Linfield College Catalog

Department Course List

Physics Courses

PHYS-025 LABORATORY TECHNIQUES: MACHINE SHOP

$30 lab fee. 1 credit (EL)

PHYS-100 CONCEPTS IN PHYSICS

Great physical concepts from the historical and developmental points of view, including their impact on modern life and technological progress: motion, gravity, relativity, energy, matter, quanta, electromagnetism. Lecture, readings, writing, and discussion. Recommended: MATH 105 or equivalent, or consent of instructor. 3 credits (NW)

PHYS-101 DESCRIPTIVE ASTRONOMY

The solar system, stars and their evolution, galaxies and cosmology. Emphasis on observational evidence. Lecture, discussion, and occasional evening observing sessions. 3 credits (NW)

PHYS-102 THE PHYSICS OF ART & MUSIC

Ways that artistic expression are explained through physical mechanisms. Studies of light, color, and sound will be explored. Lecture, discussion, and occasional evening trips.
$50 lab fee. 3 credits (NW)

PHYS-103 PHYSICAL GEOLOGY

The earth's crust and mantle with emphasis on physical and chemical processes. Concepts of energy, uniformity, and plate tectonics. Erosion by various agents, volcanism, earthquakes, and mountain building. Lecture, discussion, and laboratory, including mapping and field work. 3 credits (NW)

PHYS-107 ENERGY & THE ENVIRONMENT

Introduction to the concept of energy (kinetic, potential, thermal) and the physical laws governing energy transformation. Forms of energy consumed by society (fossil fuels, nuclear power, renewable energy) and their impacts on the environment (nuclear waste, global warming, air pollution). 3 credits (QR)

PHYS-109 AVIATION PHYSICS & GROUND SCHOOL

Introduction to all physical aspects of flying: aerodynamics, forces, meteorology, electromagnetic spectrum, and vectors. Complete ground school training coverage for those seeking a private pilot's license for single-engine land planes. 3 credits (NW)

PHYS-210 INTRODUCTION TO MECHANICS

Introduction to the various ways in which the mechanical universe is described, using the concept of particles, waves, and flows. Extensive treatment of Newtonian mechanics, including motion, forces, energy, and waves. The special theory of relativity and basic ideas of quantum mechanics are introduced. Lecture, discussion, and laboratory.
$15 lab fee.
Prerequisite or corequisite: MATH 170. 5 credits (QR)

PHYS-211 INTRODUCTION TO ELECTROMAGNETISM

Introduction to the study of electromagnetic force, including the basic laws of electricity and magnetism, the concept of a field, Maxwell's equations, basic circuits, elecromagnetic radiation, and optics. The relationship of electromagnetism to the special theory of relativity. Lecture, discussion, and laboratory.
$15 lab fee.
Prerequisite: 210. Recommended: MATH 180 or 175 concurrently. 5 credits (QR)

PHYS-215 MODERN PHYSICS

Developments since 1900; relativity, the nature of radiation and matter and their interaction, radioactivity, elementary quantum mechanics, introductory atomic and nuclear physics. Lecture and discussion.
Prerequisite: 211. Recommended: 385 and CHEM 210 concurrently. Offered fall. 4 credits (NW)

PHYS-220 THERMAL & STATISTICAL PHYSICS

Study of solids, liquids, and gases at the atomic level to develop appreciation for and mathematical understanding of their thermal properties. Topics derive from thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, and solid state physics including transport processes, energy distributions, classical and quantum statistical development.
Prerequisite: 211. Recommended: CHEM 210. Offered spring. 3 credits

PHYS-252 ENGINEERING STATICS AND DYNAMICS

Newtonian mechanics with emphasis on problem-solving and engineering applications: force, mass, and acceleration; force systems; free-body diagrams; distributed forces; particle kinematics; motion of rigid bodies; conservation of energy; translational and angular momentum; systems of particles; applications of vector algebra and calculus. Lecture and discussion.
Prerequisite: 210 and MATH 200 (may be taken concurrently. Offered fall of odd numbered years. 4 credits.

PHYS-253 STRENGTH OF MATERIALS

Continuation of study of engineering mechanics following 252. Equilibrium and geometric compatibility in devices and structures; Hooke's Law, stress and strain in variously loaded members; deformation and deflection; theory of failure. Lecture and discussion.
Prerequisites: 210 and 252. Offered spring of even numbered years. 3 credits

PHYS-303 INTRODUCTION TO MATERIALS SCIENCE

Introduction to the science of materials (metals, ceramics, polymers, composites, and semiconductors). Crystal structures and designations. Techniques of materials characterization. Mechanical, thermal, electrical, and magnetic properties. Forming and materials processing. Problem solving, lecture, discussion, and field trips.
Prerequisite: 215. 3 credits.

