the physical basis for temperature, wind generation, atmospheric circulation, humidity, adiabatic processes, cloud formation, cyclone development, precipitation, and storm growth. Other topics include the variety of storms and their effects, satellite imaging, and air pollution and its possible effect on global temperature change. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: Appropriate score on the ELM examination for MATH 116 eligibility, or an ELM exemption, or MATH 104.

PHYS 111 Modern Physics for Poets (4) GE B3

Non-mathematical exploration of the key concepts of quantum mechanics and Einstein’s special and general theories of relativity. Particle-wave duality, Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle, Schrodinger’s cat, warped spacetime, black holes. 4 lectures.

PHYS 121 College Physics (4) GE B3 & B4

Introductory course in mechanics emphasizing motion, force, and energy. Not open 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 119 or MATH 120.

PHYS 122 College Physics (4)

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.

PHYS 123 College Physics (4)

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.

PHYS 131 General Physics (4) GE B3 & B4
(Also listed as HNRS 131)

Fundamental principles of mechanics. Vectors, particle kinematics. 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 MATH 182 (or concurrent enrollment). Recommended: high school physics.

PHYS 132 General Physics (4) GE B3 & B4
(Also listed as HNRS 132)

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 or HNRS 131.

PHYS 133 General Physics (4) GE B3 & B4

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 142.

PHYS 137 General Physics: Applied Physics for Architects (4)

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.

PHYS 200 Special Problems for Undergraduates (1–2)

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.

PHYS 201 Learning Center Tutor (1) (CR/NC)

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.

PHYS 202 Physics on the Computer (4)

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 241 or MATH 244 (preferred) and computer literacy.

PHYS 206 Instrumentation in Experimental Physics (3)

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, computer literacy, and concurrent enrollment in PHYS 256.

PHYS 211 Modern Physics I (4)

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 241.

PHYS 212 Modern Physics II (4)

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.

PHYS 215 Physics of Sound and Music (3)

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.

PHYS 256 Electrical Measurements Laboratory (1)

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

PHYS 301 Thermal Physics I (3)

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.

PHYS 302 Analytical Mechanics I (3)

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 244 or MATH 344 (preferred).

PHYS 303 Analytical Mechanics II (3)

Dynamics of a rigid body. Three-dimensional motion of a rigid body. Introduction to Lagrange's and Hamilton's equations. 3 lectures. Prerequisite: PHYS 302. Concurrent: MATH 344.

PHYS 310 Physics of Energy (3)

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.

PHYS 313 Introduction to Atmospheric Physics (3)

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.

PHYS 315 Introduction to Lasers and Laser Applications (3)

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.

PHYS 317 Special Theory of Relativity (3)

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.

PHYS 323 Optics (5)

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

PHYS 340 Quantum Physics Laboratory I (2)

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.

PHYS 341, 342 Quantum Physics Laboratory II, III (1) (2)

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.

PHYS 357 Advanced Instrumentation in Experimental Physics (3)

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

PHYS 363 Undergraduate Seminar (2)

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

PHYS 400 Special Problems for Advanced Undergraduates (1–2)

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.

PHYS 401 Thermal Physics II (3)

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

PHYS 403 Nuclear and Particle Physics (3)

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.

PHYS 405 Quantum Mechanics I (4)

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 244. Recommended: PHYS 212, MATH 344.

PHYS 406 Quantum Mechanics II (3)

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.

PHYS 408, 409 Electromagnetic Fields and Waves I, II (4) (3)

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.

PHYS 410 Physics of the Solid Earth (3)

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 244 or equivalent.

PHYS 412 Solid State Physics (3) GE B6 with PHYS 452

Properties of solids including the structural, mechanical, thermal, and electronic properties, energy band theory and the properties of metals and semiconductors. 3 lectures. Prerequisite: PHYS 211 or MATE 340, MATH 244.

PHYS 413 Advanced Topics in Solid State Physics (3)

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.

PHYS 417 Nonlinear Dynamical Systems (4) GE B6

Analysis of linear and nonlinear dynamical systems with emphasis on geometrical methods and visualization techniques. Fixed points, phase plane analysis, bifurcations and limit cycles. Laboratory component includes data acquisition and analysis using computers, numerical simulations of dynamical systems, and analysis of discrete systems. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: MATH 242 or MATH 244, and junior standing, or consent of instructor.

PHYS 423 Advanced Optics (4)

Lens aberrations, interference and diffraction, Fourier optics, quantum optics, image formation and holography, non-linear optics. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: PHYS 323.

PHYS 424 Theoretical Physics (3)

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 344.

PHYS 452 Solid State Physics Laboratory (1)
GE B6 with PHYS 412

Selected experiments on X-ray diffraction, Hall effect, optical absorption, thermo-electric effect, photovoltaic cells, diode characteristics, and superconductivity. 1 laboratory. Prerequisite or concurrent: PHYS 412.

PHYS 461, 462 Senior Project (2) (2)

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. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

PHYS 463, 464 Senior Project - Laboratory Research (2) (2)

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.

PHYS 470 Selected Advanced Topics (1–4)

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 8 units. 1 to 4 lectures. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

PHYS 471 Selected Advanced Laboratory (1–4)

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 8 units. 1 to 4 laboratories. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

PHYS 485 Cooperative Education Experience (6) (CR/NC)

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.

PHYS 495 Cooperative Education Experience (12) (CR/NC)

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.