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Physics Course Descriptions

  • PHYS 101. Physics for Nonscientists (variable title).
    Credits: 4. Introductory course, intended for students with limited mathematical background and centered on one of several topics such as an in-depth look at the physics of energy or a survey of modern physical thought. The relevance of physical laws to both society and the environment is discussed. Offered based on demand. Fulfills natural science and mathematics requirement.
  • PHYS 106. Surveying the Sky
    Credits: 4. This course, which is intended for non-science majors with limited mathematical background, will cover topics selected from naked-eye astronomy, stellar astronomy, galactic astronomy and cosmology. Fulfills natural science and mathematics requirement.
  • PHYS 107. The Solar System
    Credits: 4. This course covers the physical description of the planets, their satellites, the sun, asteroids and comets, with a strong emphasis on recent information from landers and fly-by probes. This course includes discussions of how science is known, learned and taught, which will be of interest to future teachers and others who may wish to combine work with students and science. Fulfills natural science and mathematics requirement.
  • PHYS 108. Realm of the Stars
    Credits: 4. Concentrates on the study of stars. Topics include stellar observation and the life, evolution and death of stars. Fulfills natural science and mathematics requirement.
  • PHYS 109. Beyond the Stars
    Credits: 4. Concentrates on the study of extra-galactic astronomy. Topics include nebulae, galaxies and cosmology. Fulfills natural science and mathematics requirement.
  • PHYS 121. Classical and Modern Physics I
    Credits: 5. For physics majors and others interested in physics. This course is not a survey but an introduction to the thinking and analysis processes of physics, with classroom and laboratory topics chosen from modern and classical physics to emphasize the skills needed to think like a physicist. To prepare for Phys 122, students should plan to take Math 121 concurrently with Phys 121. Sequence begins each fall. Fulfills natural science and mathematics requirement. Fall.
  • PHYS 122. Classical and Modern Physics II
    Credits: 5. 5. For physics majors and others interested in physics. This course is not a survey but an introduction to the thinking and analysis processes of physics, with classroom and laboratory topics chosen from modern and classical physics to emphasize the skills needed to think like a physicist. Prerequisite: PHYS 121 and MATH 121. Fulfills natural science and mathematics requirement. Spring.
  • PHYS 150. Special Topics
    Credits: 4. May also be offered at 250, 350 and 450 levels.
  • PHYS 204. Elementary Electronics (CTIS 202)
    Credits: 4. Introduces students to the behavior of the fundamental building blocks of modern electronic devices and the underlying scientific principles that make these devices work. Topics will be derived from analog and digital electronics and include resistance, capacitance, diodes, signal filtering, positive and negative feedback, operational amplifiers, Boolean logic, logic gates, and digital to analog conversion. Prerequisite: Successful completion of the quantitative literacy requirement. Fulfills natural science and mathematics requirement. Alternate Spring.
  • PHYS 210. Observatory Practice
    Credits: 4. For physics majors and others interested in learning to use the J. Donald Cline Observatory at Guilford. The course includes astronomical background drawn from solar system, stellar and extra-galactic astronomy but the emphasis is on the use of the equipment, methods of data acquisition and analysis of results. Fulfills natural science and mathematics requirement.
  • PHYS 211. College Physics I
    Credits: 4. For science majors and other interested students whose mathematics background includes algebra and trigonometry. This survey of physics includes mechanics, energy, thermodynamics, electricity and magnetism, optics, wave motion and modern physics. Sequence begins each fall. Fulfills natural science and mathematics requirement. Fall.
  • PHYS 212. College Physics II
    Credits: 4. For science majors and other interested students whose mathematics background includes algebra and trigonometry. This survey of physics includes mechanics, energy, thermodynamics, electricity and magnetism, optics, wave motion and modern physics. Prerequisite: PHYS 211. Fulfills natural science and athematics requirement. Spring.
  • PHYS 223. Classical and Modern Physics III
    Credits: 4. The final semester of the introductory physics sequence. Topics are chosen from modern and classical physics to complement those discussed in PHYS 121 and PHYS 122. Prerequisite: PHYS 122 or instructor permission. Fall.
