North Dakota State University

3 credits, given every fall

Qualitative survey of the current understanding of the universe including planetary explorations, solar phenomena, stars, black holes, neutron stars, nebulas, galaxies.

1 credit, given every fall

Laboratory course to accompany Phys 110

Lab fee: $20.00

3 credits, given every semester

Application of physics concepts and principles to the real world. Topics selected from: mechanics, heat, optics, electricity, magnetism.

1 credit, given every semester

Laboratory course to accompany Phys 120

Lab Fee: $20.00

3 credits, given every fall

Beginning course for students without a calculus background. Includes basic principles of bodies at rest and in motion, fluids, vibrations, waves, sound and thermodynamics.

Topics covered.

Prereq: Math 105 or higher.

Notes: Required for biology, microbiology, pre-professional (medical, dental, optometry, physical therapy, etc.), radiology, biotechnology, geology, soil science, pre-pharmacy, agriculture, food science, and construction management majors.

Current Textbook:  College Physics: Reasoning and Relationships, 2^nd ed. (2013) by Giordano (Cengage).

1 credit, given every fall

Laboratory course to accompany Phys 211.

Lab fee $25.00

3 credits, given every spring

Second course for students without a calculus background. Includes electricity, magnetism, optics and modern physics.

Topics covered.

Prereq: Phys 211, 211L.

Notes: Required for all the above majors, except pre-pharmacy, agriculture, food science, and construction management.

Current Textbook:  College Physics: Reasoning and Relationships, 2^nd ed. (2013) by Giordano (Cengage).

1 credit, given every spring

Laboratory course to accompany Phys 212.

Lab fee $25.00

1-3 credits, given every semester

Special research studies in physics under the supervision of an instructor.

4 credits, given every spring

Newtonian mechanics of translational and rotational motion, work, energy, power, momentum, conservation of energy and momentum, periodic motion, heat, and thermodynamics.

Topics covered.

Prereq: Math 165.

Notes: Required for physics, chemistry, biochemistry, science education, electrical engineering, & computer engineering majors. Math & computer science majors often take the sequence as their science elective.

Current Textbook:  Fundamentals of Physics, 9^th ed. (2011) by Halliday, Resnick, & Walker (Wiley).

1 credit, given every semester

Laboratory course to accompany Phys 251.

Coreq: Phys 251

Lab fee $20.00

1 credit, given every spring

A recitation that complements Physics 251 with emphasis on theory and applications.

4 credits, given every semester

Electric charge, field, potential, and current; magnetic field; capacitance; resistance; inductance; RC, RL, LC and RLC circuits; waves; EM waves; optics.

Topics covered.

Prereq: Phys 251 or ME 221 and ME 222. Coreq: Math 166.

Notes: Required for all the above plus civil, mechanical, industrial, manufacturing, construction, & agricultural engineering majors.

Current Textbook:  Fundamentals of Physics, 9^th ed. (2011) by Halliday, Resnick, & Walker (Wiley).

1 credit, given every semester

Laboratory course to accompany Phys 252.

Prereq: Phys 251 or ME 221 and ME 222; Coreq: Phys 252

Lab fee $25.00

1 credit, given every fall

A recitation that complements Physics 252 with emphasis on theory and applications.

Prereq: PHYS 251. Coreq: PHYS 252.

3 credits, given every spring

Breakdown of classical physics, special relativity, Bohr model, Schrodinger mechanics of simple systems, atomic structure, selected topics from nuclear and solid state physics.

Prereq: Phys 252, Math 266

3 credits, given every fall

Continuation of modern physics covering molecular structure, nuclear physics and solid state physics with an embedded modern physics laboratory with experiments such as atomic and molecular spectroscopy, electron diffraction, nuclear spectroscopy, photoelectric effect and computer simulations of experiments.

Prereq: Phys 350

3 credits, fall: on demand

Electrostatics, magnetostatics, dielectrics, electric circuits, time varying electric and magnetic fields, electromagnetic induction, physical content and application of Maxwell's equations.

