General Physics
Course Number: PHYS 3A
Units: 5
Class: 4 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory (GR)
Prerequisite or corequisite MATH 3A
Acceptable for credit: CSU, UC
Description: Comprehensive study of major topics of physics: Motion, forces, gravity, energy, momentum, rotation, equilibrium, fluids, oscillations, waves, sound, heat, and thermodynamics for students majoring in the biological and medical sciences.
General Physics
Course Number: PHYS 3B
Units: 5
Class: 4 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory (GR)
Prerequisite: PHYS 3A
Acceptable for credit: CSU, UC
Description: Comprehensive study of major topics of physics: Electric and magnetic forces, fields, and energy DC and AC circuits, light, optics, relativity, quantum physics, atoms, molecules, nuclei, particles, and astrophysics for students majoring in the biological and medical sciences.
General Physics with Calculus
Course Number: PHYS 4A
Units: 5
Class: 4 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory (GR)
Prerequisite MATH 3A
Recommended preparation: PHYS 10
Acceptable for credit: CSU, UC
Description: Comprehensive study of major topics of physics: otion, forces, gravity, energy, momentum, rotation, equilibrium, fluids, oscillations, waves, and sound
General Physics with Calculus
Course Number: PHYS 4B
Units: 5
Class: 4 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory (GR)
Prerequisite(s) PHYS 4A and MATH 3B
Acceptable for credit: CSU, UC
Description: Comprehensive study of major topics of physics: Thermodynamics, electric forces and fields, magnetic forces and fields, electricity, and AC and DC circuits
General Physics with Calculus
Course Number: PHYS 4C
Units: 5
Class: 4 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory (GR)
Prerequisite(s) PHYS 4B and MATH 3C
Acceptable for credit: CSU, UC
Description: Comprehensive study of major topics of physics: Light, interference, relativity, quantum physics, atoms, molecules, and nuclei.
Introduction to Physics
Course Number: PHYS 10
Units: 4
Class: 4 hours lecture (GR)
Not open for credit to students who have completed or are currently enrolled in PHYS 2A-2B or 4A-4B-4C
Recommended preparation MATH 201 or 202
Acceptable for credit: CSU, UC
Description: Elementary study of major topics of physics motion, forces, energy, momentum, rotation, oscillation, sound, electromagnetics, light, quantum physics, atoms, nuclei, and relativity.
Independent Study in Physics
Course Number: PHYS 49
Units: .5-5
Class: 0-5 hours lecture, 0-15 hours laboratory (GR)
Acceptable for credit: CSU, UC◆
The Independent Study in Physics course provides the student an opportunity for in-depth exploration of an area or topic within physics. During their Physics courses students often find an interest in exploring a topic in greater detail and depth than is provided for in the general courses. The Independent Study in Physics course enables an individual student or a group of students to meet with a faculty member and be guided through a more thorough set of readings, discussions, and assignments.
Together the student and instructor develop an outline of areas that they would want to explore. Here are a few topics from past semesters:
- Exploration of the mathematical models for nuclear quantum states of protons and neutrons within the nucleus, with deuterium as the starting example and then developing general approaches to more complex nuclear systems.
- The Dirac equation that incorporates special relativity and generalizes the basic scalar wave functions of particles into four-component wave functions that describe spin 1/2 particles such as electrons, neutrinos, protons, and neutrons, as well as provide for particle and antiparticles.
- The exploration and development of equations used in describing the interactions of fundamental particles such as electrons and positrons in high energy particle physics experiments.
