Physics

 

Introduction to Meteorology

 

Professor:

Beate Liepert

 

Course Number:

PHYS 112

CRN Number:

90871

Class cap:

16

Credits:

4

 

Schedule/Location:

 Tue  Thurs    1:30 PM – 2:50 PM Rose Laboratories 108

 

Distributional Area:

MC  Mathematics and Computing  

 

Crosslists:

Environmental & Urban Studies; Environmental Studies

This course introduces the fundamental components of meteorology and how these are measured and forecast. Fundamentals include pressure, temperature, humidity, radiation in the atmosphere (sunlight and terrestrial), and cloud processes. The course will apply these principles to the weather and climate system. We will explore regional and general circulation patterns. Some portion of the course will be dedicated to interpreting current weather events, reading weather maps, and other topical weather/climate related issues of the week. Prerequisite: passing score on Part I of the Mathematics Placement.

 

Global Warming and Climate Change

 

Professor:

Gidon Eshel

 

Course Number:

PHYS 124

CRN Number:

90386

Class cap:

20

Credits:

4

 

Schedule/Location:

Mon  Wed     10:10 AM - 11:30 AM Hegeman 106

 

Distributional Area:

None  

 

Crosslists:

Environmental & Urban Studies; Environmental Studies

This lab course explores the physical principles underlying climate and anthropogenic climate change. We will start with a survey of the most compelling lines of evidence for climate change, how they are obtained/derived and some of their limitations. We will then discuss in some depth idealized one-dimensional planetary radiative and thermal balance, first in the absence of an atmosphere, and then in the presence of a radiatively active one, with variable number of layers. In this context, it will become interesting to explore atmospheric opacity with respect to various radiative types, and what natural and anthropogenic effects affect this opacity. A related topic will be natural feedbacks, such as water vapor and could feedbacks. We will next place current (modern) observations of climate change in the broader context of past climates, emphasizing the last couple millennia, hundreds of millennia, and finally the ten million-year scale geological record. We will conclude the course with some discussion about the objective of successful policy mitigation efforts, and their implementation obstacles. While not technical per se, participation in this course does require the ability to solve a couple of linear algebraic equations (like solving x + 4 = 2y and 2x - 3y = 6 for x and y) and to perform some very basic manipulation of data and plot the results (using, e.g., Microsoft's Excel).

 

Introduction to Physics I

 

Professor:

Paul Cadden-Zimansky

 

Course Number:

PHYS 141

CRN Number:

90181

Class cap:

24

Credits:

4

 

Schedule/Location:

Mon  Wed  Fri   10:10 AM - 11:30 AM Hegeman 102

 

Distributional Area:

LS Laboratory Science  

 

Crosslists:

Architecture

A calculus-based survey of Physics.  This first semester covers topics in mechanics, heat and thermodynamics, and wave motion.  The course stresses ideas--the unifying principles and characteristic models of physics.  The lab develops the crucial ability to elicit understanding of the physical world. Corequisite: MATH 141.

 

Introduction to Physics I Laboratory

 

Professor:

Andrew Atwell

 

Course Number:

PHYS 141 LBA

CRN Number:

90182

Class cap:

12

Credits:

0

 

Schedule/Location:

Wed       1:20 PM - 3:20 PM Hegeman 107

 

Distributional Area:

LS Laboratory Science  

 

Crosslists:

Architecture

Students registering for PHYS 141 must also register for a lab section.

 

Introduction to Physics I Laboratory

 

Professor:

Andrew Atwell

 

Course Number:

PHYS 141 LBB

CRN Number:

90183

Class cap:

12

Credits:

0

 

Schedule/Location:

Wed      3:30 PM - 5:30 PM Hegeman 107

 

Distributional Area:

LS Laboratory Science  

 

Crosslists:

Architecture

Students registering for PHYS 141 must also register for a lab section.

 

Mathematical Methods of Physics I

 

Professor:

Clara Sousa-Silva

 

Course Number:

PHYS 221

CRN Number:

90185

Class cap:

16

Credits:

4

 

Schedule/Location:

 Tue  Thurs    1:30 PM - 3:30 PM Hegeman 107

 

Distributional Area:

MC Mathematics and Computing  

 

Crosslists:

Mathematics

This course presents mathematical methods that are useful in the physical sciences. While some proofs and demonstrations are given, the emphasis is on the applications. Topics include: complex functions, vector spaces, matrices, coordinate transformations, power series, probability and statistics, and multi-variable differentiation and integration. Prerequisites: Mathematics 141-142, or equivalent, and strong preparation in physics comparable to Physics 141.

 

Modern Physics

 

Professor:

Antonios Kontos

 

Course Number:

PHYS 241

CRN Number:

90186

Class cap:

16

Credits:

4

 

Schedule/Location:

Mon  Wed  Fri   10:10 AM - 11:30 AM Hegeman 107

 

 

Mon       1:30 PM - 2:50 PM Rose Laboratories 108

 

Distributional Area:

LS Laboratory Science  

An extension of introductory physics concentrating on developments in physics that stem from the theory of relativity, quantum mechanics, and statistical mechanics.  A major focus will be understanding classical and quantum waves, but there will also be overviews of particle physics, nuclear physics, optical and molecular physics, condensed matter physics, astronomy, and cosmology. Prerequisites: Physics 141-142 and Mathematics 141-142.

 

Mechanics

 

Professor:

Paul Cadden-Zimansky

 

Course Number:

PHYS 303

CRN Number:

90187

Class cap:

16

Credits:

4

 

Schedule/Location:

 Tue  Thurs Fri   1:30 PM - 2:50 PM Hegeman 106

 

Distributional Area:

MC Mathematics and Computing  

 

Crosslists:

 

Particle kinematics and dynamics in one, two, and three dimensions. Conservation laws, coordinate transformations, and problem solving techniques in differential equations, vector calculus, and linear algebra. Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulation of dynamics.   Prerequisites: Physics 141 142, Mathematics 141 142.

 

Astrophysics

 

Professor:

Clara Sousa-Silva

 

Course Number:

PHYS 350

CRN Number:

90514

Class cap:

16

Credits:

4

 

Schedule/Location:

 Tue  Thurs Fri   10:10 AM - 11:30 AM Rose Laboratories 108

 

Distributional Area:

MC Mathematics and Computing  

 

Crosslists:

 

This course is an introduction to modern astrophysics from the solar system to the basic ideas of cosmology. Starting from methods of measuring astronomical distances and the laws of planetary motion, we study the cosmos using classical  mechanics, special relativity and basic quantum mechanics. Topics may include: solar system, the interior of the sun, star classification, the life cycle of stars, black holes, galaxies, dark matter, search for alien life, and cosmology including the Big Bang theory and dark energy.