Physics Courses | 2024-2025 Academic Catalog | SIU

Lectures and discussions by students, faculty and invited guests on topics in physics. Will include discussions on employment opportunities, graduate school admission and undergraduate research. Graded: Pass/Fail.

Credit Hours: 1

(University Core Curriculum) [IAI course: P1 901L] This course will survey some of the most important developments in physics which have occurred over the past two millennia. Along the way, students will be introduced to fundamental physical principles such as energy conservation. Topics will include early astronomy, laws of motion, electricity, magnetism, waves, quantum mechanics and relatively. Lab fee: $20.

Credit Hours: 3

(University Core Curriculum) Fundamental concepts of the physical sciences are used in the exploration of the observable universe. Studies include the history and techniques of astronomy, planets, stars, black holes, galaxies and cosmology. Lectures are supplemented by outdoor astronomical observations and/or indoor laboratory exercises. Lab fee: $20.

Credit Hours: 3

In this course, we will explore the nature of these rules and recent discoveries of their consequences for communication and computing such as: teleportation, dense coding, quantum key distribution for quantum cryptography, and quantum computing. The course will have hands-on, in-class projects and discussions for learning how to program a quantum computer as well as exercises that are designed to give a conceptual understanding of the rules and advantages for this new type of computing. This course is designed for freshman and sophomore level Math, Science, and Engineering majors. This is a 3-hour course. The prerequisites are high-school level algebra and trigonometry as well as MATH 109 or MATH 111 with grade C or better.

Credit Hours: 3

(University Core Curriculum course) [IAI Course: P1 900] Mechanics, heat, and sound. Prerequisite: completing with grade C or better MATH 109 or 111 or 125 or 140 or 150. PHYS 203 A or B with PHYS 253 satisfies a Science Group I Core Curriculum requirement in lieu of PHYS 101 or 103.

Credit Hours: 3

(University Core Curriculum course) Electricity, magnetism, light, aspects of modern physics. Prerequisite: PHYS 203A. PHYS 203 A or B with PHYS 253 satisfies a Science Group I Core Curriculum requirement in lieu of PHYS 101 or 103.

Credit Hours: 3

(University Core Curriculum course) [IAI course: P2 900] Designed to meet requirements of physics, engineering and chemistry majors. Mechanics, heat and waves. Prerequisites: MATH 150 with grade of C or better. With PHYS 255A, satisfies the UCC Science Group I requirement instead of PHYS 101 or 103. Not for graduate credit.

Credit Hours: 3

(University Core Curriculum course) Designed to meet requirements of physics, engineering and chemistry majors. Electricity, magnetism and optics. Prerequisites: PHYS 205A and MATH 250 each with a grade of C or better. With PHYS 255B satisfies the UCC Science Group I requirement instead of PHYS 101 or 103. Not for graduate credit.

Credit Hours: 3

Students will learn tips and techniques for solving problems in 205A. This will be done in a problem-based learning environment by solving problems in groups with leadership from the instructor. Prerequisite: MATH 150 with a grade of C or better. Co-requisite: concurrent enrollment in PHYS 205A.

Credit Hours: 1

Students will learn tips and techniques for solving problems in 205A. This will be done in a problem-based learning environment by solving problems in groups with leadership from the instructor. Co-requisite: Concurrent enrollment in PHYS 205B. Prerequisite: MATH 150 with a grade of C or better.

Credit Hours: 1

(University Core Curriculum course) [IAI Course: P1 900L] One two-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisite: completion of or concurrent enrollment in 203A,B respectively; if the corresponding lecture course is dropped, the laboratory course must also be dropped. With 203A or B, satisfies the University Core Curriculum Science Group I requirement in lieu of PHYS 101 or 103. Lab fee: $25.

Credit Hours: 1

(University Core Curriculum course) [IAI Course: P1 900L] One two-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisite: completion of or concurrent enrollment in 203A,B respectively; if the corresponding lecture course is dropped, the laboratory course must also be dropped. With 203A or B, satisfies the University Core Curriculum Science Group I requirement in lieu of PHYS 101 or 103. Lab fee: $25.

Credit Hours: 1

(University Core Curriculum course) [IAI Course: P2 900L] One two-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisite: completion of or concurrent enrollment in 205A,B respectively; if the corresponding lecture course is dropped, the laboratory course must also be dropped. With 205A or B, satisfies the University Core Curriculum Group I requirement in lieu of PHYS 101, 103. Lab fee: $25.

