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Physics Courses
Here is a list of both the Physics and the Astronomy courses available at Wheaton College:
PHYS *205. Physics of Music. Basic concepts of sound
and acoustics; vibrations, waves, fundamentals and overtones, musical
scales, harmony, noise, physical and physiological production, and detection
of sound waves; acoustical properties of materials and enclosures. (2)
PHYS *221. General Physics I. Basic
concepts of mechanics, waves and heat. Non-calculus based. Three hours
lecture, three hours laboratory. Prerequisite: MATH 218 or equivalent.
PHYS *222. General Physics II. Basic
concepts of electromagnetism, optics, and modern physics. Non-calculus
based. Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory. Prerequisite: PHYS
221.
PHYS 231. Introductory Physics I. Energy
and momentum, conservation laws, Newtonian mechanics, introduction to
quantum mechanics. Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory. Corequisite:
MATH 231.
PHYS 232. Introductory Physics II. Electricity,
magnetism, special relativity, quantum mechanics, nuclear physics. Three
hours lecture, three hours laboratory. Corequisite: MATH 232.
PHYS *301. Origins of Modern Science. The
historical development of science from its Babylonian and Egyptian origins,
through Greek science to the scientific revolution, including basic concepts
in astronomy and mechanics, and their cultural interactions. (2)
PHYS *302. Ideas of Modern Science. The
historical development of the ideas of science from the Newtonian synthesis
to the present, including concepts in optics, electromagnetism, relativity,
and quantum theory and their cultural interactions. (2)
PHYS *303. Ideas of Quantum Mechanics. Conceptual
and historical development of quantum mechanics raising questions of
cultural, theological, and philosophical interactions. (2)
PHYS *315. Topics in Physical Science. Selected
topics from the following: atmospheric physics, cosmology, or nonlinear
dynamics and chaos. (2)
PHYS 333. Frontiers of Physics. Thermodynamics,
historical development of quantum mechanics and relativity, nature of
science and scientific revolutions, survey of current physics research
areas. Prerequisite: PHYS 232. (2, lin)
PHYS 335. Modern Science Skills Laboratory. Development
of skills in experimental technique, error analysis, writing lab reports,
oral presentations, use of spreadsheets and Matlab, and the study of
ethical issues in industry. Corequisite: PHYS 333. (2)
PHYS 341. Analytical Mechanics. Vector
calculus, particle and rigid body dynamics, central forces and gravitation,
rotating systems and bodies, Lagrange and Hamilton formulations, generalized
coordinates, and normal modes. Prerequisites: PHYS 232 and 2 hours of
MATH 333.
PHYS 342. Electromagnetic Theory. Electrostatics,
steady currents, electromagnetic induction, Maxwell's equations, electromagnetic
waves, and radiation. Corequisite: MATH 331. Prerequisites: PHYS 232
and 2 hours of MATH 333. Alternate years.
PHYS 343. Experimental Physics. Basic
experimental methods and laboratory experiments in electrical measurements
and modern physics given as an independent research project. Six hours
laboratory. Prerequisites: 24 hours of mathematics and physics. (2, lin)
PHYS 344. Quantum Mechanics. Elements
of quantum physics, solutions of Schroedinger's equation applied to atomic
and molecular structure, applications, interpretations. Prerequisites:
PHYS 333 and 2 hours of MATH 333. Alternate years.
PHYS 351. Analog Electronics. Basic
principles of electronic circuits and devices. AC and DC circuit fundamentals,
filters, diodes, transistors, amplifiers, and operational amplifiers.
Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory. Prerequisite: PHYS 232.
Alternate years. (2)
PHYS 352. Computer Data Acquisition. Digital electronics,
analog to digital conversion, computer interfacing, and data acquisition
with LabView software. Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory. Prerequisite:
PHYS 232. Alternate years. (2)
PHYS 353. Introductory
Optics. Electromagnetic and quantum mechanical theory of
light, geometrical and physical optics, interference, diffraction,
and optical instruments. Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory.
Prerequisite: PHYS 232. Alternate years. (2)
PHYS 354. Advanced Optics. Light propagation in matter,
polarization, Fourier optics, aberrations, holography, lasers, and modern
optical materials and components. Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory.
Prerequisite: PHYS 353. Alternate years. (2)
PHYS 359. Thermodynamics. Theory of heat and gases,
introduction to kinetic theory and statistical mechanics. Alternate years.
Prerequisite: PHYS 333.
PHYS 361. Solid State Physics and Nanotechnology. Bonding
and structure of crystals, electronic properties of insulators, semiconductors,
metals, and superconductors, limits of smallness, molecular assembly,
and nanoscale physics. Prerequisite: PHYS 232. Alternate years. (2)
PHYS 365. Mathematical Physics. Applications
of mathematical methods in physics, including boundary value
problems, partial differential equations, complex variables.
Prerequisite: MATH
333. Alternate years.
PHYS 366. Particle Physics and Cosmology. Elementary
particles, fundamental interactions, conservation laws and symmetries,
big bang cosmology, dark matter and dark energy. Prerequisite: PHYS 333.
Alternate years. (2)
PHYS 494. Seminar. Study of
the wider cultural significance of physics including its historical development;
its relationship to other disciplines; its philosophical interpretations;
its place in a Christian worldview; and one's stewardship toward society.
Independent study and classroom presentation. Prerequisite: senior standing
in the major. (2)
PHYS 495. Problems in Physics. Independent
research. (1-4)
PHYS 496. Internship. Supervised off-campus experience
with departmental approval. Graded pass/fail. Prerequisite: junior or
senior standing with Physics major. (2-4)
*Not applicable to physics major or minor.
Astronomy Courses (ASTR)
ASTR
301. Planetary Astronomy. Observation of the
sky and its cycles. Study of historical ideas about the planets,
origin and development of the solar system, and modern
discoveries in planetary astronomy. (2)
ASTR 302. Stellar Astronomy. Observation
of the sky and it cycles. Study of Big Bang Cosmology and the life history
of stars in the light of Christian theology. (2)
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