Physics

(PHYS) PHYSICS
Shah Jahan, Ph.D., Chair
Room 216, Manning Hall
http://physics.memphis.edu

Additional fees are charged for some Physics lecture and laboratory courses. See the online class listings or the Expenses section of the Catalog.

In addition to the courses below, the department may offer the following Special Topics courses:
PHYS 4000-09. Special Topics in Physics. (3). Selected topics of current interest in physics not otherwise included in the curriculum. Three lecture hours or equivalent laboratory hours per week. PREREQUISITE: permission of instructor.

PHYS 1001 - Introductory Physics Lab (1)
(1101 lab). Laboratory experiments and techniques to accompany PHYS 1010. Two laboratory hours per week. PREREQUISITE or COREQUISITE: PHYS 1010. [G]

PHYS 1002 - Astronomy Laboratory (1)
(1102 lab). Laboratory experiments and techniques to accompany PHYS 1020. Two laboratory hours per week. PREREQUISITE or COREQUISITE: PHYS 1020. [G]

PHYS 1010 - Introductory Physics (3)
(1101). Phenomenological introduction to physics for non-technical students, providing an understanding of natural laws of motion, structure of matter, heat, sound, electromagnetics, light, atomic and nuclear physics. PHYS 1001 must be taken concurrently to satisfy the General Education Program requirement. Three lecture hours per week. [G]

PHYS 1020 - Survey of Astronomy (3)
(1102). Motions of earth and moon; apparent motion of stars and planets; orbits and properties of bodies in the solar system; stellar distances, properties, and evolution; our galaxy and others. NOTE: PHYS 1002 must be taken concurrently to satisfy the General Education Program requirement. Three lecture hours per week. [G]

PHYS 2010 - General Physics I/Trig (3)
(2110). Mechanics, heat, and sound. This course is recommended for students in pre-medical programs. NOTE: For first-time enrollees, PHYS 2011 must be taken concurrently. Three lecture hours per week. PREREQUISITE: MATH 1720 or equivalent.

PHYS 2011 - General Physics Lab I (1)
(2001). Laboratory experiments and techniques to accompany PHYS 2110. Two laboratory hours per week. PREREQUISITE or COREQUISITE: PHYS 2010.

PHYS 2020 - General Physics II/Trig (3)
(2120). Continuation of PHYS 2010. Magnetism, electricity, light, and modern physics. Recommended for students in pre-medical programs. NOTE: for first-time enrollees, PHYS 2021 must be taken concurrently. Three lecture hours per week. PREREQUISITE: PHYS 2010.

PHYS 2021 - Gen Physics Lab II (1)
(2002). Laboratory experiments and techniques to accompany 2020. Two laboratory hours per week. PREREQUISITE or COREQUISITE: PHYS 2020.

PHYS 2110 - Sci/Engr Phys I/Calc (3)
(2510). Principles of mechanics using methods of calculus; Newton's laws, kinetic and potential energy, linear and angular momentum. NOTE: For first-time enrollees, PHYS 2111 must be taken concurrently. Three lecture hours per week. PREREQUISITE or COREQUISITE: MATH 1910. [G]

PHYS 2111 - Sci/Engr Phys Lab I (1)
(2003). Laboratory experiments and techniques to accompany PHYS 2110. Two laboratory hours per week. PREREQUISITE or COREQUISITE: PHYS 2110. [G]

PHYS 2115 - Classical Physics (3)
Principles of fluid dynamics, sound, heat, optics, special relativity. Recommended for all science and engineering majors. Required for physics majors. Three lecture hours per week. PREREQUISITE: PHYS 2010 or PHYS 2110.

