Overview of current areas of research in the broad discipline of physics, including the historical context of their development. Describes various career options in physics, including academia, government, and industry. Outlines the college physics curriculum and describes opportunities to participate in research at the university.

This course teaches how to use the computer to solve quantitative problems. This involves learning the skills to write computer programs dedicated to certain tasks, to visualize data graphically, to use scientific software, and to learn other practical skills that are important for a future career in the sciences.

Practical electronics for scientists, from resistors to microprocessors. Prerequisite: Instructor permission.

Energy is of paramount importance to civilization and has been for centuries, although never more than the present day. Much of the things we value and rely on ¿ food, automobiles, air travel, heating and air conditioning ¿all depend on access to inexpensive sources of energy. Wars have been fought over sources of energy. But what is energy? Is it inexhaustible, or will inexpensive sources of energy disappear in our lifetimes? Will our thirst for energy inevitably lead to climate change and global warming? Physics 1110 intended to address these issues. Structured to be accessible to non-science majors, this course includes such topics as the physical nature of energy, the ways in which we produce and consume energy in our society, and how the opportunities energy provides, and the threats that may occur, will play into our future. Prerequisite: high-school algebra.

Includes Maxwell's equations; electromagnetic waves and their interaction with matter; interference, diffraction, polarization; waveguides; and antennas. Prerequisite: PHYS 3420.

Second semester of the introductory physics sequence recommended for prospective physics majors. Topics include electricity, magnetism, circuits and optics. Emphasis is on building foundations for future studies in physics. Three lecture hours. PHYS 1420 or PHYS 1425; co-requisite MATH 2310; or instructor permission

Applications of physical principles to a diverse set of phenomena: order of magnitude estimates, dimensional analysis, material science and engineering, astrophysics, aeronautics and space flight, communications technology, meteorology, sound & acoustics and fluid dynamics. Not all topics will be covered in every course. Three lecture hours. (Y) Prerequisite: PHYS 2620 or instructor permission.

Approximately five experiments drawn from the major fields of physics. Introduces precision apparatus, experimental techniques, and methods of evaluating experimental results. Outside report preparation is required. Six laboratory hours. Prerequisite: PHYS 2640 or PHYS 3140

For non-science majors. Introduces physics and science in everyday life, considering objects from our daily environment and focusing on their principles of operation, histories, and relationships to one another. 1050 is concerned primarily with mechanical and thermal objects, while 1060 emphasizes objects involving electromagnetism, light, special materials, and nuclear energy. They may be taken in either order.

The course begins by covering the fundamentals of analog and digital electronics, including the use of transistors, FET's, operational amplifiers, TTL, and CMOS integrated circuits. Following this students conduct projects with modern microcontroller boards (Arduino and Raspberry Pi) using the concepts and the experience gained from the prior fundamentals. Six laboratory hours. Prerequisite: PHYS 2040 or PHYS 2419.