Credit Hours: 1

(University Core Curriculum course) One two-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisite: completion of or concurrent enrollment in 205A,B respectively; if the corresponding lecture course is dropped, the laboratory course must also be dropped. With 205A or B, satisfies the University Core Curriculum Group I requirement in lieu of PHYS 101, 103. Lab fee: $25.

Credit Hours: 1

Introduction to theoretical methods of general usefulness in intermediate and advanced undergraduate physics, with particular emphasis on applications of vector algebra and calculus, complex numbers, matrices, ordinary differential equations and Fourier series to selected topics in physics. Required of all physics majors prior to or concurrently taking 310 or 320. Prerequisite: PHYS 205A, MATH 250 with a grade of C or better.

Credit Hours: 3

This course is for students who have a desire to become familiar with the nature and motions of celestial objects in the night sky and techniques to observe them. Suitable for both science and non-science majors who want to learn how to use a telescope and enjoy observational and practical astronomy. Lectures are supplemented by outdoor nighttime astronomical observations. Prerequisite: PHYS 103 (or instructor consent). Lab fee: $20.

Credit Hours: 3

(University Core Curriculum course) The physics of the twentieth century: special relativity (experimental basis; time dilation, length contraction, Lorentz transformations; addition of velocities; relativistic momentum, mass and energy). Quantum mechanics (wave-particle duality, early quantum theory, tunneling phenomena, the Schroedinger equation in one and in three dimensions). Applications of quantum theory to: atomic and molecular structure; lasers, condensed matter physics; nuclear and particle physics. Prerequisites: PHYS 205A and PHYS 205B with a grade of C or above, or PHYS 203A and PHYS 203B both with a grade of C or above.

Credit Hours: 3

Review of Newtonian mechanics of particles and rigid bodies, and Lagrangian and Hamiltonian dynamics. Prerequisite: PHYS 301 or MATH 305 or concurrent enrollment, PHYS 205A, and PHYS 205B with grade of C or better.

Credit Hours: 3

The theory of electric and magnetic fields; electrostatic fields in vacuum and in material media, special methods for the solution of electrostatics problems, energy, and force relations in electrostatic fields; stationary electric fields in conducting media, electric currents, magnetic fields, magnetic properties of matter. Prerequisite: PHYS 301 or MATH 305 or concurrent enrollment, and PHYS 205A,B and MATH 251 with grade of C or better.

Credit Hours: 3

Light propagation, reflection, refraction, interference, diffraction, polarization, and optical instruments. Prerequisite: PHYS 203B or 205B with grade of C or better.

Credit Hours: 2

A laboratory class which meets for a two hour session once a week. The laboratory experiments include several of the seminal experimental discoveries that helped establish quantum theory (spectral lines, the charge to mass ratio for the electron, the photoelectric effect, the Franck-Hertz experiment, radioactivity, superconductivity, etc.). Prerequisites: PHYS 205A and PHYS 205B or PHYS 203A and PHYS 203B with a grade of C or better. Lab fee: $25.

Credit Hours: 1

An introduction to investigations in physics. Individual work under the supervision of a physics faculty member on a special topic in physics. Not for graduate credit. Special approval needed from the instructor.

Credit Hours: 1-4

Induced electromotive force, quasisteady currents and fields, Maxwell's equations, electromagnetic waves and radiation, with applications. Prerequisite: PHYS 320 with grade of C or better.

Credit Hours: 3

Coordinated two-hour lecture and four-hour laboratory study of electronics. Emphasis is on overall modern electronics and its applications in the experimental research laboratory setting. Topics include DC and AC circuit theory, measurement techniques, semiconductor active devices, operational amplifiers and feedback, digital circuits, Boolean algebra, microprocessors and large scale integration, digital to analog/analog to digital conversion, and data acquisition. Prerequisite: PHYS 203B or 205B and MATH 111 with a grade of C or better.

Credit Hours: 4

Structure of a crystalline solid; lattice vibrations and thermal properties; electrons in metals; band theory; electrons and holes in semiconductors; opto-electronic phenomena in solids; dielectric and magnetic properties; superconductivity. Prerequisite: PHYS 310, 320, and 430 with grade of C or better.

Credit Hours: 3

Properties of electromagnetic waves in space and media, polarization and interference phenomena and devices, electro- and magneto-optic effects, optical gain, and lasers. Prerequisite: PHYS 420 with grade of C or better.

