EIU Physics Courses

Physics Degree Requirements

PHYSICS

Physics 1350, 1360, and 1370 constitute the standard introductory sequence in physics for majors and minors in chemistry, physics, and pre- engineering. Physics 1150 and 1160 are intended primarily for geology, life science, and industrial technology majors, students in the health professions and others desiring a full-year cultural exposure to physics in a course with less technical emphasis than the 1300 series.

Undergraduate Courses

• PHY 1000. Engineering Orientation. (Arr.-0-0) F, S. Informational presentations concerning Engineering, in general, and the various engineering specialties that students may elect to pursue. Required of all pre- engineering majors during each semester of attendance.
• PHY 1050C. Adventures in Physics. (3-2-4). An introduction to the universal laws of nature, their governance of phenomena in everyday life, and their application to inventions in our technological society.
• PHY 1051C. Physics of the Modern World. (3-0-3). An introduction to some of the revolutionary ideas of modern physics; such as quantum theory, nuclear physics, and relativity; and how their applications have shaped our modern technological society.
• PHY 1054C. Descriptive Astronomy. (2-2-3). An introduction to the solar system, planets, stars, interstellar medium, galaxies, evolution of stars and galaxies, big bang cosmology, and the structure of the very early and very late universe.
• PHY 1070. Physics of Sound and Music. (3-2-4) Development of basic ideas in physics of motion and applications to vibrations and sound waves. Introductory concepts in perception of loudness, pitch, and timbre. Fundamental ideas in musical scales, acoustics of rooms and acoustics of musical instruments. Does not count toward a physics major or minor.
• PHY 1150. Principles of Physics I. (3-2-4) F, S. Mechanics; Newton's Laws of Motion, Energy, Momentum, Conservation Principles, Gravity, Simple Harmonic Motion, Waves, Heat. Designed for majors in geology, life sciences, health professions, industrial technology, etc. Credit not given for both 1150 and 1350. Prerequisite: Mathematics 1300.
• PHY 1160C. Principles of Physics II. (3-2-4) Electricity and Magnetism, Optics, Modern Physics. Designed for majors in geology, life sciences, health professions, industrial technology, etc. Credit not given for both 1160 and 1360. Prerequisites: Physics 1150 and Mathematics 1300.
• PHY 1350. General Physics I. (3-3-4) F, S. Statics, kinematics, dynamics, simple harmonic motion. Straight-line and projectile motion. Conservation Principles. Work, energy, momentum. The first of a three-semester sequence designed for students in chemistry, pre- engineering, mathematics, physics, etc. Corequisite: Mathematics 1441C. Credit not given for both 1350 and 1150.
• PHY 1360C. General Physics II. (3-3-4) F, S. Thermodynamics, electricity and magnetism. The second of a three- semester sequence designed for students in chemistry, pre-engineering, mathematics, physics, etc. Corequisite: Mathematics 2442. Prerequisite: Physics 1350. Credit not given for both Physics 1360 and 1160.
• PHY 1370. General Physics III. (3-3-4) F, S. Wave motion and sound, optics, modern physics. The third of a three-semester sequence designed for students in chemistry, pre-engineering, mathematics, physics, etc. Corequisite: Mathematics 2443. Prerequisite: Physics 1360.
• PHY 1390. General Physics I- Honors. (3-3-4) F A quantitative study of kinematics, statics, dynamics and simple harmonic motion. Equations of motion are based upon an application of Newton's Laws, conservation principles, work-energy theorem, and Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation. Corequisite Mathematics 1441C or 1491C.
• PHY/INT 2200C. Materials Science. (2-0-2) F, S. Understanding the nature, applications, and environmental effects of natural and synthetic materials. Study of recycling and reclaiming materials and the problems associated with waste.
• PHY 2390. Statics. (3-0-3) F. Force and moment resultants of force systems; equilibrium analysis using free-body diagrams; force analysis of trusses, frames, cables, etc.; shear-force and bending-moment distributions; Coulomb friction; centroids, center of mass, moments and products of inertia; virtual work; hydrostatic pressure; design applications. Prerequisites: PHY 1351, PHY 1352 or permission of the instructor. Corequisite: MAT 2443. EGR 942
• PHY 2400. Dynamics. (3-0-3) S. Kinematics and dynamics of the three-dimensional motion of particles; kinematics and dynamics of the plane motion of rigid bodies; methods of work-energy and impulse-momentum; moving reference frames.
  Corequisite: MAT 2443. EGR 943
  
