Physics - PHY (54)
Administered by Department of Physics and Engineering Technology
Effective Fall 2008
54.101 Basic Physical Science (3) - An introductory integration of concepts and principles from chemistry, physics and astronomy, with consideration for the nature of scientific thought and the interaction of science with human and community concerns. For nonscientists. Three hours of lecture per week.
54.103 Principles of Physical Science (3) - An integrated physical science course emphasizing laboratory experience. Provides an introduction to the basic concepts of physical science by studying such topics as the structure and properties of matter, motion and forces, energy, light and sound, electricity and magnetism and astronomy. For elementary and special education majors. Four hours lecture/laboratory per week.
54.104 Elementary Electronics (3) - An introduction to basic electronics that gives students in nonphysical science areas some theoretical and practical knowledge of electronic circuits, instruments and devices. No experience of physics or electronics required. Three hours of lecture per week.
54.105 Energy: Sources and Environmental Effects (3) - Explains energy in elementary scientific terms and examines present national and international energy situations in regard to sources, utilization and environmental effects. Surveys fossil fuels and nuclear, solar, geothermal and other energies with respect to availability and promise for the future. This course approved as 3 credits of Values, Ethics and Responsible Decision Making toward general education requirements. Three hours of lecture per week.
54.106 The Science of Sound (3) - Provides an introduction to the principles of sound and its reproduction for students in nonphysical science disciplines. Knowledge of basic algebra required, but no experience in physics or electronics necessary. Three hours of lecture per week.
54.107 Applied Physics for Health Sciences (4) - Studies selected principles of physics with applications to the processes and instrumentation of medical technology and imaging. Examines mechanics kinetic energy and heat, electricity and magnetism, electronics, atomic structure, radiation and medical imaging and reconstruction . Six hours per week: 3 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory.
54.108 The Science of Light and Color (3) - Provides an introduction to the nature of light and color and the principles of optical instruments, for students in nonphysical science disciplines. No experience in physics is necessary. Three hours of lecture per week.
54.110 Introduction to Astronomy (3) - Surveys the physical state of the universe and the variety of objects it comprises: solar system, stars and galaxies. Provides a descriptive account of the present state of our knowledge of the cosmos and an understanding of how such knowledge is obtained. Intended for nonscience majors. Three hours of lecture per week.
54.111 Introductory Physics I (4) - Presents an approach to selected topics such as mechanics, heat, kinetic theory, molecular theory of gases, wave motion and sound. Not intended for students specializing in physics or chemistry. Six hours per week: 3 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory
54.112 Introductory Physics II (4) - Studies electricity, magnetism, light, relativity, quantum and atomic theory, structure of matter, nuclear physics and particle physics. Continuation of 54.111. Six hours per week: 3 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. Prerequisite: 54.111 or consent of instructor.
54.123 Contemporary Physics (3) – Surveys contemporary topics in physics, such as relativity, particle physics, nuclear physics, quantum mechanics, and computational physics. Prerequisite: None. Three hours lecture per week.
54.210 Observational Astronomy (3) - Provides hands-on experience in observations of the night sky. Focuses on the interpretation of astronomical measurements, including the students' own telescopic observations of stars, planets, nebulae and other objects. Open to non-science majors. Prerequisite: 54.110 or consent of instructor. Three hours of lecture per week.
54.211 General Physics I (4) - An introduction to physics using calculus. Studies mechanics, the physics of fluids, kinetic theory, heat and thermodynamics. Appropriate for physical science or mathematics majors. Six hours per week: 3 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. Prerequisite: 53.125 or concurrent registration.
54.212 General Physics II (4) - Studies wave motion, sound, geometrical and physical optics, electricity and magnetism. Continuation of 54.211. Six hours per week: 3 classes, 3 laboratories. Prerequisites: 53.126 or concurrent registration; 54.211 or 54.111 with consent of instructor.
54.301 Mechanics: Statics (3) - Introduces the fundamentals of statics, with an emphasis on vector methods, at a level appropriate for physical science majors and for students considering a career in the engineering field. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisites: 53.126 or concurrent registration; 54.211 or 54.111 with consent of instructor.