Credit Hours: 3

An introduction to quantum phenomena, wells, barriers, Hydrogenic atoms, angular momentum and identical particles. Prerequisite: PHYS 305, 310, and 320 with a grade of C or better. Prior or concurrent enrollment in PHYS 420 is desirable.

Credit Hours: 3

Atomic spectra and structure; molecular spectra and structure. Prerequisite: PHYS 430 with a grade of C or better.

Credit Hours: 3

Basic nuclear properties and structure; radioactivity, nuclear excitation, and reactions, nuclear forces; fission and fusion. Prerequisite: PHYS 430 with grade of C or better.

Credit Hours: 3

Applications of quantum mechanics to include time-independent and time-dependent perturbation theory, variational methods, introduction to solid-state physics and materials. Prerequisite: PHYS 430 with grade of C or better.

Credit Hours: 3

Laws of thermodynamics; Principles and Applications of Classical and Quantum Statistical Mechanics; Introduction to Phase Transitions. Prerequisites: PHYS 305 and PHYS 301 both with a grade of C or better; MATH 251 with a grade of C or better.

Credit Hours: 3

Introduces students to experimental research and encourages them to develop and carry out experiments. Prerequisite: PHYS 305 and PHYS 355 with a grade of C or better. Lab fee: $50.

Credit Hours: 3

Properties of laser beams and resonators, fluorescence and two photon spectroscopy, diffraction, Fourier transformation and frequency filtering, electro- and magneto-optic modulation, fiber propagation and related experiments. Prerequisite: PHYS 428 with grade of C or better.

Credit Hours: 2

Each student chooses or is assigned a definite investigative project or topic. Prerequisite: PHYS 310, 320 or consent of instructor.

Credit Hours: 1-3

These courses are advanced special topics in physics designed to enable undergraduate and graduate students to become well-versed in a particular and current research area of physics with the intention of preparing them for future research and/or industrial applications. They are offered as the need arises and interest and time permit. Students are required to give presentations. Special approval needed from the instructor.

Credit Hours: 3-6

This course provides an introduction to the modern scientific study of the universe. The laws of physics will be used to explore a wide range of astrophysical processes, including comparative planetology, orbital dynamics, stellar evolution, and cosmology. Prerequisites: Two semesters of an introductory physics sequence (PHYS 203A, 203B or PHYS 205A, 205B) and Astronomy (PHYS 103).

Credit Hours: 3

This course provides an introduction to how physics principles and techniques are applied to study and describe complex and emergent processes found at the biological and biomolecular level. This course combines several topics not usually covered in standard undergraduate science courses to qualify and quantify cell structure, mechanics, dynamics, self-assembly, and biological functionality. Prerequisites: Two semesters of an introductory physics sequence (PHYS 203A,B or PHYS 205A,B) with minimum grades of C, MATH 150 or concurrent enrollment.

Credit Hours: 3

This course provides foundational knowledge in the usage of computers for solving natural problems in different types of physical systems. The class will give a thorough understanding of various numerical techniques such as interpolating/extrapolating data, integrating ordinary and partial differential equations, and solving linear algebra problems. Students will be guided to write programs for solving several applied physics problems in classical and modern physics. A brief survey of High Performance Computing will also be presented giving students a working knowledge of scientific computing. Prerequisites: Two semesters of an introductory physics sequence (PHYS 203A,B or PHYS 205A,B), with minimum grades of C and concurrent enrollment in PHYS 305. PHYS 301, PHYS 310 and PHYS 320 are not required but recommended.

Credit Hours: 3

This course will serve as an introductory course in Materials Science and Nanoscale Physics. Topics to be covered include: The need for studying Materials Science, classification of materials, advanced concepts in materials manufacturing, modern materials, nanoscale materials, electrical, thermal, magnetic and optical properties of materials, tailoring materials for application development, Techniques of Materials characterization, Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology, and Societal Impact. Prerequisites: Two semesters of an introductory physics sequence (PHYS 203A,B or PHYS 205A,B), with minimum grades of C, MATH 150 or concurrent enrollment.

Credit Hours: 3

This course provides an introduction to the theory of quantum entanglement and its use in quantum information science, especially for the task of communication. Topics include quantum teleportation, entanglement measures, and nonlocality. Prerequisite: MATH 221 with a grade of C or better.

Credit Hours: 3

Advanced undergraduate research under the supervision of a physics faculty member. A presentation of the results will be made at the end of the term. Not for graduate credit. Prerequisite: PHYS 310, 320 or consent of instructor and undergraduate advisor.

Credit Hours: 1-4