Physics (PHYS) | Utah Valley University Academic Catalog (2024)

For students interested in a one-semester survey physics course. Covers the fundamentals of classical and modern physics. Includes mechanics, fluids, heat, waves and sound, electricity and magnetism, light, optical, relativity, atomic and nuclear physics. Includes lectures, classroom interaction, demonstration, and problem solving.
Canvas Course Mats $105/Pearson applies.

Examines physics as a field of study. Introduces students to the UVU physics program and faculty research. Develops learning strategies specific to physics coursework and an awareness of available career paths in the sciences.

Prerequisite(s): Math 1050 or Math 1080
Is an application-oriented, hands-on introduction to physics and engineering mathematics. Teaches the tools needed to solve problems commonly encountered in the first two years of core physics and engineering courses. Presents topics within the context of a physics or engineering problem, and reinforces through extensive examples and computational tools taken from physics and engineering courses.

Prerequisite(s): MATH1050
Surveys the principles and processes behind nanotechnology and nanomaterials, basic tools for fabrication and characterization of nano and microstructures, and applications of nanotechnology. Examines fundamental principles and laws of electronics, atomic physics, solid-state physics and chemistry that are essential to nanotechnology will be introduced. Includes conducting virtual reality training exercises for tools such as electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, nanolithography, and sputter deposition, and they will then complete hands-on laboratory experiments with these instruments. Covers special topics such as graphene, carbon nanotubes, quantum dots and molecular electronics.

Prerequisite(s): MAT1010 or higher
Introduces the science of sound, music and speech and the physical principles and technology used to manipulate, store and broadcast it.

Prerequisite(s): MAT1010 or higher
Discovers the principles of physics that form the basis of music and provide the foundation for the design of musical instruments. Investigates the physics of music production, transmission and reception, and perception. Examines the five fundamental elements of the musical instrument, namely power supply, oscillator, resonator, amplifier, and pitch modifiers. Satisfies one general education physical science elective.

Prerequisite(s): MAT1010 or higher
Answers the question, "Where does energy come from, and where does it go?". Examines the methods of energy production, distribution, and consumption in society and their environmental impacts. Examines the personal impact of energy use on the environment and explores alternatives, such as fuel cell cars, and a hydrogen economy. Examines prospects for alternative energy sources, such as solar, wind, nuclear and geothermal energy at length. Intended for non-science majors interested in energy use in society.

Prerequisite(s): MAT1010 or higher
Uses the medium and modes of flight and modern aviation to introduce elementary physics. Includes vectors, kinematics, forces, momentum, energy, torques, elementary fluid dynamics and thermodynamics. Uses Algebra extensively. Presents and develops concepts of physics as exercises in modeling constructed from examples used in aviation.
Canvas Course Mats $81/Pearson applies.

Prerequisite(s): MATH1050 or higher
Corequisite(s): PHYS2015
For students desiring a two semester algebra based course in applied physics. Covers mechanics, fluids, waves, heat, and thermodynamics.
Canvas Course Mats $81/Pearson applies.

Corequisite(s): PHYS2010
Designed to accompany PHYS2010. Provides firsthand experience with the laws of mechanics, fluids, waves, heat, thermodynamics, and data analysis.
Course Lab fee of $15 applies.

Prerequisite(s): PHYS2010
Corequisite(s): PHYS2025
A continuation of PHYS2010. Covers electricity, magnetism, waves, sound, optics, and nuclear physics.
Canvas Course Mats $81/Pearson applies.

Corequisite(s): PHYS2020
Designed to accompany PHYS2020. Provides firsthand experience with the laws of electricity, waves, optics, nuclear physics, and data analysis.
Course Lab fee of $15 applies.

Prerequisite(s): MATH1210 or PHYS1100
Corequisite(s): PHYS2215
Introduces mechanics, fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, vibrations, and waves to the budding scientist or engineer utilizing the quantitative tools of calculus. Includes 1 hour of recitation per week.

Corequisite(s): PHYS2210
Designed to accompany PHYS2210. Provides firsthand experience with the laws of mechanics, thermal physics, vibrations, and waves. Introduces methods of scientific data analysis.
Course Lab fee of $15 applies.

