Lower-Division Physics Courses

For the BA in Chemistry Only

PHYS 002A. General Physics (4)

Lecture, 3 hours; discussion, 1 hour.

Prerequisite(s): MATH 008B with a grade of "C-" or better or MATH 009A with a grade of "C-" or better or MATH 09HA with a grade of "C-" or better.

For biological sciences students.

Covers topics in classical mechanics, including Newton’s laws of motion in one and two dimensions; work, energy, and conservation of energy; momentum and collisions; rotational motion; and orbital motion. Credit is awarded for only one of PHYS 002A or PHYS 040A.

PHYS 02LA. General Physics Laboratory (1)

Laboratory, 3 hours.

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 002A (may be taken concurrently).

Illustrates the experimental foundations of physics presented in PHYS 002A. Covers the basic principles of classical mechanics. Laboratory is helpful, but not required, for PHYS 002A.

PHYS 002B. General Physics (4) Lecture, 3 hours; discussion, 1 hour. Prerequisite(s): MATH 009B or MATH 09HB (may be taken concurrently), and a grade of “C-” or better in PHYS 002A.

For biological sciences students.

Topics in mechanics, thermodynamics, and electromagnetism including fluid mechanics; temperature and heat; the laws of thermodynamics; kinetic theory of gases; electric fields and potentials; current and dc circuits; capacitance and inductance; magnetism; and Faraday’s law. Credit is awarded for only one of PHYS 002B or PHYS 040B.

PHYS 02LB. General Physics Laboratory (1)

Laboratory, 3 hours.

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 002A with a grade of “C-” or better, PHYS 02LA, PHYS 002B (PHYS 002B may be taken concurrently).

Illustrates the experimental foundations of physics presented in PHYS 002B. Covers the basic principles of fluid and rotational mechanics, temperature, heat, and electromagnetism. Laboratory is helpful, but not required, for PHYS 002B.

PHYS 002C. General Physics (4)

Lecture, 3 hours; discussion, 1 hour.

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 002B with a grade of “C-” or better.

For biological sciences students.

Topics in waves and modern physics including harmonic oscillations; mechanical and electromagnetic waves; geometrical optics; reflection, refraction, interference, diffraction, and polarization; and quantum, atomic, and nuclear physics. Credit is awarded for only one of PHYS 002C or PHYS 040C.

PHYS 02LC. General Physics Laboratory (1)

Laboratory, 3 hours.

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 002B with a grade of “C-” or better, PHYS 02LB, PHYS 002C (PHYS 002C may be taken concurrently).

Illustrates the experimental foundations of physics presented in PHYS 002C. Covers the basic principles of oscillations, waves, optics, and radioactivity. Laboratory is helpful, but not required, for PHYS 002C.

For the BA or the BS in Chemistry

PHYS 040A. General Physics (5)

Lecture, 3 hours; discussion, 1 hour; laboratory, 3 hours.

Prerequisite(s): MATH 008B with a grade of “C-” or better or MATH 009A with a grade of “C-” or better or MATH 09HA with a grade of “C-” or better; MATH 009B or MATH 09HB (MATH 009B or MATH 09HB may be taken concurrently).

Designed for engineering and physical sciences students.

Covers topics in classical mechanics including Newton’s laws of motion in one, two, and three dimensions; friction; circular motion; work, energy, and conservation of energy; the dynamics of particle systems; collisions; rigid-body motion; torque; and angular momentum. Laboratories provide exercises illustrating the experimental foundations of physical principles and selected applications. Credit is awarded for only one of PHYS 002A or PHYS 040A.

PHYS 040B. General Physics (5)

Lecture, 3 hours; discussion, 1 hour; laboratory, 3 hours.

Prerequisite(s): MATH 009C or MATH 09HC (may be taken concurrently); a grade of “C-” or better in PHYS 040A.

Designed for engineering and physical sciences students.

Covers topics in mechanics and thermodynamics including elasticity; oscillations; gravitation; fluids; mechanical waves and sound; temperature, heat, and the laws of thermodynamics; and the kinetic theory of gases. Laboratories provide exercises illustrating the experimental foundations of physical principles and selected applications. Credit is awarded for only one of PHYS 002B or PHYS 040B.

PHYS 040C. General Physics (5)

Lecture, 3 hours; discussion, 1 hour; laboratory, 3 hours.

Prerequisite(s): MATH 009C or MATH 09HC; a grade of “C-” or better in PHYS 040B. Designed for engineering and physical sciences students.

Covers topics in electricity and magnetism including electric fields and potential; Gauss’ law; capacitance; magnetic fields; Ampere’s law; Faraday’s law and induction; electromagnetic oscillations; dc and ac current; and circuits. Laboratories provide exercises illustrating the experimental foundations of physical principles and selected applications. Credit is awarded for only one of PHYS 002C or PHYS 040C.

PHYS 040D. General Physics (5)

Lecture, 3 hours; discussion, 1 hour; laboratory, 3 hours.

Prerequisite(s): a grade of “C-” or better in PHYS 040C or consent of instructor.

For engineering and physical sciences students.

Topics in electromagnetic waves including Maxwell’s equations; geometrical optics; optical instruments, cavities, and waveguides; interference, diffraction, and polarization; and special theory of relativity. Laboratories provide exercises illustrating the experimental foundations of physical principles and selected applications.