Physics

Math, Computer Studies, and Physics Department

Evelyn Spratt, Ph.D., Interim Dean, School of Arts, Sciences and Business
Charles Buehrle, Ph.D., Chair
Brian Christy, Ph.D.
Kristyanna Erickson,  Ph.D.

Campuses

Main Campus

Summary

The Mathematics/Physics/Computer Information Systems Department of the School of Arts, Sciences, and Business offers a Major and Minor in Physics to students in the traditional undergraduate program. Recognizing the role our field plays in other disciplines, we offer courses for department majors and non-majors that serve the students of NDMU in the Catholic Liberal Arts tradition. As an integral part of the liberal arts, we provide the students at NDMU with an understanding of the physical world, quantitative and technologically based knowledge, and enable our students to become leaders in their future professions.

Traditional Undergraduate

Physics represents humanity's most profound attempt to understand the universe in which we live by studying the events and interactions that occur in nature and by trying to comprehend the truths or laws that govern these physical processes. As the most fundamental and all-inclusive of the sciences, physics naturally forms an educational base from which students may enter many diverse occupations and careers. Graduates are employed at NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center the U.S. Department of Energy, Lockheed Martin, U.S. Army Aberdeen Test Center, Thornton Tomasetti, and the Peace Corps. Among the institutions where graduates have pursued advanced studies are Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics, Howard University, Rochester University, Princeton University, Drexel University, George Washington University, University of Delaware, Delaware State, and Boston College.

Students majoring in physics must earn a 2.0 GPA in all courses required for the major.

Physics Majors may add an additional Major in a discipline such as Mathematics, Computer Studies or Chemistry, or Minor in one of several fields.

A student may fulfill the General Education Requirement in natural science by taking PHY-155. The cooperative program with neighboring colleges provides concentrators with a wide choice of upper-level courses and a variety of faculty viewpoints.

Degrees and Certificates

Courses

PHY-101: General Physics I

Credits 4.00
Examines the fundamental physical laws of nature and their use in understanding natural phenomena. Course provides a knowledge base for study in all areas of science and mathematics. Topics include kinematics, conservation of energy and momentum, dynamics of motion, Newton's laws, rotational mechanics, and waves. Special topics such as the universal law of gravity and fluids will be covered depending on time and student interest. Development of the concepts of vector algebra and calculus are provided as needed. Three lectures, one three-hour laboratory weekly. Course must be taken with PHY-101L. Pre-requisites: MAT-107 or MAT-110 or MAT-211. Students intending to continue with PHY-102 should take MAT-211. [4 credits]

PHY-102: General Physics II

Credits 4.00
Examines the fundamental physical laws of nature and their use in understanding natural phenomena. Continues the development from PHY-101 to topics including: Thermodynaics, electricity and magnetism, circuits, optics, and the wave nature of light. Special topics such as the universal law of gravitation and A/C circuits will be overed depending on time and student interest. Development of the concepts of vector algebra and calculus are provided as needed. Three lectures, one three-hour laboratory weekly. Course must be taken with PHY-102L. Prerequisite: MAT-211 or permission of instructor. [4 credits]

PHY-111: College Physics

Credits 3.00
Provides a survey of the field for students with interests in the health sciences. Topics include mechanics of motion, energy, thermodynamics, electricity, magnetism, atomic and nuclear structure, and radioactivity. Fulfills general education requirement in natural science. CAUS only. [3 credits]

PHY-114: Environmental Science for Educators

Credits 3.00
Interdisciplinary study of the interactions among the physical, chemical, biological, political and social forces which impact the environment. Provides students with scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies necessary to comprehend the relationships abundant within the natural world in order to identify problems, evaluate risks and examine solutions for resolving issues facing the global environment. Topics include the major biomes in the world, populations, biodiversity, water, air and land uses, energy resources, and waste management. [3 credits]

PHY-132: Environmental Science

Credits 3.00
Explores the global environment, focusing on current threats to the planet's well-being and presenting options for the future. Introduces the basic principles of ecology. Designed for non-science students. Laboratory and lecture integrated. Fulfills general education requirement in natural science. CAUS only. [3 credits]