54.302 Mechanics: Dynamics (3) - Introduces the fundamentals of dynamics, with an emphasis on vector methods, at a level appropriate for physical science majors and for students considering a career in an engineering field. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisites: 53.225 or concurrent registration; 54.212 or 54.112 with consent of the instructor.
54.310 Modern Atomic Physics (3) - Presents some of the basic concepts and phenomena that constitute modern physics, including studies of the quantum nature of radiation, atomic structure and spectra, X-rays, relativity, wave-particle duality, the uncertainty principle and a brief introduction to nuclear physics and radioactivity. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: 54.212 or 54.112 with consent of instructor, 53.126.
54.314 Electricity and Magnetism (3) - Studies electric and magnetic fields and potentials, electric and magnetic properties of matter, electrodynamics and electromagnetic waves. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisites: 54.212 or 54.112 with consent of instructor, 53.225.
54.315 Electronics (4) - Presents the theory and application of semiconductors with special emphasis on circuitry. Studies basic electronic instrumentation as related to the gathering, processing and display of scientific data in any discipline. Six hours per week: 3 classes, 3 laboratories. Prerequisite: 54.112 or 54.212 or 58.141.
54.316 Digital Electronics (3) - An introduction to the techniques and devices of digital electronics. Includes practical experience of the building and testing of digital circuits. Supplies the background necessary for the understanding of microprocessors and computer circuits. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: junior standing or consent of instructor.
54.317 Computer Electronics (3) - An introduction to the electronics and operation of digital computers. Intended for students with a background in digital circuitry. Includes practical experience of the operation and interfacing of microprocessors and other devices. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: 54.316 or consent of instructor.
54.318 Optics (4) - Presents a combination of geometrical optics including lens theory with physical (wave) optics including diffraction, interference, polarization, lasers and coherent light. Six hours per week - 3 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. Prerequisite: 54.212 or 54.112 with consent of the instructor.
54.320 Nuclear Radiation I (2) - Presents a laboratory-oriented course using modern nuclear electronics and detectors for measuring and analyzing nuclear radiation. Four hours per week: one class, 3 laboratories. Prerequisite: 54.212
54.330 Radiation Physics (3) - Presents properties and models of nuclei, radioactive decay, radiation and its interaction with matter and nuclear applications. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: 54.212
54.340 Astrophysics: The Stars (3) – Focuses on a physical interpretation of the nature of stars (including the sun), their structure and evolution, and on the techniques used in interpreting the radiation we receive from them. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisites: 53.126 and 54.112 or 54.212.
54.341 Astrophysics: Galaxies and Cosmology (3) - Focuses on objects outside of our own galaxy, discusses emission mechanisms from other types of galaxies including normal spirals, seyferts and quasars. Structure of the universe as a whole is described using various cosmological models. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisites: 53.126 and 54.112 or 54.212.
54.360 Health Physics (3) - Presents a study of the principles of health physics, including biological effects of radiation, dosimetry, radiation measurement and radiation protection. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: 54.212
54.400 Advanced Physics Laboratory (2) - Presents the basic tenets of lab work in physics, involving considerations of experimental error, proper research and preparation of an experiment. Includes experiments primarily from the areas of atomic physics, electricity, magnetism and optics. Four hours per week: one class, 3 laboratory. Prerequisites: 54.310.
54.420 Nuclear Radiation II (2) - A laboratory course which presents advanced techniques of nuclear measurement and includes applications involving environment monitoring and health physics. Four hours per week: one class, three laboratory. Prerequisite: 54.320
54.421 Solid State Physics (3) - Examines physical properties of matter in the solid state. Reviews basic quantum concepts, crystal structure, electrons in metals, electrical conductivity, semiconductors, band theory and the p-n junction. Studies dielectric and magnetic properties of matter. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: 54.310, 54.314; Mathematics 53.225.
54.422 Thermodynamics (3) - Presents concepts and principles of classical thermodynamics, thermodynamics of simple systems, introduction to kinetic theory and statistical thermodynamics. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: 54.212 or 54.112 with consent of instructor; Mathematics 53.225.
54.450 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics (3) - Examines the development and interpretation of Schroedinger's wave mechanics, its mathematical formalism and the results and predictions of this quantum theory as applied to one-dimensional systems, the hydrogen atom and multi-electron atoms. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: 54.310; Mathematics 53.225.