PHYS-315 CIRCUITS AND ELECTRONICS I

Electrical concepts and measurements. Circuit laws and theorems. Analysis of dc and ac steady state circuits, including phasor analysis techniques and Bode plots. Operational amplifiers and diodes. Digital combinational and sequential logic circuitry. Lecture, discussion, and laboratory.
Prerequisite: MATH 170. Recommended: 211, junior standing. Offered fall. 4 credits. (NW)

PHYS-316 CIRCUITS AND ELECTRONICS II

Semiconductor materials and solid-state devices. Diode and transistor circuits. Selected topics such as magnetism, inductors, and transformers; second-order ac and dc circuit analysis; Laplace and Fourier transforms; analog to digital conversion; and electronic system design. Completion of an independent project. Lecture, discussion, and laboratory.
Prerequisite: 315. Offered spring of odd-numbered years. 4 credits (QR)

PHYS-325 COMPUTATIONAL PHYSICS

Use of computers in scientific problem-solving using FORTRAN in a Linux environment, algorithm development, numerical differentiation and integration, sorting, matrix algebra, data analysis, simulation development. Laboratory and lecture.
Prerequisites: 211 or consent of instructor. 3 credits (QR)

PHYS-370 ADVANCED TOPICS IN PHYSICS

Selected advanced physics topics.
Prerequisite: 215 or consent of instructor. 3 credits

PHYS-385 GREAT EXPERIMENTS IN PHYSICS

Experiments in modern physics, thermal physics, and electricity and magnetism. Introduction to planning and executing physics experiments. Introduction to writing reports in the standard journal style.
Prerequisite: 215 (may be taken concurrently). 1 credit.

PHYS-386 EXPLORATIONS IN EXPERIMENTAL PHYSICS

Design and execution of physics experiments. Most projects will be drawn from topics in modern physics, thermal physics, and electricity and magnetism. Results will be reported using standard journal style.
Prerequisite: 385. Offered spring. 1 credit

PHYS-420 CLASSICAL MECHANICS

Classical theories and analytical methods of statics and dynamics: kinematics, vectors and tensors, potential theory, moving coordinate systems and generalized methods. Lecture and discussion.
Prerequisites: 211, and MATH 200. Recommended: MATH 210. Offered fall. 4 credits

PHYS-440 ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM I

Review of vector analysis, electrostatic and magnetostatic theory, field properties in matter. Lecture and discussion.
Prerequisites: 211, and MATH 200. Recommended: MATH 210. Offered fall. 3 credits

PHYS-441 ELECTRICITY & MAGNETISM II

Electrodynamics, Maxwell's equations, electromagnetic waves, radiation, relativity.
Prerequisite: 440. Offered spring. 3 credits

PHYS-475 QUANTUM PHYSICS

Quantum mechanics and its application in studies of atomic systems, nuclei and elementary particles. Lecture and discussion.
Prerequisites: 215; MATH 200. Recommended: 420; MATH 210,250; junior standing. Offered spring. 4 credits

PHYS-480 INDEPENDENT STUDY

Supplemental work for students with advanced standing in physics. By permission. 1-5 credits

PHYS-485 PHYSICS COLLOQUIUM

Presentations of topics of current interest by visiting speakers, faculty, and students. May be repeated for credit. 1 credit

PHYS-488 RESEARCH

Individual research projects for Physics and Applied Physics majors. Work done in collaboration with faculty. Departmental permission required. May be repeated for credit. 1-5 credits

PHYS-489 THESIS RESEARCH

Required of all Physics and Applied Physics majors in the senior year.
Prerequisite: 386. 1-5 credits

PHYS-490 SENIOR THESIS

Comprehensive written report on advanced level individual investigative project. Also requires public oral presentation of project and participation in Physics Colloquium. Baccalaureate thesis required of all Physics and Applied Physics majors.
Prerequisites: 489 and senior standing. Offered spring. 3 credits (MWI)

Any Questions? If you are interested in learning more about the curriculum at Linfield, please contact the Office of Admission at (800) 640-2287 or email admission@linfield.edu. An admissions counselor will be happy to answer your questions or put you in touch with a faculty member.