Kentucky Wesleyan College
Academic Bulletin

Physics

A major in Physics at Kentucky Wesleyan is designed to provide students with an appreciation and understanding of physics, and to provide students with the ability to utilize physics in a career, in another discipline or to pursue further studies in graduate school.

We emphasize basic principles of physics in a liberal arts context. We intend our graduates to have:

• An understanding of physics as a theoretical and experimental discipline
• The ability to apply physics to practical situations
• The ability to test physics theory by experimentation
• The background to learn new physics theories and applications as necessary
• The flexibility to branch out into leadership positions in their chosen career areas

A major in physics may elect to receive either a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Arts degree by fulfilling the appropriate language requirements. If a student elects to get a Bachelor of Science degree, then he or she must take two programming courses as a computer science skill.

REQUIREMENTS FOR A MAJOR -- 59 HOURS

CORE REQUIREMENTS -- 33 HOURS

PHYS 2504 General Physics I
PHYS 2505 General Physics II
PHYS 3301 Electricity and Magnetism
PHYS 3302 Mechanics
PHYS 3303 Modern Physics
PHYS 4301 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
One lab course selected from PHYS 3401, 3402 or 3403
Seven hours of electives from physics courses 

REQUIRED SUPPORTING COURSES -- 26 HOURS

MATH 1402 Introductory Calculus
MATH 2305 Calculus: Sequences and Series
MATH 2306 Calculus: Vector Methods
MATH 3300 Advanced Calculus
MATH 3301 Differential Equations
CHEM 1351 General Chemistry I
CHEM 1251 General Chemistry Laboratory I
CHEM 1352 General Chemistry II
CHEM 1252 General Chemistry Laboratory II 

REQUIREMENTS FOR A MINOR -- 21 HOURS

PHYS 2504 General Physics I
PHYS 2505 General Physics II
One course selected from PHYS 3301, 3302 or 3303
One lab course selected from PHYS 3401, 3402 or 3403
Four hours of electives from physics courses

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Physics 1401 -- Introductory General Physics I -- 4 hours.
Mechanics, heat and sound are studied. Derivations and applications of simple formulas using algebra & trigonometry are stressed. Problem solving is a basic part of the course. Three hours lecture and two hours laboratory per week. Prerequisite: Mathematics 1401.

Physics 1402 -- Introductory General Physics II -- 4 hours.
A continuation of Physics 1401. Electricity, magnetism, light and selected topics of modern physics are studied. Derivations and applications of simple formulas using algebra & trigonometry are stressed. Problem solving is a basic part of the course. Three hours lecture and two hours laboratory per week. Prerequisite: Physics 1401.

Physics 2206 -- Engineering Physics -- 2 hours.
A continuation course in general physics designed for engineering majors emphasizing engineering applications in statics, dynamics, electronics, and optics. Prerequisite: Physics 2505 concurrently.

Physics 2504 -- General Physics I -- 5 hours.
Mechanics, heat and sound are studied. Derivations and applications of formulas using calculus are stressed. Problem solving is a basic part of the course. Three hours lecture, two hours recitation and two hours laboratory per week. Prerequisite: Mathematics 1402 concurrently.

Physics 2505 -- General Physics II -- 4 hours.
A continuation of Physics 2504. Electricity, magnetism, light and selected topics of modern physics are studied. Derivations and applications of formulas using calculus are stressed. Problem solving is a basic part of the course. Three hours lecture, two hours recitation and two hours laboratory per week. Prerequisite: Physics 2504.

Physics 3301 -- Electricity and Magnetism -- 3 hours.
An intermediate course in electricity and magnetism which includes electric fields, special methods of solutions of electrostatics, energy, force potentials, magnetic fields, electromagnetic waves, and radiation. Prerequisite: Physics 2505 and Mathematics 2306.

Physics 3302 -- Mechanics -- 3 hours.
An intermediate course in mechanics, which includes particle dynamics, rigid bodies, conservative force fields, theory of small oscillations, and the special theory of relativity. Prerequisite: Physics 2505 and Mathematics 2306.

Physics 3303 -- Modern Physics -- 3 hours.
Introduction to the special theory of relativity, elementary concepts of quantum mechanics, and selected topics in atomic and nuclear physics. Prerequisite: Physics 2505 and Mathematics 2306.

Physics 3107, 3207, 3307 -- Readings in Physics -- 1-3 hours.
Special topics in physics are assigned by the instructor. The student should expect his readings to include historical concepts, philosophical implications, and modern trends in physics. Prerequisites: Physics 2505 and the consent of the instructor.

Physics 3401 -- Analog/Digital Electronics -- 4 hours.
Elementary treatment of analog and digital circuits. Analog topics include AC circuits, filters, and theory and operation of transistors. Digital topics include combination logic, sequential logic, memory and interfacing. The design and application of electronic instruments are analyzed. Three hours lecture and two hours laboratory per week. Prerequisite: Physics 1402 or Physics 2505.

Physics 3402 -- Optics -- 4 hours.
The principles of geometrical and physical optics; visible light and other forms of electromagnetic radiation. The design and application of optical instruments are analyzed. Three hours lecture and two hours laboratory per week. Prerequisite: Physics 1402 or Physics 2505.

Physics 3403 -- Heat and Thermodynamics -- 4 hours.
Theoretical and experimental aspects of physical chemistry with emphasis on chemical thermodynamics and quantum theory of atomic structure. Three hours lecture and three hours laboratory per week. (Also offered as Chemistry 3403) Prerequisite: Chemistry 1352, 1252 and Mathematics 2305.

Physics 3101, 3102 -- Junior Physics Laboratory -- 1, 1 hour.
An advanced laboratory involving experiments of classical and modern physics. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

Physics 4301 -- Introduction to Quantum Mechanics -- 3 hours.
Introduction to quantum mechanics with emphasis on the Schrodinger equation and its applications. Prerequisites: Physics 3303 and Mathematics 3301 concurrently.

Physics 4303 -- Special Topics in Physics -- 3 hours.
Enrichment topics in experimental or theoretical physics are assigned by the instructor. Prerequisites: Physics concentration and consent of the instructor.

Physics 4101, 4102 -- Senior Physics Laboratory -- 1, 1 hour.
An advanced laboratory involving experiments of classical and modern physics. Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor.

Back to Courses of Instruction

11/10/00
dschmied@kwc.edu