Physics

Associate Professor Ben Cash, Chair, Division of Natural Sciences

The curriculum in chemical physics affords the student sound training in the principles and techniques of modern physical-chemical theory and experimentation. The program integrates laboratory, theoretical, and research skills to provide the range of abilities needed by the practicing professional in highly interdisciplinary applications. Opportunity for research through the Oak Ridge Associated Universities and National Laboratories such as Argonne, Brookhaven, Los Alamos, and Oak Ridge complement the curriculum.

The Major in Chemical Physics provides an interdisciplinary curriculum for students planning careers in physics having a strong chemical emphasis. With careful elective choice students may pursue professional careers in industry or enter graduate school programs that lead to a variety of research-oriented careers in private or government laboratories and agencies. The Major in Chemical Physics consists of 52 hours in physics, chemistry and related fields and provides an interdisciplinary curriculum for students planning careers in physics having strong chemical emphases. Required coursework includes Physics 201, 202, 271, 301, 351, and 352; Chemistry 121, 122, 381, 391, 399, and 425; and Mathematics 125, 225, 232, and 236. Specific requirements of particular post-graduate institutions should be ascertained early in the undergraduate program since they may require courses for admission beyond the minimum required for the chemical physics major.

The Minor in Physics consists of a minimum of 27 hours, including Physics 201, 202, 271, 301; at least one additional physics course at the 300 level or above; Biology 299 or Chemistry 399; and Mathematics 125, 225.

Course Descriptions

101. College Physics I: 4 credit hours; Prerequisite: Mathematics 115 or equivalent; An algebra-based introduction to physics for majors in the life sciences. The area explored is classical mechanics. Topics include: translational and rotational motion of particles and rigid bodies; Newton’s laws of motion; conservation laws; energy and work; equilibrium; gravitational forces and fields; harmonic motion and oscillation; and wave motion. Computer-based laboratory work seeks to demonstrate the validity of theoretical descriptions and impart a deeper understanding of physical phenomena and associated concepts.
102. College Physics II: 4 credit hours; Prerequisite: Physics 101; Continuation of Physics 101. The areas explored are thermodynamics, electricity & magnetism, wave motion, and geometrical optics. Topics include: temperature; heat, pressure, kinetic energy of gases; the laws of thermodynamics; Carnot cycle; entropy; electric and magnetic forces and fields; electric potential and potential energy; capacitance, resistance and current; Maxwell’s equations; reflection and refraction of light; ray approximation for geometrical optics; and interference, diffraction and polarization of light. Computer-based laboratory work seeks to demonstrate the validity of theoretical descriptions and impart a deeper understanding of physical phenomena and associated concepts.
201. General Physics I: 4 credit hours; Pre or co-requisite: Mathematics 225; A calculus-based introduction to physics for majors in the physical sciences, mathematics and engineering. The area explored is classical mechanics. Topics include: translational and rotational motion of particles and rigid bodies; Newton’s laws of motion; conservation laws; energy and work; equilibrium; gravitational forces and fields; harmonic motion and oscillation; and wave motion. Computer-based laboratory work seeks to demonstrate the validity of theoretical descriptions and to impart a deeper understanding of physical phenomena and associated concepts.
202. General Physics II: 4 credit hours; Prerequisite: Physics 201; Continuation of Physics 201. The areas explored are thermodynamics, electricity & magnetism, wave motion, and geo-metrical optics. Topics include: temperature; heat; pressure, kinetic energy of gases; the laws of thermodynamics; Carnot cycle; entropy; electric and magnetic forces and fields; electric potential and potential energy; capacitance, resistance and current; Maxwell’s equations; reflection and refraction of light; ray approximation for geometrical optics; and interference, diffraction and polarization of light. Computer-based laboratory work seeks to demonstrate the validity of theoretical descriptions and to impart a deeper understanding of physical phenomena and associated concepts.
271. Modern Physics: 4 credit hours; Prerequisite: Physics 202; Introductions to the theories and supporting experimental evidence of selected topics in modern physics. Topics include: special relativity; relativistic mass, momentum, and energy; general relativity, warping of space-time, and black holes; particle-wave duality; uncertainty principle; atomic structure; quantum theory and atomic/molecular spectra; lasers; Schrodinger’s equation; eigenvalues, eigenfunctions and expectation values; nuclear forces; radioactivity, nuclear fission and fusion; and nuclear reactors. Laboratory work involves experiments that explore the quantum nature of matter and energy.
272. Modern Physics: 3 credit hours; Prerequisite: Physics 202; Identical to Physics 271, except without the laboratory.
301. Analytical Mechanics: 3 credit hours; Prerequisite: Physics 201; Newtonian dynamics applied to single and many-particle systems as well as to two- and three-dimensional rigid bodies. Topics include: harmonic motion; nonlinear oscillators; the Coriolis force; motion due to a central force; Kepler’s laws of planetary motion; scattering; gyroscopes; and equilibrium and stability. Variational and Lagrangian mechanics are also introduced.
337. Internship in Chemical Physics: 7 to 15 credit hours; Prerequisites: At least 2.8 GPA in major/related courses, junior or senior standing and division approval; Practical off campus experiences that apply methodologies and techniques of the physico-chemical sciences in actual work settings in academic institutions, government laboratories or agencies, or private companies and organizations. One credit hour is associated with each week of full-time employment.
343. Practicum in Chemical Physics: 2 to 6 credit hours; Prerequisites: At least 2.8 GPA in major/related courses, junior or senior standing and division approval; Practical experiences, either on or off campus, that apply methodologies and techniques of the physical-chemical sciences in actual work settings in academic institutions, government laboratories or agencies, or private companies and organizations. One credit hour is associated with each three hours of work every week for a 14-week semester.
349. Topics in Physics: 1 to 4 credit hours; Prerequisites: Physics 202, and junior or senior standing, or permission of the instructor; Seminars and laboratories involving the detailed study of advanced topics in physics not encountered in other coursework. Potential topics include optics, quantum mechanics, thermodynamics and statistical mechanics.
351-352. Senior Research Project: 6 credit hours; Prerequisites: FRS 140, English Proficiency Exam, junior standing, at least 11 hours in physics and 9 hours in chemistry; The Senior Study requirement is fulfilled with this two-course sequence. Students develop a research proposal in an area of interest, complete independent research under the supervision of a faculty mentor, and present their findings in a formal thesis and seminar.
371. Electricity & Magnetism: 3 credit hours; Prerequisite: Physics 202; Electromagnetic theory as formulated in Maxwell’s equations is applied to charged particles, and vector analysis is used extensively. Topics include: electric forces and fields; electric potential; boundary conditions and uniqueness theorems; electric susceptibility, permitivity and dielectrics; magnetic forces and fields; magnetic vector potential; magnetization; and magnetic susceptibility and permeability.