Physics Courses

SP221 Physical Mechanics I (3-2-4). A first course in classical mechanics for physics majors.  Newtons laws are applied to particles and systems of particles.  Energy and momentum methods are developed.  Applications include simple, damped, and driven harmonic motion as well as gravitation and orbital motion.  Coreq: SM221 or permission of department chair. [fall]

SP222 Electricity and Magnetism I (3-2-4). A first course in electricity and magnetism for physics majors, with an emphasis on the concepts of fields and potential.  The course culminates in the formulation of Maxwell's equations.  Prereq: SP221 or SP211. [spring]
 

SP226 Heat, Sound and Light (3-2-4). A first course on the basic concepts of thermodynamics, acoustics, and optics for physics majors.  Topics include heat engines, refrigerators, cosmology, the Doppler effect, beats, shock waves, fluids, lenses, telescopes, polarization, interference and diffraction.  Prereq: SP211 or SP221. [spring]

SP301 Modern Physics (3-0-3). An introduction to the theories of relativity and quantum mechanics.  Topics include relativistic mechanics, blackbody radiation, wave-particle duality, the Bohr theory, quantum phenomena, nuclear decay and nuclear reactions.  Prereq: SP212 or SP226. [spring]

SP310 Astronomy (3-0-3). An introduction to the fundamentals of astronomy as a physical and mathematical science, covering stellar and galactic astronomy and both ancient and modern models of the universe.  Prereq: SP212 or SP226 or permission of chair. [fall, spring]

SP324 Physics of the Atom I (3-2-4). An introduction to the theory of quantum mechanics, with emphasis on the statistical interpretation.  Topics include simple systems, mathematical formalism, hydrogen atom, and angular momentum.  Prereq: SP327, SP333, SM212; coreq: SM311 or permission of chair. [spring]

SP327 Twentieth Century Physics (3-0-3). A study of the development of physics in the twentieth century, with particular attention given to relativity theory, quantum theory, and atomic physics. Prereq: SP222 and SP226. [fall]

SP328 Fluid Physics (3-0-3). A first course in classical fluid mechanics.  Applies the conservation laws of mass, momentum, and energy to the problem of continuous fluids in motion, concentrating on incompressible flow dynamics, with attention to circulation, vorticity and turbulence. Prereq: SP212. [spring]

SP333 Physical Mechanics II (4-0-4). An intermediate course in physical mechanics for physics majors.  Newtonian, Hamiltonian, and Lagrangian mechanics with special emphasis on the central force problem and noninertial reference frames.  Prereq: SP221 or SP211; SM212. [fall]

SP342 Electricity and Magnetism II (4-0-4). An intermediate course in electromagnetic theory for physics majors.  Maxwell's equations are formulated in the notation of vector analysis and applied to various situations.  Prereq: SP222, SM311. [spring]

SP411 Underwater Acoustics and Sonar (3-0-3). A fundamental study of sound propagation in the ocean environment as it relates to the design and operation of sonar.  Topics include wave mechanics, detection theory, Fourier analysis, ray tracing, waveguides, and scattering.  Prereq: SP212 or SP226. [fall, spring]

SP425 Physics of the Atom II (3-2-4). A second course in Quantum Mechanics.  Topics include distinguishable and identical particles, atomic structure and spectra, perturbation theory, nuclear structure and reactions, and fundamental particles.  Prereq: SP324, SM311. [fall]

SP434 Nuclear Physics (3-2-4). A study of the basic static and dynamic properties of the nucleus and of the interaction of particles and radiation with matter.  Emphasis on the experimental techniques. Where appropriate, quantum mechanical interpretations of the phenomena are given.  Prereq: SP425. [spring]

SP436 Acoustics (3-2-4). An introduction to modern acoustics.  Topics include vibration and normal modes; coupled oscillators; discrete Fourier transforms; radiation, transmission and detection of sound waves; electroacoustics; pyschoacoustics, architectural acoustics, musical acoustics and Sonar.  Prereq: SP212 or SP226 and SM212. [fall]

SP438 Optics (3-2-4). An introduction to modern optics.  Topics include polarization, interference, coherence, diffraction, Fourier transforms, holography, optics of solids and basic laser physics.  Prereq: SP342. [fall]

SP442 Solid State Physics (3-2-4). An introduction to the physics of condensed matter.  Topics include crystalline and noncrystalline solids, band theory, semiconductors, magnetism, and superconductivity.  Prereq: SP324 or permission of the department chair. [spring]
 

SP444 Thermal Physics (3-0-3). A presentation of topics in thermal properties of matter and radiation as derived from the laws of quantum mechanics and statistics.  Prereq: SP425 or permission of the chair. [spring]

SP445 Astrophysics (3-0-3). A study of the physics of astronomical objects such as stars and galaxies.  Prereq: SM212, SP301 or SP324; SP310 or permission of chair. [spring]

Office of the Academic Dean & Provost Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Frederic I. Davis Comments to: fid@nadn.navy.mil

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