PHYS 2120 - Sci/Engr Phys II/Calc (3)
(2520). Continuation of PHYS 2110. Principles of electromagnetism using methods of calculus; Gauss's Law, current, resistance, capacitance, Faraday's Law, inductance. NOTE: for first-time enrollees, PHYS 2121 must be taken concurrently. Three lecture hours per week. PREREQUISITE: PHYS 2110 and MATH 1920. [G]

PHYS 2121 - Sci/Engr Phys Lab II (1)
(2004). Laboratory experiments and techniques to accompany PHYS 2120. Two laboratory hours per week. PREREQUISITE or COREQUISITE: PHYS 2120. [G]

PHYS 3010 - Intro Modern Physics (3)
Principles and applications of quantum mechanics; atomic structure, nuclear and particle physics; solid state, radiation, molecular physics. Three lecture hours per week. PREREQUISITE: PHYS 2120 and MATH 2110. [C]

PHYS 3011 - Theoretical Physics I (3)
Special mathematical techniques in solution of physical problems; emphasis on vector calculus, boundary value problems, eigen-value problems, and Fourier series. Three lecture hours per week. PREREQUISITE: MATH 2110. [C]

PHYS 3012 - Theoretical Physics II (3)
Continuation of PHYS 3011 covering complex variables, partial differential equations and special functions of physics. Three lecture hours per week. PREREQUISITE: PHYS 3011.

PHYS 3111 - Mechanics I (3)
Advanced classical mechanics; includes statistics, dynamics of particles, rigid bodies, fluid flow, work, energy, momentum, force fields, and harmonic motion. Three lecture hours per week. PREREQUISITE: PHYS 2120. COREQUISITE: PHYS 3011 and MATH 3120.

PHYS 3211 - Electricity/Magnetism I (3)
Electromagnetic fields and waves, dielectrics, induced electromotive force, magnetic energy, magnetic materials, Maxwell's equations, and reflection and refraction. Three lecture hours per week. PREREQUISITE: PHYS 2120, PHYS 3011, and MATH 2110.

PHYS 3610 - Research Experience/PHYS I (1)
Undergraduate research in experimental, theoretical or computational physics under supervision of physics faculty member. Three laboratory hours per week. PREREQUISITE: PHYS 2120.

PHYS 3611 - Research Experience in PHYS II (1)
Continuation of PHYS 3610. Three laboratory hours per week. PREREQUISITE: PHYS 3610.

PHYS 4020 - Soft Matter/Biological Physics (3)
Random walks, diffusion, entropic forces, colloidal suspensions, polymers, self-assemblies, lipid membranes, transitions in biomolecules, molecular machines in biomembranes. PREREQUISITE: PHYS 2120 and CHEM 1120.

PHYS 4021 - Applied Radiation Physics (3)
Applied radiation and radioactivity; types of radiation, radiation measurement interaction with matter, and biological effects; radiation safety aspects emphasized. Three lecture hours per week. PREREQUISITE: PHYS 2120 or PHYS 2020 and MATH 1910.

PHYS 4040 - Medical Physics (3)
Physics of sensory, respiratory, and circulatory systems; physical basis of radiology and nuclear medicine. Three lecture hours per week. PREREQUISITE: PHYS 2120 or both PHYS 2020 and MATH 1910.

PHYS 4050 - Astrophysics I (3)
(3051). Principles of physics applied to the solar system, stars, light, telescopes. Recommended for science and engineering majors interested in astronomy. Three lecture hours per week. PREREQUISITE: PHYS 2120 or both PHYS 2020 and MATH 1910.

PHYS 4051 - Astrophysics II (3)
Principles of physics applied to star birth and death, black holes, neutron stars, galaxies, quasars, beginning and evolution of the universe. Three lecture hours per week. PREREQUISITE: PHYS 3051.

PHYS 4060 - Adv Physics Methodology (3)
Students will perform advanced fundamental experiments in physics which will focus on the underlying physical principles, the scientific methodology of experimental research and detailed error analysis. PREREQUISITE: PHYS 3010.

PHYS 4110 - Nuclear Physics (3)
Properties of atomic nuclei, radioactive transitions, alpha, beta, and gamma decay; binding energy, nuclear forces and nuclear models. Three lecture hours per week. PREREQUISITE: PHYS 3010.

PHYS 4112 - Mechanics II (3)
(3112). Continuation of PHYS 3111. Three lecture hours per week. PREREQUISITE: PHYS 3111.

PHYS 4211 - Optics (3)
Brief review of geometrical optics; concentration on wave optics; polarization phenomena, interference, diffraction, coherence, holography, and scattering. Three lecture hours per week. PREREQUISITE: PHYS 3011 and PHYS 3211.

