Academic Course Descriptions
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References to the timing of course offerings which follow
apply only to day courses. Evening and summer school course offerings
are scheduled according to need. Christian Brothers University reserves
the right to cancel classes at any time due to insufficient enrollment.
PHYSICS COURSES
PHYS 150. PHYSICS I
A beginning course in physics covering the topics of kinematics, dynamics,
gravitation, work, energy, momentum, rotational kinematics and dynamics.
Prerequisite: MATH 131. Corequisite: PHYS 150L. Offered in the Fall
and Spring. One semester; three credits
PHYS 150L. PHYSICS I LABORATORY
Laboratory to accompany PHYS 150. Corequisite: PHYS 150. Offered in
the Fall and Spring. One semester; one credit
PHYS 201. INTRODUCTORY PHYSICS I
A general physics course covering the topics of mechanics, heat, and
sound. Designed primar-ily for biology majors. Prerequisite: High school
algebra and trigonometry or MATH 117. Corequisite: PHYS 201L. Offered
in the Fall semester. A student can receive credit for only one of PHYS
150 and PHYS 201. One semester; three credits
PHYS 201L. INTRODUCTORY PHYSICS I LABORATORY
Laboratory to accompany PHYS 201. Corequisite: PHYS 201. Offered in
the Fall semester. One semester; one credit
PHYS 202. INTRODUCTORY PHYSICS II
A continuation of PHYS 201 covering the topics of electricity and magnetism,
light, and modern physics. Prerequisite: PHYS 201. Corequisite: PHYS
202L. Offered in the Spring semester. One semester; three credits
PHYS 202L. INTRODUCTORY PHYSICS II LABORATORY
Laboratory to accompany PHYS 202. Corequisite: PHYS 202. Offered in
the Spring semester. One semester; one credit
PHYS 251. PHYSICS II
A second course in physics covering electric forces, electric fields,
voltage, capacitance, current, resistance, magnetic forces, magnetic
fields, induction, oscillations, and waves. Prerequisite PHYS 150. Corequisite:
PHYS 251L. Offered in the Fall and Spring. One semester; three credits
PHYS 251L. PHYSICS II LABORATORY
Laboratory to accompany PHYS 251. Corequisite: PHYS 251. Offered in
the Fall and Spring. One semester; one credit
PHYS 252. PHYSICS III
A third course in physics covering geometrical optics, interference,
diffraction, quantum theory, waves and particles, atomic physics, special
relativity, radioactivity, and nuclear physics. Prerequisite: PHYS 251.
Offered in the Fall and Spring. One semester; three credits
PHYS 252L. PHYSICS III LABORATORY
Laboratory to accompany PHYS 252. Prerequisite or corequisite: PHYS
252. Offered once per year. One semester; one credit
PHYS 337. ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM
(Same as ECE 406) Offered in the Fall semester. One semester; four credits
PHYS 347. SPECIAL RELATIVITY
A study of the theory of special relativity including the experimental
background of special relativity, relativistic kinematics including
the doppler effect, and relativistic dynamics including the equation
E=mc2. Prerequisite: PHYS 252. Offered once every two years. One semester;
one credit
PHYS 353. SOLID STATE PHYSICS
An introductory study of the physics of solids including crystal lattice
vibrations and waves, the free electron model, electron energy bands,
semiconductor electrical properties, junctions, and optical properties.
Prerequisites: PHYS 252 and MATH 232. Offered in the Fall semester.
One semester; three credits
PHYS 380. ADVANCED MECHANICS
Primarily an advanced study of the kinetics and dynamics of single particles;
Newton’s laws; concepts of momentum, work, energy; and conservation
principles. Prerequisites: PHYS 251 and MATH 232. Offered in the Fall
semester of odd numbered years. One semester; three credits
PHYS 400. INTERNSHIP IN PHYSICS
Students majoring in physics, engineering physics, or natural science
receive on-the-job training in the offices or laboratories of cooperating
firms. To receive credit, the student must submit periodic reports and
a detailed final report of the work done. The authorized supervisor
of the firm must verify these reports. Prerequisites: Junior standing
and approval of the Physics faculty. Pass/Fail Grading. One semester;
one to three credits
PHYS 415. PHYSICAL OPTICS I
A study of electromagnetic radiation, with emphasis on the visible portion
of the spectrum, based primarily on the wave model of radiation. Topics
include a review of elementary concepts in geometrical optics, detectors,
superposition of waves, interference, holography, far-field diffraction,
polarization, and laser theory. Prerequisites: PHYS 252 and MATH 232.
Offered in the Fall semester of even numbered years. One semester; three
credits
PHYS 415L. PHYSICAL OPTICS I LABORATORY
Laboratory to accompany PHYS 415. Corequisite: PHYS 415. Offered in
the Fall semester of even numbered years. One semester; one credit
PHYS 416. PHYSICAL OPTICS II
A continuation of the study of electromagnetic radiation including topics
such as laser and laser beam properties, near-field diffraction, waveguides
and fiber optics, Fourier optics, and nonlinear optics. Prerequisite:
PHYS 415. Offered in the Spring semester of odd numbered years. One
semester; three credits
PHYS 416L. PHYSICAL OPTICS II LAB
Laboratory to accompany PHYS 416. Prerequisite: PHYS 415L. Corequisite:
PHYS 416. Offered in the Spring semester of odd numbered years. One
semester; one credit
PHYS 447. MODERN PHYSICS
A detailed introduction to quantum mechanics including black body radiation,
the photoelectric effect, DeBroglie’s postulate, the Bohr model
of the atom, Schrodinger’s equation, one-electron atoms, spin
and transition rates. Prerequisites: PHYS 252 and MATH 232. Offered
in the Fall semester of odd numbered years. One semester; three credits
PHYS 452. ADVANCED PHYSICS LABORATORY
A laboratory course in advanced selected experiments. A written report
on each experiment plus an oral report to the class and the departmental
faculty on one of the experiments is required. Prerequisites: PHYS 380
and PHYS 447. Offered in the Spring semester. One semester; one credit
PHYS 460. THEORETICAL PHYSICS
A continuation of the study of Advanced Mechanics and of Modern Physics.
Topics include the study of accelerated reference frames, Langranian
and Hamiltonian mechanics, operator theory, perturbation theory, and
different distribution functions. Prerequisites: PHYS 380, 447. Offered
in the Spring semester of even numbered years. One semester; three credits
PHYS 491. RESEARCH I
An independent investigation in some field of physics. A choice of topic
for research is made, and a written description of the proposed research
including bibliographical references is required. Prerequisite: Departmental
approval or Senior standing. Offered in the Fall semester. One semester;
zero credit
PHYS 492. RESEARCH II
The research proposed in PHYS 491 is carried out. A formal written report
plus an oral presentation to the class and the departmental faculty
is required. Prerequisite: PHYS 491. Offered in the Spring semester.
One semester; two credits
PHYS 495. SPECIAL TOPICS IN PHYSICS
Directed work on a special topic in physics approved by the department.
Up to three hours credit. One semester; one to three credit
PHYS 499. SENIOR COMPREHENSIVES
Second semester seniors are required to take a comprehensive examination
on selected fields of physics as prepared and administered by the department
faculty. A passing score is required for graduation. Offered in the
Spring semester. One semester; zero credit
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