Bulletin Entry 2006-2007
Mercer University Physics Department

PHYSICS(PHY)
CHAIR, RANDALL D. PETERS
PROFESSOR  PETERS
ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS MARONE and YOUNG
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR BALDUZ
VISITING ASSISTANT PROFESSOR LEE

The department offers the B.S. and B.A. degrees and a minor in physics. 

The program in physics offers courses to meet the needs of:
 1) students desiring to pursue physics-related industrial or governmental careers,
 2) students desiring to continue their education in advanced graduate programs,
 3) students desiring a physics major as preparation for science teaching in secondary schools,
 4) students needing courses in physics as part of their major program, and
 5) students not majoring in the sciences, but desiring a general knowledge of physics.

The Bachelor of Science degree in physics consists of at least 39 credit hours of physics, which must include PHY 161/121L/162/162L, 305/306, 300(twice), 340, 355, 365, 430, and at least three other physics courses numbered above 300. In addition, MAT 293 Multivariable Calculus and MAT 330 Introduction to Differential Equations, and CHM 111/112 General Chemistry I/II are required. Successful completion of a senior comprehensive examination is also required.

The Bachelor of Arts degree in physics consists of at least 29 credit hours in physics, which must include PHY 161/121L/162/162L, 305/306, 300(twice), and at least four other courses which are either physics offerings numbered above 300, or PHY 115 Descriptive Astronomy. In addition, MAT 293 Multivariable Calculus and MAT 330 Introduction to Differential Equations, and at least 8 credit hours of lab science courses outside of physics (i.e. BIO, CHM or EES) are required. Successful completion of a senior comprehensive examination is also required.

A minor in physics consists of at least 17 credit hours in physics, which must include PHY 161/121L/162/162L, and at least three other physics course numbered above 300.

The courses MAT 191/191L/192/192L Calculus I/II are required for all physics degrees. The courses PHY 141/142/142L may never be used to fulfill any physics degree requirement. Students wishing to pursue a major or minor in physics should confer with the department chair as soon as this decision is made in order to plan a program of studies. A physics major should ideally complete PHY 161/121L/162/162L and MAT 191/191L/192/192L during the freshman year, and PHY 305/306 and MAT 293/330 during the sophomore year.

Majors may attain Departmental Honors in physics by fulfilling the following requirements:
1) attaining a grade point average of at least 3.5 in all courses taken in the department, and
2) satisfactorily completing a research project, including preparation of a paper suitable for publication in a scientific journal and/or presentation at a scientific meeting.