Prerequisite(s): PHYS2210
Corequisite(s): PHYS2225
Continues from PHYS2210. Covers electricity and magnetism, including Maxwell's equations. Develops the theory of electromagnetic waves and optics. Presents introductory electronics and modern physics topics. Includes one hour of recitation.

Corequisite(s): PHYS2220
Accompanies PHYS2220. Provides students first hand experience with the laws of electricity and magnetism, electric circuits, and optics. Emphasizes principles of data collection and analysis.

Prerequisite(s): PHYS2220
Corequisite(s): MATH2210
Presents a mathematically rigorous introductory description of fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and heat transfer beyond that presented in PHYS2210. Presents applications in both physics and engineering.

Prerequisite(s): PHYS2220, PHYS2225, and BIOL1010 or BIOL1610
Covers the thermodynamics and statistical mechanics of biological systems, the mechanics of biologically important molecules, and the laws of fluid mechanics as applied in biological systems. Uses calculus-based mathematical models to treat specific reactions, particularly those treating biological systems as molecular machines.

Prerequisite(s): PHYS2220
Covers the atomic structure of materials and their properties, including electronic, thermal, and optical properties. Addresses experimental methods for creating and studying materials, and current topics in materials science including thin films, surface physics, metamaterials, and nanostructured materials.

Prerequisite(s): PHYS2210, Departmental Approval
Working under faculty supervision, allows research on a project determined jointly with a faculty member and approved by the department chair. Emphasizes experimental technique, data collection, modeling, and analysis techniques. May be repeated for no more than six hours of elective credit.

Prerequisite(s): PHYS2210, (MATH1050 or MATH1055), MATH1210, PHYS2220, MATH1060, and University Advanced Standing
For secondary education students. Emphasizes physics or chemistry. Addresses pedagogical methods for student physics laboratory exercises and demonstrations. Studies currently available commercial laboratory equipment for teaching physics in a lab setting. Includes ideas and methods for building inexpensive demonstrations and lab exercises. Provides training in safe and effective use of lab equipment.

Prerequisite(s): PHYS2220, MATH1220, and University Advanced Standing
Addresses topics of special relativity, development of quantum mechanics, physics of the atom, elementary solid state physics, and elementary particle physics.

Prerequisite(s): PHYS2220 and University Advanced Standing
Corequisite(s): PHYS3115
Addresses topics of error analysis and statistics, wave mechanics, special relativity, development of quantum mechanics, and atomic physics.

Prerequisite(s): PHYS2220 and University Advanced Standing
Corequisite(s): PHYS3110
Introduces selected experiments of classical and modern physics in a laboratory setting. Addresses topics of measurement, error analysis, data analysis, and report writing.

Prerequisite(s): PHYS3110 and University Advanced Standing
Corequisite(s): PHYS3125
Covers topics in special and general relativity, and addresses applications of modern quantum mechanics including molecular physics, solid state physics, statistical mechanics, nuclear physics, particle physics, and cosmology.

Prerequisite(s): PHYS3110, PHYS3115, and University Advanced Standing
Pre- or Corequisite(s): PHYS3120
Introduces selected experiments of classical and modern physics in a laboratory setting. Addresses topics of measurement, data analysis, report writing.

Prerequisite(s): PHYS2220, MATH2210, and University Advanced Standing
Introduces electronic measurement instruments commonly used in experimental physics laboratories. Covers principles of electronic measurements using transducers, solid-state devices, circuit analysis, logic circuits, and computers. Includes lab experience. Course lab fee of $45 for materials applies.

Prerequisite(s): PHYS2220, and University Advanced Standing
Pre- or Corequisite(s): MATH2210 or instructor consent. MATH2280 is strongly advised as a pre- or corequisite.
Covers the applications of mathematical tools to experimental and theoretical research in the physical sciences. Introduces problems and systems common to physical science that can be modeled by the application of vector and tensor algebra, curvilinear coordinates, linear algebra, complex variables, Fourier series and transforms, differential and integral equations.