Prereq: Phys 252, Math 266

3 credits, on demand

Introduction to computational methods, with applications involving planetary motion, numerical integration, chaotic oscillations, percolation, random walks, diffusion limited aggregation, and Fourier transforms. 2 lectures, 2 one-hour labs.

Prereq: Phys 251, Math 166, and CSCI 160 or ECE 173. Coreq: Phys 252.

3 credits, given in the spring of odd-numbered years

Schrodinger's equation and quantum mechanics of simple systems. Properties of solids including band theory of metals and semiconductors, Fermi-Dirac statistics, properties of p-n junction, light emitting diodes and laser diodes.

Prereq: Phys 252

3 credits, given fall of even-numbered years

Introduction to modern optics. Geometric optics, electromagnetic nature of light, polarization, interferencee, diffraction, fiber optics. Corequisite laboratory with major related optics project.

Prereq: Phys 252. Coreq: PHYS 411L/611L. Cross-listed with ECE.

1 credit, given fall of even-numbered years

Required laboratory for PHYS/ECE 411/611. Ten optics experiments plus a major related optics project.

Prereq: Phys 252; Coreq: Phys 411/611. Cross-listed with ECE.

Click here for more information on the course.

3 credits, given in the fall of even-numbered years

Analysis of optical systems using the matrix formulation, wave propogation in anisotropic media, electro-optic effect and laser modulation, physical orgin of optical non-linearities, phase matching, optical second harmonic and parametric generation.

 Prereq. Phys 252

3 credits, given in the spring of odd-numbered years

Lecture and laboratory introduction to lasers. Spontaneous and stimulated transitions, line-broadening, gain, gain saturation, optical resonators, Fabry-Perot interferometers, theory of laser oscillation, rate equations, transverse modes, coherence, and Gaussian beams.

Prereq: Phys 252

Click here for more information on the course.

3 credits

Analysis of optical systems using the matrix formulation, wave propagation in anisotropic media, electro-optic effect and laser modulation, physical origin of optical non-linearities, phase matching, optical second harmonic and parametric generation.

Prereq: Phys 252

Click here for more information on the course.

3 credits, fall: on demand

Variational principles and Lagrange's equations, Central force,  Rigid bodies, Oscillations, Hamilton equations, Canonical transformations, Hamilton-Jacobi theory, Classical chaos.

3 credits, given in the fall of odd-numbered years

Classical principles and laws of thermodynamics. Cyclic processes and entropy functions. Legendre differential transformations. Clausius equations, and principles of Maxwell's equations.

Prereq: Phys 252

3 credits, given in the spring of even-numbered years

The Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution function and its applications to thermodynamics problems. Introduction to Bose-Einstein and Fermi-Dirac statistics.

Prereq. Phys 462

2 credits, given in the spring of even-numbered years

Advanced laboratory in modern physics: experiments such as electron diffraction, nuclear spectroscopy, magnetic domains and bubbles. Data analysis and fitting and solutions of differential equations using MathCAD software packaage.

Lab fee: $15.00

3 credits, spring: on demand

Crystal structure and binding, reciprocal lattices and x-ray diffraction, lattice vibrations, thermal properties, free electron model, band theory, magnetism, superconductivity.

Prereq: Phys 485

3 credits, given in the fall of even-numbered years

Operators, one-dimensional wells and barriers, Schrodinger equation, uncertainty, duality, Born interpretation, unstable states, bosons and fermions, central force problems, angular momentum, spin.

Prereq: Phys 252, Math 266

3 credits, given in the spring of odd-numbered years

Continuation of Physics 485. Perturbation theory, angular momentum addition, variational schemes, WKB method, scattering theory, time-dependent problems.

Prereq: Phys 485

1-4 credits, given every spring

Capstone experience in physics.

2 credits, given in the fall of odd-numbered years

Supervised by advisor.