| Course: | SP211 |
| Title: | General Physics I |
| Credits: | 3—2—4 |
| Description: | The first of a two course sequence emphasizing the fundamental principles of classical physics and introducing a variety of applications. Topics include mechanics, electricity, magnetism, wave motion, fluids, sound and light. Lectures, recitations, hands-on laboratories, and large-scale demonstration lectures are employed. |
| Requisites: | Prereq: Chemistry II (SC112 or SC151); Coreq: Calculus III (SM221 or SM223 or SM |
| Course: | SP212 |
| Title: | General Physics Ii |
| Credits: | 3—2—4 |
| Description: | Continuation of SP211. See SP211 description for topics. [fall, spring, summer] |
| Requisites: | Prereq: Physics I (SP211 or SP221) or approval of department chair. Prereq: Cor |
| Course: | SP221 |
| Title: | Physical Mechanics I |
| Credits: | 3—2—4 |
| Description: | A first course in classical mechanics for physics majors. Newton's 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. [fall] |
| Requisites: | Prereq: Chemistry II (SC112 or SC151); Coreq: SM221 or approval of department ch |
| Course: | SP222 |
| Title: | Electricity And Magnetism I |
| Credits: | 3—2—4 |
| Description: | 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. [spring] |
| Requisites: | Prereq: SP221 or SP211. Prereq: Coreq: Prereq: Coreq: Prereq: Coreq: |
| Course: | SP226 |
| Title: | Heat, Sound, And Light |
| Credits: | 3—2—4 |
| Description: | 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. [spring] |
| Requisites: | Prereq: SP211 or SP221. Prereq: Coreq: Prereq: Coreq: Prereq: Coreq: |
| Course: | SP247 |
| Title: | Intro To Astrophysics |
| Credits: | 3—0—3 |
| Description: | The fundamentals of astronomy as a physical science, surveying the Universe from the solar system through stellar, galactic and extragalactic astronomy and cosmology with extra emphasis on calculations needed in astronomy. Additionally, this course gives an introduction to scientific programming and the statistical techniques needed to interpret modern experimental data. Credit cannot be given for both SP247 and SP310. |
| Requisites: | Coreq: SP221. Prereq: SPAA major or approval of SPAA track director. Prereq: Co |
| Course: | SP301 |
| Title: | Modern Physics |
| Credits: | 3—0—3 |
| Description: | 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. [fall] |
| Requisites: | Prereq: SP212 or SP226. Prereq: Coreq: Prereq: Coreq: Prereq: Coreq: |
| Course: | SP310 |
| Title: | Astronomy |
| Credits: | 3—0—3 |
| Description: | The fundamentals of astronomy as a physical science, surveying the Universe from the solar system through stellar, galactic and extragalactic astronomy and cosmology. [fall, spring] |
| Requisites: | Prereq: SP211 and SP212 or SP221, SP222 and SP226 or approval of director of the |
| Course: | SP324 |
| Title: | Applied Quantum Mechanics |
| Credits: | 3—2—4 |
| Description: | Applications of quantum mechanics to physical systems. Topics covered are quantum statistics, multi-electron atoms, molecules, properties of solids, superconductivity, nuclear models and reactions, and elementary particles. Modern physics investigations are performed in the laboratory. [spring] |
| Requisites: | Prereq: SP351; Coreq: SP352. Prereq: Coreq: Prereq: Coreq: Prereq: Coreq: |
| Course: | SP327 |
| Title: | Twentieth Century Physics |
| Credits: | 3—0—3 |
| Description: | A study of the development of physics in the twentieth century, with particular attention given to relativity theory, quantum theory, and atomic physics. [fall] |
| Requisites: | Prereq: SP222 and SP226; or ENR major and SP212; or approval of department chair |
| Course: | SP333 |
| Title: | Physical Mechanics Ii |
| Credits: | 4—0—4 |
| Description: | 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. [fall] |
| Requisites: | Prereq: (SP221 or SP211) and SM212. Prereq: Coreq: Prereq: Coreq: Prereq: Cor |
| Course: | SP342 |
| Title: | Electricity And Magnetism Ii |
| Credits: | 4—0—4 |
| Description: | 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. [spring] |
| Requisites: | Prereq: SP351 Prereq: SP351 Coreq: Prereq: SP351 Coreq: Prereq: SP351 Coreq: |
| Course: | SP351 |
| Title: | Problem Solving Methods I |
| Credits: | 3—0—3 |