• PHY 3010, Special Topics in Physics. (Arr.-Arr.-1) F, S.
• PHY 3011, Special Topics in Physics. (Arr.-Arr.-2) F, S.
• PHY 3012. Special Topics in Physics. (Arr.-Arr.-3) F, S. A course in a selected area of Physics. May be repeated for credit if a different topic is taught. Prerequisites: Physics 1350, 2390, Mathematics 2443. Only six semester hours may be counted toward Physics major.
• PHY 3080. Modern Physics I. (3-0-3) S. The fundamental concepts of physics of the twentieth century are taught within a limited mathematical framework. Prerequisites: Physics 1370 and Mathe- matics 2443; Corequisite: Physics 2390.
• PHY 3090. Modern Physics II. (3-0-3) F-odd-numbered years. Continuation of Physics 3080 applied to the subjects of atomic, molecular, solid state physics, lasers and selected topics from twentieth century physics. Prerequisites: Physics 3080, Mathematics 2443.
• PHY 3150. Electronics. (2-4-4) F. A study of the fundamental principles of analog electronics. Topics include: Basic DC, AC and transient circuit analysis techniques, rectification, active and passive filtering. regulation, oscillator circuits, and computer simulation using PSpice. Prerequisites: PHY1160C or PHY1360C and MAT2110C or MAT 1441C.
• PHY 3270. Introduction to Circuit Analysis. (4-0-4) S. Basic principles of network analysis, including Kirchoff's laws, node and mesh equations, matrix methods, equivalent circuits, operational amplifiers, transient analysis, sinusoidal steady-state analysis, three-phase circuits, transformers, network functions, and frequency response. Prerequisites: Physics 1360, credit or registration in Mathematics 3501 and some knowledge of matrices and computer programming.
• PHY 3300. Advanced Classical Mechanics. (3-0-3) S-odd-numbered years. The theory of rigid body motion. Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics, coupled oscillating systems, normal modes and relativistic kinematics and dynamics. Prerequisite: Physics 2400.
• PHY 3350. Introduction to Solid State Physics. (3-0-3) S-odd-numbered years. Discussion of crystal structure, crystallography, the theory of thermal and electrical transport properties of metals, semiconductivity, and supercon- ductivity. Corequisite: Physics 3410 or Chemistry 3920.
• PHY 3410. Electricity and Magnetism I. (3-0-3) F- even numbered years. Coulomb's law, electric fields, potential, Gauss' law, capacitance, dielectrics, electrostatic energy, DC circuits, introduction to magnetic fields and forces, induction. Prerequisite: Physics 2390 and Corequisite: Mathematics 3501.
• PHY 3420. Electricity and Magnetism II. (3-0-3)S-odd numbered years .Advanced magnetism, magnetic materials, magnetic energy, varying electric currents, AC circuits, Maxwell's equations, electromagnetic radiation. Prerequisite: Physics 3410.
• PHY 3500. Laboratory Practicum (0-3-1) F,S Practical experience in laboratory procedures for introductory Physics laboratories. Students will gain experience in the methods of preparation and presentation of Physics Laboratories. This course is open only to Physics majors and minors in the Teacher Certification program
• PHY 4000. Seminar in Physics. (1-0-1) F, S. Reports and discussions of selected topics with instructor approval for oral presentation. Required of junior majors. May be taken twice for credit.
• PHY 4010. Seminar in Physics. (1-0-1) F, S. Reports and discussions of selected topics with instructor approval for oral presentation. Required of senior majors. May be taken twice for credit.
• PHY 4410. Independent Study. (Arr.-Arr.-1 to 3) On demand. Selected problems based on student's interests. Admission and assignment of problems by arrangement. Laboratory, reading and conference. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
• PHY 4470. Optics. (3-3-4) S-even-numbered years. Geometrical optics, optical instruments, wave optics: superposition, coherence, interference, diffraction, polarization. Prerequisite: Physics 1370.
• PHY 4710. Experimental Physics I. (0-4-1) F,S Experiments from different areas of physics using various techniques and instrumentation to acquire and analyze physical data. Corequisite: Physics 3150 and MAT1441C or MAT 2110C. May be repeated for a maximum of 3 semester hours of credit.

• PHY 4750. Thermodynamics and Statistical PHY Mechanics. (4-0-4) F-even-numbered years. Thermometry, thermodynamic laws, kinetic theory, Maxwell-Boltzmann, Bose-Einstein, and Fermi-Dirac statistics and applications. Prerequisites: Physics 1360, Mathematics 2442.
• PHY 4800. Independent Study. (Arr.-Arr.-1 to 6) On demand. Selected problems based on the student's interests. Admission and assignment of problems by arrangement. Laboratory, reading, and conference. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.
• PHY 4850. Quantum Mechanics and Atomic Physics I. (4-0-4) F-odd numbered years. Schrodinger equation applied to one-, two-, and three- dimensional problems, harmonic oscillator and hydrogen atom, uncertainty principle. Prerequisites: Physics 2400 and 3080; Mathematics 2443 and 3501.
• PHY 4860. Quantum Mechanics and Atomic PhysicsII. (2-0-2) S- even numbered years. Applications of the Schrodinger equation to nuclear, solid state, exclusion principle, angular momentum, atomic spectroscopy. Prerequisite: Physics 4850.
• PHY 4870. Mathematical Methods of Physics. (3-0-3) F-odd-numbered years. Selected topics from dynamics (Lagrangian, Hamiltonian), electromagnetic theory (Maxwell's equations), etc. Prerequisites: Physics 2400, Mathematics 2443 and 3501.

Graduate Courses

PHYSICAL SCIENCES

• PHY 3400. Methods of Teaching Physical Sciences. (3-0-3) F. Science lesson presentations and examination of current literature concerning new approaches in teaching chemistry and physics. Thirty clock hours in pre-student teaching are included. Prerequisites: Educational Psychology 3325 and Secondary Education 3330. ASEP students satisfy prerequisites with Secondary Education 3000.

Graduate Courses

Pre-Engineering Studies