54.460 Applied Health Physics (3) - Presents advanced topics involving health physics principles and radiation protection standards as applied to science, industry and medicine. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisite: 54.360.
54.482 Health Physics Research I (1-3) - Provides for an application of theoretical and/or experimental research methods to a special problem in Health Physics. A written report is required. May be interdisciplinary. A plan, acceptable to the student and the supervising instructor, must be approved in advance by the department chairperson. Prerequisites: Junior standing. Pre-registration approval by the department chairperson of a plan prepared by the supervising instructor and student.
54.483 Health Physics Research II (1-3) - Provides for an application of theoretical and/or experimental research methods to a special problem in Health Physics, beyond the experience of Health Physics Research I. A written report is required. May be interdisciplinary. A plan, acceptable to the student and the supervising instructor, must be approved in advance by the department chairperson. Prerequisites: Junior standing. Pre-registration approval by the department chairperson of a plan prepared by the supervising instructor and student.
54.488 Health Physics Internship (3-12) - Provides on-site work experience and training to give the student an opportunity to apply theoretical and descriptive knowledge acquired in health physics. An internship application must be completed and approved. Course offered under pass/fail only basis. A maximum of six credit hours may be applied to the major requirements of the Health Physics degree. Prerequisites: Health Physics major with junior or senior standing. Before registration, the student and the supervising instructor must submit an internship proposal form, which must be approved by the chairperson of the Department of Physics and Engineering Technology, the university internship director, and the dean of the College of Science and Technology. An initial written agreement between the student and the instructor will address course outline, methods and evaluation procedures.
54.490 Seminar in Physics (1) - A selected topic in physics is studied and prepared in a form suitable for presentation. Student attends and participates in physics seminars and makes a presentation in the same semester of enrollment in the course. One hour of lecture per week.
54.491 Independent Study in Physics (1-3) - Investigates an area of special interest and value to the student, under the direction of a faculty member, following a plan approved in advance by the department chairperson. May be partly interdisciplinary and may involve limited experimental work.
54.492 Physics Research I (1-3) - Provides for an application of theoretical and/or experimental research methods to a special problem. May be interdisciplinary. Requires the preparation of a report and a plan, approved in advance by the department chairperson, which is acceptable to the student and the supervising faculty member.
54.493 Physics Research II (1-3) - Provides for an application of theoretical and/or experimental research methods to a special problem, beyond the experience of Physics Research I. May be interdisciplinary. Requires the preparation of a report and a plan, approved in advance by the department chairperson, which is acceptable to the student and the supervising faculty member. Prerequisites: junior standing. Pre-registration approval by department chair of a plan prepared by the supervising instructor and student.
54.494 Honors Independent Study in Physics (3) - Provides the qualified student with an opportunity to participate in an advanced experimental or theoretical investigation of a current problem in physics, under the supervision of a physics faculty member having expertise in the student's proposed research area. Three hours of lecture per week.
54.498 Physics Internship (3-12) - Provides on-site work experience and training to give the student an opportunity to apply theoretical and descriptive knowledge acquired in physics. An internship application form must be completed and approved. Course offered under pass/fail only basis. A maximum of six credit hours may be applied to the major requirements of the Physics degree. Prerequisites: Physics major with junior or senior standing. Before registration, the student and the supervising instructor must submit an internship proposal form, which must be approved by the chairperson of the Department of Physics and Engineering Technology, the university internship director, and the dean of the College of Science and Technology. An initial written agreement between the student and the instructor will address course outline, methods and evaluation procedures.
54.502 Energy Seminar for Teachers (3) - Provides educators with up-to-date information about electricity production, nuclear power, and associated issues from several perspectives. Seminar will be held for six full weekdays, primarily at the PPL Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, the nuclear power plant near Berwick. Laboratory will be held at Bloomsburg University. Seminar sessions include lectures from BU faculty, presentations by experts in the field, discussions, laboratory activities and tours. Guest speakers will be invited from PPL, educational and technical fields, nuclear industry agencies and consumer protection groups. Prerequisites: graduate standing, no previous science or mathematics required. Not intended for science majors. Three hours of lecture per week.