  • PHYS 226. The Physics of Solids
    Credits: 4. A theoretical analysis of the modern theories of solid materials, the course begins with the classical models of the mechanical, thermal and electrical properties of solid materials, then introduces the quantum mechanical band gap model, the Debye model and the BCS/Cooper pair model in examining solids’ thermal and electrical properties.
  • PHYS 231. Experimental Physics I
    Credits: 2. Intermediate-level laboratory course to develop experimental design and measurement techniques, data reduction and analysis methods and oral and written presentation skills. Experiments vary as equipment and technologies evolve. Prerequisite: PHYS 122 or instructor permission. Fall.
  • PHYS 232. Experimental Physics II
    Credits: 2. Intermediate-level laboratory course to develop experimental design and measurement techniques, data reduction and analysis methods and oral and written presentation skills. Experiments vary as equipment and technologies evolve. Prerequisite: PHYS 122 or instructor permission. Spring.
  • PHYS 251. Portfolio Development I
    Credits: Variable credits. Students will contract with the faculty members regarding the nature and extent of the project including number of pass-fail credits. Several students may choose to work together on the same or related material. CR/NC.
  • PHYS 252. Portfolio Development II
    Credits: Variable credits. Students will contract with the faculty members regarding the nature and extent of the project including number of pass-fail credits. Several students may choose to work together on the same or related material. CR/NC.
  • PHYS 260. Independent Study
    Credits: 1-4. May also be offered at 360 and 460 levels.
  • PHYS 290. Internship
    Credits: 1-4. May also be offered at the 390 level.
  • PHYS 320. Mathematical Physics (MATH 320)
    Credits: 4. Introduces students to mathematical techniques of particular importance to scientists and engineers. Topics include: complex numbers, Fourier series and the solution of differential equations (with special emphasis on harmonic oscillators). Both analytical and numerical methods are studied. Prerequisite: MATH 225 or instructor permission; PHYS 122 strongly recommended. Spring. Fulfills quantitative literacy requirement.
  • PHYS 324. Thermophysics
    Credits: 4. The thermal properties of matter are studied from the applied approach of thermodynamics and the theoretical analysis of statistical mechanics. Topics include the laws of thermodynamics, equations of state, first order phase transitions, partition functions, entropy and the quantum statistics of particles. Prerequisites: MATH 225, PHYS 223 or instructor permission. Spring.
  • PHYS 331. Experimental Physics III
    Credits: 2. Advanced laboratory course to improve experimental design and measurement techniques, data reduction and analysis methods and oral and written presentation skills. Experiments vary as equipment and technologies evolve. Prerequisite: PHYS 232 or instructor permission. Fall.
  • PHYS 332. Experimental Physics IV
    Credits: 2. Advanced laboratory course to improve experimental design and measurement techniques, data reduction and analysis methods and oral and written presentation skills. Experiments vary as equipment and technologies evolve. Prerequisite: PHYS 232 or instructor permission. Spring.
  • PHYS 353. Portfolio Development III
    Credits: Variable credits. Students will contract with a physcis faculty member regarding the nature and extent of the project including number of pass-fail credits. Several students may choose to work together on the same or related material. CR/NC.
  • PHYS 354. Portfolio Development IV
    Credits: Variable credits. Students will contract with a physcis faculty member regarding the nature and extent of the project including number of pass-fail credits. Several students may choose to work together on the same or related material. CR/NC.
  • PHYS 370. Physics Research
    Credits: 1-4. The presentation of independent research projects completed during summers (e.g. the National Science Foundation–sponsored Research Experience for Undergraduates) or industrial internships. Students who are unable to undertake research at other institutions may design and complete their research on campus under the guidance of Guilford faculty.
  • PHYS 420. Mathematical Physics II
    Credits: 4. Mathematical topics of importance to students interested in theoretical physics are studied. Content varies depending on the background and interests of the students. Topics considered have included partial differential equations, Bessel functions, boundary value problems, the heat flow equation, the Poisson equation and wave equations. Both analytical and numerical solutions are studied. Prerequisite: MATH/PHYS 320. Offered based upon demand.