| Description: | Problem Solving Methods for Physics I. A course in the techniques of mathematics for physics with special emphasis on applications for intermediate mechanics. The course includes a detailed examination of coordinate systems; applied integration, differential equations and Fourier series; linear algebra, introduction to vector spaces; vector calculus; and additional topics chosen from geometry, calculus of variations and special applications in physics. [fall] |
| Requisites: | Prereq: SM212; Coreq: SP212 or SP222. Prereq: Coreq: Prereq: Coreq: Prereq: C |
| Course: | SP352 |
| Title: | Problem Solving Methods Ii |
| Credits: | 3—0—3 |
| Description: | Problem Solving Methods for Physics II. A course in the techniques of mathematics for general physics with special emphasis on applications for electromagnetism and quantum mechanics. The course includes applications of vector calculus, further applications of linear vector spaces, boundary value problems, techniques for quantum mechanics, and additional topics chosen from among introductory numerical methods, fundamentals of statistics and special applications in physics. [spring] |
| Requisites: | Prereq: SP351. Prereq: SP351 Coreq: Prereq: SP351 Coreq: Prereq: SP351 Coreq: |
| Course: | SP411 |
| Title: | Underwater Acoustics And Sonar |
| Credits: | 3—0—3 |
| Description: | 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. [fall, spring] |
| Requisites: | Prereq: SP212 or SP226. Prereq: Coreq: Prereq: Coreq: Prereq: Coreq: |
| Course: | SP425 |
| Title: | Advanced Quantum Theory |
| Credits: | 3—2—4 |
| Description: | Advanced techniques for describing quantum systems. Topics covered are quantum mechanics formalism, techniques for solving the Schroedinger equation, perturbation theory, the real hydrogen atom, and angular momentum algebra. The laboratory focuses on building experimental skills through advanced experiments. [fall] |
| Requisites: | Prereq: SP324 and SP352. Prereq: SP324 AND SP352 Coreq: Prereq: SP324 AND SP352 |
| Course: | SP434 |
| Title: | Nuclear Physics |
| Credits: | 3—2—4 |
| Description: | 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. [spring] |
| Requisites: | Prereq: SP324. Prereq: SP324 Coreq: Prereq: SP324 Coreq: Prereq: SP324 Coreq: |
| Course: | SP436 |
| Title: | Acoustics |
| Credits: | 3—2—4 |
| Description: | An introduction to modern acoustics. Topics include vibration and normal modes; coupled oscillators; discrete Fourier transforms; radiation, transmission and detection of sound waves; electroacoustics; psychoacoustics, architectural acoustics, musical acoustics and Sonar. [fall] |
| Requisites: | Prereq: (SP212 or SP226) and SM212. Prereq: Coreq: Prereq: Coreq: Prereq: Cor |
| Course: | SP438 |
| Title: | Optics |
| Credits: | 3—2—4 |
| Description: | An introduction to modern optics. Topics include polarization, interference, coherence, diffraction, Fourier transforms, holography, optics of solids and basic laser physics. Midshipmen cannot receive credit for both EE474 and SP438. |
| Requisites: | Prereq: SP342. Prereq: SP342 Coreq: Prereq: SP342 Coreq: Prereq: SP342 Coreq: |
| Course: | SP442 |
| Title: | Solid State Physics |
| Credits: | 3—2—4 |
| Description: | An introduction to the physics of condensed matter. Topics include crystalline and noncrystalline solids, band theory, semiconductors, magnetism, and superconductivity. [spring] |
| Requisites: | Prereq: SP324 or approval of department chair. Prereq: Coreq: Prereq: Coreq: P |
| Course: | SP444 |
| Title: | Thermal Physics |
| Credits: | 3—0—3 |
| Description: | A presentation of topics in thermal properties of matter and radiation as derived from the laws of quantum mechanics and statistics. [spring] |
| Requisites: | Prereq: SP324. Prereq: SP324 Coreq: Prereq: SP324 Coreq: Prereq: SP324 Coreq: |
| Course: | SP445 |
| Title: | Astrophysics I |
| Credits: | 3—0—3 |
| Description: | A study of the physics of astronomical objects such as stars and galaxies. [fall] |
| Requisites: | Prereq: SM212 and (SP301 OR SP324) and (SP310 or approval of the director of ast |
| Course: | SP446 |
| Title: | Astrophysics Ii |
| Credits: | 3—0—3 |
| Description: | This course is a continuation of SP445 (Astrophysics I). It is designed for the first-class astrophysics-track. Students explore the current understanding of extragalactic astrophysics and cosmology. In particular, they study the structure and dynamics of various galactic types, the large-scale structure of the universe and the origin and fate of the universe itself. [spring] |
