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Course Descriptions
PHYS 100: Introduction to Physics
Introduction to Physics
PHYS 100
For students without Physics 12 (or equivalent) to prepare for further physics courses. Introduction to kinematics, dynamics, and conservation of energy and momentum. Students who have obtained a grade of C+ or better in BC high school Physics 12 (or its equivalent) or who have taken any further physics course normally may not take PHYS 100 for credit. Prerequisite: BC Pre-Calculus 12 (or equivalent) or MATH 100, with a minimum grade of C-. BC Physics 11 (or equivalent) is recommended.
PHYS 101: Physics for the Life Sciences I
Physics for the Life Sciences I
PHYS 101
Force and motion, conservation of energy and momentum, fluids, properties of soft matter and thermal physics with applications taken from the life sciences. Students with credit for PHYS 120, 125 or 140 may not take this course for further credit. Prerequisite: BC Principles of Physics 12 or PHYS 100 or equivalent, with a minimum grade of C-. This prerequisite may be waived, at the discretion of the department, as determined by the student's performance on a regularly scheduled PHYS 100 final exam. Please consult the physics advisor for further details. Corequisite: MATH 150 or 151 or 154 or 157; BISC 100 or 101 or 102. Recommended Corequisite: PHYS 132. Quantitative/Breadth-Science.
PHYS 102: Physics for the Life Sciences II
Physics for the Life Sciences II
PHYS 102
Waves and optics; electricity and magnetism; modern physics emphasizing radioactivity, with applications taken from the life sciences. Students with credit for PHYS 121, 126, or 141 may not take this course for further credit. Prerequisite: PHYS 101 or 120 or 125 or 140; MATH 150 or 151 or 154 or 157; both with a minimum grade of C-. Corequisite: BISC 100 or 101 or 102. Recommended Corequisites: MATH 152, 155 or 158; PHYS 133. Quantitative/Breadth-Science.
PHYS 120: Mechanics and Modern Physics
Mechanics and Modern Physics
PHYS 120
A general calculus-based introduction to mechanics. Topics include translational and rotational motion, momentum, energy, gravitation, and selected topics in modern physics. Students with credit for PHYS 101, 125 or 140 may not take this course for further credit. Prerequisite: BC Principles of Physics 12 or PHYS 100 or equivalent, with a minimum grade of C-. This prerequisite may be waived, at the discretion of the department, as determined by the student's performance on a regularly scheduled PHYS 100 final exam. Please consult the physics advisor for further details. Corequisite: MATH 150 or 151 or 154. Recommended Corequisite: PHYS 132. Quantitative/Breadth-Science.
PHYS 121: Optics, Electricity and Magnetism
Optics, Electricity and Magnetism
PHYS 121
A general calculus-based introduction to electricity, magnetism and optics. Topics include electricity, magnetism, simple circuits, optics and topics from applied physics. Students with credit for PHYS 102, 126 or 141 may not take this course for further credit. Prerequisite: PHYS 120 or 125 or 140, with a minimum grade of C-, or PHYS 101 with a minimum grade of B. Corequisite: MATH 152 or 155. Recommended Corequisite: PHYS 133. Quantitative/Breadth-Science.
PHYS 126: Electricity, Magnetism and Light
Electricity, Magnetism and Light
PHYS 126
A course in electromagnetism designed for students who want to study electric charge and current, electric and magnetic fields, circuits, electromagnetic interactions in depth and gain additional insight into Maxwell’s equations, electromagnetic waves, and wave-particle duality. Students with credit in PHYS 102, 121 or 141 may not take this course for further credit. Prerequisite: PHYS 125 with a minimum grade of C- or permission of the department. Corequisite: MATH 152. Recommended Corequisite: PHYS 133. Quantitative.
PHYS 125: Mechanics and Special Relativity
Mechanics and Special Relativity
PHYS 125
A course in mechanics and modern physics designed for students who want to study translational and rotational dynamics, conservation laws, and oscillations in depth and gain additional insight into foundations of special relativity and select topics in modern physics. Students with credit for PHYS 101, 120 or PHYS 140 may not take PHYS 125 for further credit. Prerequisite: Permission of the department. Corequisite: MATH 151. Recommended Corequisite: PHYS 132. Quantitative.
PHYS 132: Physics Laboratory I
Physics Laboratory I
PHYS 132
Introduction to experimental physics with an emphasis on measurement and experimental design. Includes elementary experiments in mechanics designed to support and enrich conceptual learning. Students with credit for PHYS 140 may not take PHYS 132 for further credit. Corequisite: PHYS 101 or 120 or 125. Quantitative.
PHYS 133: Physics Laboratory II
Physics Laboratory II
PHYS 133
Introduction to experimental physics with an emphasis on measurement and experimental design. Includes elementary experiments in electromagnetism and optics designed to support and enrich conceptual learning. Students with credit for PHYS 141 may not take PHYS 133 for further credit. Prerequisite: PHYS 132 or 140 or ENSC 120 (no substitutions), with a minimum grade of C-. Corequisite: PHYS 102 or 121 or 126. Quantitative.
PHYS 140: Studio Physics - Mechanics and Modern Physics
Studio Physics - Mechanics and Modern Physics
PHYS 140
A general calculus-based introduction to mechanics taught in an integrated lecture-laboratory environment. Topics include translational and rotational motion, momentum, energy, gravitation, and selected topics in modern physics. Students with credit for PHYS 125 or 120 or 101 may not take this course for further credit. Prerequisite: BC Principles of Physics 12, or PHYS 100 or equivalent, with a minimum grade of C-. Corequisite: MATH 150 or 151 or 154. Quantitative/Breadth-Science.
PHYS 141: Studio Physics - Optics, Electricity and Magnetism
Studio Physics - Optics, Electricity and Magnetism
PHYS 141
A general calculus-based introduction to electricity, magnetism and optics taught in an integrated lecture-laboratory environment. Topics include electricity, magnetism, simple circuits, optics and topics from applied physics. Students with credit for PHYS 126 or 121 or 102 may not take this course for further credit. Prerequisite: PHYS 120 or PHYS 125 or PHYS 140 or MSE 103, with a minimum grade of C-, or PHYS 101 with a minimum grade of B. Corequisite: MATH 152 or MATH 155. Quantitative/Breadth-Science.
PHYS 190: Introduction to Astronomy
Introduction to Astronomy
PHYS 190
A survey of astronomy designed primarily for non-science students, with a strong emphasis on active learning outside the classroom. Covers the development of astronomy from the ancient Greeks through the Renaissance, to the modern view of the cosmos as revealed by the scientific method. Topics include naked-eye observation of the night sky, modern observational equipment and techniques, the solar system, stellar evolution, galaxies, the Hubble expansion, the Big Bang, dark matter, dark energy, and startling new theories of the origin and destiny of the universe. Experiential activities involve active observations of the moon, stars and planets, and introductory experiments in some of the basic physics that astronomers use to explore the cosmos. Students who have received credit for PHYS 121, 126, or 141 may not take PHYS 190 for further credit. Quantitative/Breadth-Science.
PHYS 192: Logarithm and Blues
Logarithm and Blues
PHYS 192
An exploration of the production, propagation and perception of sound and music from an interdisciplinary perspective. The viewpoints of a professional musician and a physicist will be presented and compared. Topics include elementary acoustics, instrument characteristics, reproduction technologies, tonal anomalies and perception. Breadth-Science.