PHY-151: Physical Science

Credits 4.00
Surveys the natural processes that occur in the physical world. Topics include astronomy, mechanics, energy, thermodynamics, ecology, atomic structure and chemical behavior. Designed for non-science majors. Three lectures, one two-hour laboratory weekly. Fulfills general education requirement in natural science. [4 credits]

PHY-151L: Lab: Physical Science

Credits 0.00
Lab for PHY-151. Surveys the natural processes that occur in the physical world. Topics include astronomy, mechanics, energy, thermodynamics, ecology, atomic structure and chemical behavior. Designed for non-science majors. Three lectures, one two-hour laboratory weekly. Corequisite: PHY-151. [ 0 credits ]

PHY-155: Introduction to Astronomy

Credits 4.00
Examines the history and current understanding of the universe beyond the Earth. Surveys the night sky, the history of astronomical models, and current models for the lifecycle of stars, galaxies, and the universe as a whole. Physical laws that describe motion, gravity, and light will be explained. Special attention will be paid to the methods that scientists use to develop their models and evidence discovered to support them. The course will utilize the planetarium when possible. Fulfills the general education requirement in natural science and the general education requirement in Scientific reasoning. Three one hour lectures and one three hour laboratory weekly. [4 credits].

PHY-201: Modern Physics

Credits 3.00
Traces the development of ideas and theories that have shaped physics in the last 100 years. Topics include relativity, quantum theory, atomic and nuclear structure, particle physics and cosmology. Course can be used to fulfill minor in physics. Prerequisites: PHY-102 and MAT-212. [3 credits]

PHY-307: Waves and Fields

Credits 3.00
Expands on introductory physics courses through the study of geometric optics, interaction of light with tissue, nuclear physics, and ultrasound, as they are applied to modern medical instrumentation. Examples include fiber optics, CT, gamma camera, PET, MRI, and ultrasound imaging. Hands-on activities are included. One field trip may be required. [ 3 credits ]

PHY-314: Quantum Mechanics

Credits 3.00
Develops the ideas of Quantum Mechanics using Schrodinger's Equation as applied to several interesting situatins, both 1D and 3D, as well as the mathematical formalisms utilized to derive the results. Applications involve atomic physics and other topics contingent upon time and interest. Prerequisites: PHY-201 and MAT-212. [ 3 credits ]

PHY-315: Electricity and Magnetism

Credits 3.00
Develops the ideas of Electricity and Magnetism utilizing vector calculus formalism. Solves Maxwell's equations for a variety of different charge and current sources. Prerequisites: PHY-201 and MAT-212. [ 3 credits ]

PHY-317: Thermal Physics

Credits 3.00 4.00
An examination of classical thermodynamic concepts including temperature, heat, entropy, free energy, and thermodynamic cycles. Also introduces the concepts of probability and statistical physics with an emphasis on the kinetic theory of gases. [ 3 credits ]

PHY-330: Introduction to Modern Astrophysics

Credits 3.00
Studies the discipline of astrophysics through a survey of topics including an introduction to general relativity, an introduction to modern telescopes, and applications such as stellar astrophysics, black holes, galaxies, and/or cosmology. Prerequisites: MAT-212, PHY-201 and Women's College students only and Loyola University students through the BSEP program. [ 3 credits ]

PHY-380: Engineer Thermodynamics

Credits 1.00 4.00
Examines the relationships among heat, work, and various other forms of energy in engineering applications. Covers thermodynamic systems, property evaluation, phase changes, equations of state, the first and second laws of thermodynamics, the Carnot cycle, entropy, and power and refrigeration cycles. Variable credit. [ 1 - 4 credits ]

PHY-411: Special Topics in Physics

Credits 1.00 4.00
Examines a special topic in physics at a level appropriate for an upper-level physics elective. Examples may include particle physics, experimental methods in astrophysics, or relativity. Some topics may include a lab section. Credit hours will be based on the level of engagement planned for the topic. Prerequisite: PHY-102. Corequisite: PHY-201. [ 1-4 credits ]

PHY-463: Investigation in Physics

Credits 1.00 4.00
Provides guided study of special topics of interest to the student under the direction of the instructor or supervised experiences in teaching physics topics. Students cannot tae both PHY-463 and IDS-496 for supervised experiences i teaching physics. Credit based on activity time. [ 1-4 credits ]