PHYS 4212 - Electric/Magnetism II (3)
(3212). Continuation of PHYS 3211. Three lecture hours per week. PREREQUISITE: PHYS 3211.

PHYS 4222 - Environmental Physics (3)
(3410). Application of gas laws, transport laws, and heat transfer in environmental processes; environmental radiation (solar and terrestrial), energy system of atmosphere and hydrosphere, and energy resources and their impact upon environment. Three lecture hours per week. PREREQUISITE: PHYS 2020 or 2120.

PHYS 4230 - Electronics (4)
(3510). Theory and application of electronic devices; emphasis on scientific instrumentation. Laboratory oriented course including basic semiconductors, integrated circuits, and microprocessors. Three lecture hours, three laboratory hours per week. PREREQUISITE: PHYS 2120 .

PHYS 4410 - Intro Quantum Theory (3)
Experimental basis of quantum theory; development of Schrodinger equation and its solution of simple systems; selected applications in atomic and molecular structure. Three lecture hours per week. PREREQUISITE: PHYS 3010, PHYS 3111, and PHYS 3211.

PHYS 4510 - Thermodynamics (3)
Mathematical treatment of thermodynamics, including such topics as work, energy, enthalpy, entropy, reversible and irreversible processes, equilibria, specific heats, and phase transitions. Three lecture hours per week. PREREQUISITE: PHYS 2120 and PHYS 3011. [W]

PHYS 4610 - Solid State Physics (3)
Such topics as lattice vibrations, specific heats, electrical and thermal conductors in solids, magnetism. Three lecture hours per week. PREREQUISITE: PHYS 4410. [I]

PHYS 4720 - Materials Physics (3)
Basic concepts in materials science emphasizing relationships between microscopic structure and properties; crystallography and symmetries, thermodynamics of material, phase equilibria, structure of ceramics and polymers, mechanical properties of material, kinetics of phase transformations in materials. PREREQUISITE: PHYS 3010. Open only to students in the Materials Science concentration within the Physics major.

PHYS 4820 - Materials Physics Lab (3)
Synthesis of various materials and characterizations of their structure and properties using a variety of experimental tools; relationships between structure of materials and their properties are emphasized. PREREQUISITE: PHYS 3010. Open only to students in the Materials Science concentration with the Physics major.

PHYS 4910 - Seminar (1)
Special projects, reports and investigation of current literature and research. May be repeated for maximum of 2 hours credit. PREREQUISITE: permission of instructor. (S/U).

PHYS 4911 - Senior Honors Seminar (1)
Special projects, reports and investigation of current literature and research. The student will give a seminar presentation based on the original honors research work completed in PHYS 4991/4992. Open only to senior honors students in physics. COREQUISITE: PHYS 4992.

PHYS 4990 - Research in Physics (1-4)
Collaboration with faculty member on problem of mutual interest. Two to eight laboratory or equivalent hours per week. May be repeated for maximum of 4 hours credit. Students expected to complete prospectus in collaboration with faculty member before registering. PREREQUISITE: PHYS 3010 and permission of instructor.

PHYS 4991 - Honors Research/Phys I (3)
Original scholarly work in physics under the direction of honors research advisor. This work is the continuation of research begun in PHYS 3610/3611. Ten laboratory or equivalent hours per week. Open only to honors students in physics. PREREQUISITE: PHYS 3611, and permission of instructor.

PHYS 4992 - Honors Research/Phys II (3)
Completion of original scholarly work under the direction of honors research advisor. Ten laboratory or equivalent hours per week. Open only to honors students in physics. PREREQUISITE: PHYS 4991, and permission of instructor.

PHYS 4994 - Research in Materials Physics (3)
Original experimental, computational or theoretical research under supervision of faculty member engaged in materials physics research. Eight laboratory hours per week. PREREQUISITE: PHYS 3010 and permission of instructor. Open only to students in Materials Science concentration within the Physics major.

PHYS 4999 - Senior Honors Thesis (1)
Directed reading and background research culminating in a senior thesis based on original research completed in PHYS 4991/4992. Open only to honors students in physics. COREQUISITE: PHYS 4992.