Prerequisite(s): PHYS3300 and University Advanced Standing
Explores mathematics as applied to physics. Covers many families of orthogonal polynomials and the special functions of physics, such as the Gamma, Beta, and Error functions. Presents topics in contour integration and applications of conformal mapping. Investigates probability, random processes, statistical analyses, and probability distribution functions.

Prerequisite(s): PHYS3300 and University Advanced Standing
Covers computational algorithms with specific applications to the description of physical systems. Covers iterative approximation methods, computations using matrices and vectors, numerical integration, solutions of differential equations. Uses a computer programming approach to problem solving.

Prerequisite(s): PHYS3230 and University Advanced Standing
Develops programming skills in LabVIEW. Utilizes LabVIEW as the primary interface for analog and digital I/O for applications in physics experiments. Includes a student-directed group project that demonstrates effective use of LabVIEW in hardware interfacing in a physics experiment.

Prerequisite(s): PHYS2220 and University Advanced Standing
Pre- or Corequisite(s): PHYS3300 recommended
Treats classical mechanics of particles and systems using advanced mathematical techniques. Covers conservation principles, Lagrangian dynamics, harmonic oscillators, motion of rigid bodies and non-inertial reference frames.

Prerequisite(s): PHYS2220, MATH2210, and University Advanced Standing
Addresses topics of heat, temperature, ideal gases, laws of thermodynamics, entropy, reversibility, thermal properties of solids, phase transitions, thermodynamics of magnetism, and negative temperature.

Prerequisite(s): PHYS3300, PHYS3110, and University Advanced Standing
Covers the phenomena of reflection, refraction, diffraction, interference, optical behavior in materials and lasers. Presents a mathematically rigorous description of optical phenomena. May Include equipment-based class projects.

Prerequisite(s): PHYS3110 and University Advanced Standing
Introduces the Standard Model of particle physics, which enumerates the elementary particles that make up the universe and describes their interactions. Addresses particle accelerators and detectors. Examines unresolved questions in particle physics and possible extensions to the Standard Model.

Cross-listed with: CHEM3800, ENVT3800

Prerequisite(s): (PHYS1010 or PHSC1000 or GEO1010 or GEO 2040 or METO1010) and (MATH1050 or MATH1055) and CHEM1010 and University Advanced Standing
Covers the science of energy production and consumption. Quantitatively analyzes various methods of energy production, distribution, and end use in all sectors of our society, including transportation, residential living, and industry. Examines the impacts of our energy consumption on the environment and prospects for alternative energy sources. Is intended for science majors interested in energy use in society or in an energy related career, and for students in other majors who feel that a technical understanding of energy use will help them to understand and mitigate its impact in our society.

Prerequisite(s): PHYS3110, PHYS3115 and University Advanced Standing
Explores the theory and applications of physics to medicine. Covers signal analysis, ultrasound, X-rays, optical, nuclear, and X-ray imaging techniques, nuclear medicine, magnetic resonance imaging, and nanomedicine.

Prerequisite(s): (PHYS3125, PHYS3230, or instructor approval) and University Advanced Standing
Introduces students to the process of developing, designing, proposing, building, executing, analyzing, revising, and presenting a scientific experiment. Teaches a variety of advanced experimental technical skills and helps students learn to embark independently on scientific research.

Prerequisite(s): PHYS3110
Covers radiation, radioactive decay, nuclear structure, interactions of radiation with matter, radiation detection, nuclear reactions, fission, fusion, and applications of nuclear physics.

Prerequisite(s): Department Approval and University Advanced Standing
For licensed teachers or teachers seeking to recertify, an update course in physics and/or basic physics core courses for teachers needing physics or physical science endorsem*nts from the Utah State Office of Education. Teaches principles of physics and pedagogy of teaching physics for teachers in public or private schools. Emphasis will be placed on correlation with the Utah Core Curriculum, the National Science Education Standards, and the Benchmarks of Project 2061. Topics will vary.

