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Physics department offers courses for physics major, physics minor and non-major students.


PHYS 101Pmq Introductory Physics I (4)

Prerequisite: high school algebra. A thorough basic course studying fundamental physics and laboratory techniques necessary for understanding science and its relation to everyday experiences. One three-hour lab per week.

 

PHYS 102Pmq Introductory Physics II (4)

Prerequisite: A continuation of PHYS 101Pmq. One three-hour lab per week.

 

PHYS 106Pq Introductory Astronomy (3)

 Prerequisite: high school algebra. A descriptive course dealing with the celestial sphere, physical properties of the solar system, stars and galaxies. This course is open to all liberal-arts students who desire a basic understanding of their astronomical environment. Of value to future teachers and anyone interested in how mathematics is integrated into science. Approximately six night viewing sessions are included, when conditions are good.

 

PHYS 111Pmq General Physics I (5)

Corequisite: MATH 131Pm. A thorough basic course in all major branches of classical physics with an emphasis on mathematical analysis. Designed for engineering and science majors. Required for advanced physics courses. One three-hour lab per week.

 

PHYS 112Pmq General Physics II (5)

Prerequisite: PHYS 111Pmq. Corequisite: MATH 132Pm. A continuation of PHYS 111Pmq. Designed for engineering and science majors. Required for advanced physics courses. One three-hour lab per week.

 

PHYS 204Pq Energy and Environment (3)

Prerequisite: sophomore standing. Does not count toward the major. An examination of energy-related problems both ecological and social from a physical science perspective. Investigation is made of the historical origins of these problems, a description is given of the problems as they exist in various cultures today, and some policies of energy usage are examined, followed by a scenario of outcomes as a result of implementation of various policies. Emphasis is placed on the natural principles underlying the problems and evaluations of the problems in this light. Does not count toward the major.

 

PHYS 211Pq Analog Electronics (3)

Prerequisite: PHYS 112Pmq. Topics covered include voltage dividers, filters, diodes, rectifiers, bipolar and FET transistors and related circuits, operational amplifiers and related circuits, oscillators, and power supplies. Another goal of this course is to enable students to use modern electronic laboratory instruments with a basic understanding of how they work. Three hours of lab per week.

 

PHYS 212Pq Digital Electronics (3)

Prerequisite: PHYS 211Pq or instructor’s permission. Topics covered include gates and combinational circuits, flip-flops, counters and other sequential circuits, memories, digital-to-analog conversion and analog-to-digital conversion, and CPUs. The final series of labs, in which a microcomputer gradually takes form from the chip level, draws together every one of the several circuit elements met earlier. The CPU’s assembly language is used to run programs on the microcomputer. Three hours of lab per week.

 

PHYS 221Pq Modern Physics I (3)

Prerequisite: PHYS 112Pmq (MATH 231Pm recommended). Special theory of relativity, quantization of electromagnetic waves and photons, wave properties of matter, structure of the atom, and introductory quantum mechanics.

 

PHYS 222Pq Modern Physics II (3)

Prerequisite: PHYS 221Pq. Continuation of PHYS 221. Applications of introductory quantum theory to the subjects of solid state physics and nuclear physics. An introduction to sub-atomic particles called quarks and leptons.

 

PHYS 321Pq Electricity and Magnetism I (3)

Prerequisites: PHYS 112Pmq and MATH 231Pm or instructor’s permission. Electrostatics, electric fields in matter, magnetostatics, and magnetic fields in matter.

 

PHYS 322Pq Optics (3)

Prerequisites: PHYS 112Pmq. Corequisite: MATH 231Pm or instructor’s permission. Light as an electromagnetic wave, propagation of light, geometrical optics, polarization, interference, diffraction, and their applications.

 

PHYS 324P Thermodynamics (3)

Prerequisites: PHYS 112Pmq and MATH 231Pm. First and second laws of thermodynamics, thermodynamic potentials, and an introduction to kinetic theory and statistical mechanics.

 

PHYS 326Pq Analytical Mechanics (4)

Prerequisites: PHYS 112Pmq and MATH 231Pm or instructor’s permission (MATH 250Pm recommended). Dynamics of a single particle, oscillations, noninertial reference frames, central forces, gravitation, Kepler’s laws, dynamics of systems of particles, mechanics of rigid bodies, and Lagrangian mechanics.

 

PHYS 328PI Engineering Problems (4)

Prerequisites: MATH 231Pm and PHYS 112Pmq and instructor’s permission. Series solutions of differential equations, Bessel’s equation, Legendre’s equation; orthogonal functions; the Laplace transform and applications; differential and integral calculus; Fourier series; solutions of partial differential equations of mathematical physics.

 

PHYS 331P Advanced Laboratories (2)

Corequisites: PHYS 221Pq and junior standing. A laboratory investigation of all major branches of physics with an emphasis on experimental design and procedures, precise data collection, quantitative data analysis, and professional written reports in a research atmosphere of independent thinking. Two semesters required for a major.

 

PHYS 412P Quantum Mechanics (4)

Prerequisites: PHYS 222Pq and PHYS 326P. The Schrödinger equation, hydrogen atom, simple harmonic oscillator, expectation values, eigenvalues, eigenfunctions, operators.

 

PHYS 421P Electricity and Magnetism II (3)

Prerequisite: PHYS 321Pq. A continuation of PHYS 321Pq. Electric currents, electromagnetic induction, Maxwell’s equations, energy, momentum and angular momentum of electromagnetic fields and their conservation, electromagnetic waves, fields of moving charges, and radiation of electromagnetic waves.

 

PHYS 397/497PI Internship (Arr)

Prerequisites: departmental approval and instructor's permission. An applied experience in the major, requiring a minimum number of hours of work per credit hour. Includes conferences with the on-campus instructor and an evaluation by the job supervisor. Pass/no record basis.

 

PHYS 498I Tutorial Research (Arr)

Prerequisites: PHYS 222Pq and instructor’s permission. Intensive library and laboratory or theoretical research in topics of special interest to advanced students.
 
Department of Physics, Central College
812 University St. Pella, IA 50219
Phone:(877)462-3687 Fax: (641) 628-5920