  • PHYS 421. Mechanics
    Credits: 4. The study of forces and energy and their effect on the motion of particles. Topics include the motion of a particle in a force field, the dynamics of rigid bodies, the detailed study of damped, forced and coupled oscillators. Newtonian and Lagrangian formulation of mechanics as well as computational methods of solution will be studied. Prerequisites: PHYS 223, MATH/PHYS 320 or instructor permission. Offered in alternate years.
  • PHYS 422. Electromagnetism
    Credits: 4. The study of the theory of electric and magnetic fields and their interactions with matter. Topics include the use of vector calculus, Gauss's law, Ampere's law, diamagnetism, multi-pole fields and the law of Biot-Savart. Prerequisites: PHYS 223 and MATH/PHYS 320 or instructor permission. Offered in alternate years.
  • PHYS 423. Quantum Mechanics
    Credits: 4. The study of the theory of the interaction of particles, waves, and fields in atomic and subatomic systems. Topics include the Schrödinger formulation, operator formalism and perturbation theory. Prerequisites: PHYS 223, MATH/PHYS 320 or instructor permission. Offered in alternate years.
  • PHYS 441. Advanced Modern Physics
    Credits: 4. Topics in applied modern physics including the hydrogen atom and other atomic systems, nuclear physics, condensed matter and elementary particles. Prerequisites: PHYS 223 and MATH/PHYS 320 or permission of the instructor. Offered in alternate years.
  • PHYS 442. Advanced Classical Physics
    Credits: 4. Advanced topics in classical mechanics and electromagnetism. Topics may include Hamiltonian mechanics, motions of particles in non-inertial reference frames, the Maxwell equations, electromagnetic radiation and the dynamics of relativistic particles and electromagnetic fields. Prerequisites: PHYS 421, PHYS 422 and MATH/PHYS 320 or instructor permission. Offered based upon demand.
  • PHYS 443. Astrophysics
    Credits: 2-4. The study of the application of physics to astronomical systems. Topics may include stellar structure and evolution, energy generation and nucleosynthesis, the interstellar medium, radiative transfer and degenerate stars. Prerequisite: instructor permission. Offered based upon demand.
  • PHYS 455. Portfolio Development V
    Credits: Variable credits. Students will contract with the faculty members regarding the nature and extent of the project including number of pass-fail credits. Several students may choose to work together on the same or related material. CR/NC.
  • PHYS 456. Portfolio Development VI
    Credits: Variable credits. Students will contract with the faculty members regarding the nature and extent of the project including number of pass-fail credits. Several students may choose to work together on the same or related material. CR/NC.
  • PHYS 461. Physics Research Seminar
    Credits: 1. All students writing theses or doing other research within the physics department are required to take this course in which students and faculty exchange suggestions, ideas, and insights into their research. Fall and Spring. CR/NC. Students may take this course more than once and may count up to four credits of Physics Research Seminar toward graduation.
  • PHYS 470. Research, Thesis and Defense
    Credits: 4. Independent research projects that culminate, with guidance, in a well-defined research thesis. The thesis must be presented both orally and in writing. The thesis should be written in the standard form for technical papers in physics as currently set forth in Volume 10 of the Journal of Undergraduate Research in Physics. Students are encouraged to present their papers at NCUR or another appropriate conference. Fall and Spring.
  • PHYS 480. Physics Department Seminar
    Credits: 0. All students taking PHYS 122 or above (except PHYS 211 and PHYS 212) are required to attend the physics department seminar. During the semester, each student will give presentations on some aspect of the physics work on which he or she is currently working. Fall and Spring.
  • PHYS 490. Honors Research, Thesis and Defense
    Credits: 4. Although enrollment is normally during the fall of the final year, the student is expected to begin work during the intermediate years on independent research projects that will culminate, with guidance, in a well-defined research thesis. The thesis must be presented both orally and in writing. The thesis should be written in the standard form for technical papers in physics as currently set forth in Volume 10 of the Journal of Undergraduate Research in Physics. Students are encouraged to present their papers at NCUR or another appropriate conference.