Prerequisite(s): Instructor and Department approval and University Advanced Standing
Presents directed topics in research methods. Emphasizes practical methodologies in measurement, instrumentation, error analysis, statistical analysis and computational modeling. Requires a class project that may require MATLAB, LABView or other programming languages. Includes producing oral presentations, posters and journal articles using contemporary software and LaTeX.

Prerequisite(s): PHYS3110, PHYS3115, PHYS3300, and University Advanced Standing
Explores the theory of electrostatic phenomena in a mathematically rigorous manner. Covers Gauss' Law, the Laplace and Poisson equations, boundary-value problems, and dielectrics.

Prerequisite(s): PHYS4410 and University Advanced Standing
Explores the theory of electrodynamic phenomena in a mathematically rigorous manner. Covers Ohm's and Kirchhoff's Laws, magnetic induction, the Biot- Savart Law, Ampere's Law, Ferromagnetism, Plasmas, Maxwell's Equations, and Special Relativity.

Prerequisite(s): PHYS3110, PHYS3115, PHYS3300, and University Advanced Standing
Covers postulates of quantum mechanics, state functions of quantum systems, Hermitian Operators, the Schrodinger Equation, eigenfunctions of harmonic oscillators, and particles in potential wells.

Prerequisite(s): PHYS4510 and University Advanced Standing
Covers general principles and applications of quantum mechanics. Addresses topics of three-dimensional problems, angular momentum operators, spin wavefunctions, perturbation theory, applications to atomic, molecular, solid-state, and nuclear physics.

Prerequisite(s): PHYS3110, PHYS3115, PHYS3300, and University Advanced Standing
Covers phenomena of sound, resonance, acoustics, and human hearing. Treats associated topics of waves, frequency, vibration and interference using appropriate mathematical tools.

Prerequisite(s): PHYS3120, 3125, PHYS4510, and University Advanced Standing
Explores topics relevant to the structure, behavior, and properties of crystalline materials. Includes a study of lattice vibrations, free electrons, semiconductors, superconductivity, dielectric and ferroelectric materials and magnetism.

Prerequisite(s): PHYS2220, Departmental Approval, and University Advanced Standing
Provides supervised, practical, and research experience for students preparing for careers in physics. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours. May be graded credit/no credit.

Prerequisite(s): PHYS2220, Departmental Approval, and University Advanced Standing
Allows research on a project determined jointly with a faculty member and approved by the department chair. Emphasizes experimental technique, data collection, modeling, and analysis techniques. May be used as part of a senior thesis. May be repeated for a maximum of 9 credits toward graduation.

Prerequisite(s): University Advanced Standing
Exposes students to current research topics in physics and related fields. Provides an opportunity for students to attend bi-weekly lectures presented by department faculty and invited speakers. Lectures are usually a summary of the speaker's recent research results presented at a level appropriate for junior and senior physics majors.

Prerequisite(s): Departmental approval and University Advanced Standing
Studies a chosen topic in physics. Topics vary depending upon student demand. Possible topic may be the mathematics for quantum mechanics. May be taken for a maximum of 6 credits toward graduation, but is limited to 3 credits for the BS in Physics.

Prerequisite(s): PHYS2220, Departmental Approval, and University Advanced Standing
Working under faculty supervision, allows research on a project determined jointly with a faculty member and approved by the department chair. Emphasizes experimental technique, data collection, modeling, and analysis techniques. May be used as part of a senior thesis. May be repeated for a maximum of 9 credits toward graduation.

Prerequisite(s): Instructor approval, Departmental approval, and University Advanced Standing
Provides an opportunity for senior physics majors to participate in a current research project supervised by a department faculty member. Includes independent study and/or laboratory work as necessary. Culminates in the preparation of a written paper and oral presentation describing the results of the research project as required for PHYS499B. May be taken concurrently with PHYS499B.

Prerequisite(s): Instructor approval, Departmental approval, and University Advanced Standing
Continues PHYS499A. Provides an opportunity for senior physics majors to present the results of a current research project supervised by a department faculty member. Includes independent study as necessary. Culminates in the preparation of a written paper and oral presentation describing the results of the research project.