| Requisites: | Prereq: SP445. Prereq: SP445 Coreq: Prereq: SP445 Coreq: Prereq: SP445 Coreq: |
| Course: | SP447 |
| Title: | Observational Astrophysics |
| Credits: | 3—2—4 |
| Description: | This laboratory course gives students hands-on experience with the techniques of modern astrophysical observation, data analysis and interpretation. Observations are made with instruments ranging from binoculars to optical and radio telescopes, and detectors ranging from the human eye to state-of-the-art charge coupled devices and radio receivers. These data, as well as observations available on-line, are reduced with modern analysis methods with particular emphasis on image processing. A variety of projects explore the major observational fields of astrometry, photometry, spectroscopy and imaging, and how they provide our fundamental knowledge about the Universe. [fall] |
| Requisites: | PREREQ: SP310 Prereq: SP310 Coreq: Prereq: SP310 Coreq: Prereq: SP310 Coreq: |
| Course: | SP454 |
| Title: | Intro To Elementary Particle Physics |
| Credits: | 3—0—3 |
| Description: | An introductory course in high-energy physics including the detector technology. Topics will include the Standard Model of Particle Physics and its historical development, the four fundamental forces, special relativity and 4-vectors, symmetries, Feynman diagrams, and detector technologies used at modern particle colliders like RHIC (Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider), the LHC (Large Hadron Collider), and the EIC (Electron-Ion Collider). |
| Requisites: | Pre- or Co-req: SM212 and either SP212 or SP222. Prereq: Coreq: Prereq: Coreq: |
| Course: | SP503 |
| Title: | Honors Physics Research |
| Credits: | 0—6—3 |
| Description: | This course allows midshipmen to perform a physics research project. Midshipmen choose a topic by consulting with a physics faculty member. A formal proposal to the department research committee is required as well as a final oral presentation to the department, a written final paper which will be evaluated by Physics faculty other than the advisor, and a poster presentation at the Yard-wide research day. (Fall) |
| Requisites: | Approval of department chair. Prereq: Coreq: Prereq: Coreq: Prereq: Coreq: |
| Course: | SP504 |
| Title: | Honors Physics Research |
| Credits: | 0—6—3 |
| Description: | This course allows midshipmen to perform a physics research project. Midshipmen choose a topic by consulting with a physics faculty member. A formal proposal to the department research committee is required as well as a final oral presentation to the department, a written final paper which will be evaluated by Physics faculty other than the advisor, and a poster presentation at the Yard-wide research day. (Spring) |
| Requisites: | Approval of department chair. Prereq: Coreq: Prereq: Coreq: Prereq: Coreq: |
| Course: | SP520 |
| Title: | Honors Physics Seminar I |
| Credits: | 1—0—1 |
| Description: | Midshipmen will study current topics in physics, hear lectures from USNA faculty and from visiting scholars, and practice reading, understanding, and presenting modern publications of physics with a technically skilled audience in a scientific setting. Oral progress reports will be required throughout the semester. Students will participate in critiquing each others reports. Their methods of critique will be evaluated by the instructor. (Fall) |
| Requisites: | Approval of department chair. Prereq: Coreq: Prereq: Coreq: Prereq: Coreq: |
| Course: | SP521 |
| Title: | Honors Physics Seminar Ii |
| Credits: | 1—0—1 |
| Description: | Midshipmen will study current topics in physics, hear lectures from USNA faculty and from visiting scholars, and practice reading, understanding, and presenting modern publications of physics with a technically skilled audience in a scientific setting. Oral progress reports will be required throughout the semester. Students will participate in critiquing each others reports. Their methods of critique will be evaluated by the instructor. Furthermore, this semester will include focus on preparation for the Physics majors field test. The majors field test itself will factor into the final grade for the course. (Spring) |
| Requisites: | Approval of department chair. Prereq: Coreq: Prereq: Coreq: Prereq: Coreq: |