101.  Everyday Physics
Prerequisite: SCI 105 or consent of instructor.
Commonplace objects and events are studied from a scientific point of view. These may include sports, amusement rides and other vehicles, household objects, ice and steam, musical instruments, electronic devices, light, weather, toys, and weapons. A lecture and laboratory module for general education. Three hours of lecture and a three-hour lab per week for eight weeks. (2 credit hours)
103.  Acoustical Foundations of Music
(same as MUS 103)
Prerequisite: SCI 105 or consent of instructor.
A study of the relevant concepts of physics as applied to the acoustical aspects of music reproduction, listening environments, and hearing. A lecture and laboratory module for general education. Three hours of lecture and a three-hour lab per week for eight weeks. (2 credit hours)
115.  Descriptive Astronomy
Problems in astronomy will be presented on a fundamental level and will serve to demonstrate how scientific principles are established, how these principles are sometimes revised or disproved by new data and methods, and how observations of the universe can be used by people to learn more about their place in the cosmos. A lecture and laboratory course. (4 credit hours)
121L.  Basic Physics Laboratory I
Co-requisite: PHY 141 or PHY 161.
Laboratory component for PHY 141 or PHY 161: one 3-hour session per week. (1 hour credit)
141.  Introductory Physics I: Mechanics and Heat
Prerequisite: MAT 133 or equivalent. Co-requisite: PHY 121L.
Algebra-based physics: the study of motion, forces, mechanical and heat energy. Three hours of lecture per week. (3 credit hours)
142.  Introductory Physics II: Electricity, Magnetism, and Optics
Prerequisites: MAT 133 or equivalent, and PHY 141. Co-requisite: PHY 142L.
Continuation of PHY 141: the study of electrostatics, electric currents, dc and ac circuits, magnetism, geometrical and physical optics. Three hours of lecture per week. (3 credit hours)
142L.  Introductory Physics II Lab
Co-requisite: PHY 142.
Laboratory component for PHY 142: one 3-hour session per week. (1 hour credit)
161.  General Physics I: Mechanics and Thermodynamics
Co-requisites: MAT 191 and PHY 121L.
Physics with calculus for majors in the physical sciences and engineering: the study of motion, forces, energy, heat and entropy. Three hours of lecture per week. (3 credit hours)
162.  General Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism, Wave Motion and Optics
Prerequisite: PHY 161. Co-requisites: MAT 192 and PHY 162L.
Continuation of PHY 161: the study of electrostatics, electrical currents, dc and ac circuits, and magnetism, wave phenomena, geometric and physical optics. Three hours of lecture per week. (3 credit hours)
162L.  General Physics II Lab
Co-requisite: PHY 162.
Laboratory component for PHY 162: one 3-hour session per week. (1 hour credit)
300.  Physics Seminar
Prerequisite: Junior or senior status; and either PHY 142 or PHY 162 or instructor approval.
This is a weekly, one-hour seminar focusing on current topics at the frontiers of physics. Each student must make at least one presentation each semester. May be taken up to four times for credit, but only two credit hours may be applied toward the physics major. (1 credit hour)
305.  Modern Physics I
Prerequisites: MAT 192 and PHY 162.
Introduction to the quantum theory of matter: wave-particle duality, uncertainty, quantum probability, the Schroedinger equation, atomic and molecular structure, classical and quantum statistics, solid state physics, superfluids, superconductors, and lasers. Three hours of lecture per week. (3 credit hours)
306.  Modern Physics II
Prerequisite: PHY 305.
Introduction to the physics of spacetime, the very small, and the very large: special relativity, nuclear and particle physics, astrophysics, general relativity, and cosmology. Three hours of lecture per week. (3 credit hours)
325.  Physical Optics
Prerequisites: MAT 192 and PHY 162.
Intermediate level optics, including the electromagnetic nature of light, thermal and coherent sources, interference phenomena, holography, polarization, Fourier transform spectroscopy, and nonlinear optics. The adjective physical in the title of this course emphasizes its foundation in electromagnetic theory, as opposed to geometrical optics, where the primary goal is to understand how optical instruments function, using ray tracing techniques. Three hours of lecture and a 3-hour laboratory per week. (4 credit hours)
330.  Statistical Mechanics
Prerequisites: MAT 293 and 330, and PHY 305.
Introduction to statistical mechanics covering classical and quantum statistics, and connections with thermodynamics. Quantum statistics will include investigations of thermal properties of solids and low temperature phenomena. Three hours of lecture per week. (3 credit hours)
340.  Analytical Mechanics
Prerequisites: MAT 293 and 330, and PHY 162.
Statics and dynamics of particles and rigid bodies; Newtonian, Lagrangian, and Hamiltonian description of systems; vibrating systems including normal modes. Three hours of lecture per week. (3 credit hours)
355.  Electromagnetic Theory
Prerequisites: MAT 293 and 330, and PHY 162.
Electrostatics, magnetostatics, electrodynamics, Maxwell's equations, electromagnetic waves. Three hours of lecture per week. (3 credit hours)
365.  Mathematical Physics
Prerequisites: MAT 293 and 330, and PHY 162.
Mathematical methods useful in upper-division physics courses are explored. Topics may include probability distributions, linear algebra, complex variables, waves and Fourier analysis, orthogonal functions, partial differential equations, chaotic dynamics, and group theory. Three hours of lecture per week. (3 credit hours)
370.  Experimental Physics
Prerequisite: PHY 305.
Introduction to experimental techniques including computerized data acquisition, data analysis, analog and digital electronics and instrumentation. Students will also learn the LabVIEW programming language. Three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory work per week. (4 credit hours)
385.  Computational Physics
Prerequisites: MAT 293 and 330, and PHY 162.
Students will use scientific programming languages to create algorithms and perform numerical calculations in the areas of linear algebra, differentiation and integration, and random event generation. Three hours of lecture and a three-hour computer lab per week. (4 credit hours)
420.  Selected Topics in Physics (Subtitle)
Prerequisite: to be determined by the instructor.
A study of a topic in much greater depth than is done in the more general courses, or a topic of current importance not covered in the course offerings of the department. Credit hours depend on the topic, with a maximum of 4.
430.  Nonlinear Physics
Prerequisite: PHY 340.
This course discusses nonlinear phenomena in physical systems and how these nonlinear effects are analyzed. Three hours of lecture and a three-hour lab per week. (4 credit hours)
450.  Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
Prerequisites: MAT 293 and 330, and PHY 305.
Introduction to the concepts and techniques of quantum mechanics. Mathematical formalisms, applications to various systems, and philosophical implications of quantum mechanics will be investigated. Three hours of lecture per week. (3 credit hours)
460.  Research in Physics
Prerequisite: to be determined by the student's research advisor.
Training in the techniques of basic research in physics with application to a research project of current importance. May be spread over several semesters. Variable credit (1-3 credits per semester): one credit hour for each three hours per week of research activity. May be taken for up to 6 credit hours.