Class Schedules

Electricity and magnetism, light and optics, including laboratory experiments and demonstrations.  This course does not use calculus, and is appropriate for students pursuing pre-med or for students looking to satisfy a distribution requirement.  This course is not appropriate for students who intend to major in physics, chemistry, or biology with the biochemistry emphasis. Prerequisite(s): PHYS 126 or PHYS 226.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Natural science and mathematics

Course Materials

Electricity and magnetism, light and optics, including laboratory experiments and demonstrations.  This course does not use calculus, and is appropriate for students pursuing pre-med or for students looking to satisfy a distribution requirement.  This course is not appropriate for students who intend to major in physics, chemistry, or biology with the biochemistry emphasis. Prerequisite(s): PHYS 126 or PHYS 226.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Natural science and mathematics

Course Materials

Electricity and magnetism, light and optics, including laboratory experiments and demonstrations.  This course does not use calculus, and is appropriate for students pursuing pre-med or for students looking to satisfy a distribution requirement.  This course is not appropriate for students who intend to major in physics, chemistry, or biology with the biochemistry emphasis. Prerequisite(s): PHYS 126 or PHYS 226.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Natural science and mathematics

Course Materials

A study of electric charge and currents, electric and magnetic fields, electromagnetic waves, and geometrical and physical optics. Three lectures and one two-hour laboratory per week. Students cannot receive credit for both this course and PHYS 222. Prerequisite(s): PHYS 226 and MATH 137 (MATH 137 may also be taken concurrently).

General Education Requirements:
Quantitative Thinking Q3

Distribution Requirements:
Natural science and mathematics

Course Materials

A study of electric charge and currents, electric and magnetic fields, electromagnetic waves, and geometrical and physical optics. Three lectures and one two-hour laboratory per week. Students cannot receive credit for both this course and PHYS 222. Prerequisite(s): PHYS 226 and MATH 137 (MATH 137 may also be taken concurrently).

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Natural science and mathematics

Course Materials

A study of electric charge and currents, electric and magnetic fields, electromagnetic waves, and geometrical and physical optics. Three lectures and one two-hour laboratory per week. Students cannot receive credit for both this course and PHYS 222. Prerequisite(s): PHYS 226 and MATH 137 (MATH 137 may also be taken concurrently).

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Natural science and mathematics

Course Materials

A study of electric charge and currents, electric and magnetic fields, electromagnetic waves, and geometrical and physical optics. Three lectures and one two-hour laboratory per week. Students cannot receive credit for both this course and PHYS 222. Prerequisite(s): PHYS 226 and MATH 137 (MATH 137 may also be taken concurrently).

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Natural science and mathematics

Course Materials

This course is an introduction to laboratory methods that are useful in experimental physics and other laboratory-based disciplines, with an emphasis on computer interfacing techniques. Topics will include basic analog electronics, fundamental instrumentation such as analog-digital converters and digital oscilloscopes, and computer interfacing using LabView. Student will design and construct several significant computer interfacing projects throughout the semester. Since this course provides the foundation for advanced experimental work and research, students should take this course in their sophomore or junior year. Prerequisite(s): PHYS 227.

General Education Requirements:
Quantitative Thinking Q1

Distribution Requirements:
Natural science and mathematics

Course Materials

This course is an introduction to laboratory methods that are useful in experimental physics and other laboratory-based disciplines, with an emphasis on computer interfacing techniques. Topics will include basic analog electronics, fundamental instrumentation such as analog-digital converters and digital oscilloscopes, and computer interfacing using LabView. Student will design and construct several significant computer interfacing projects throughout the semester. Since this course provides the foundation for advanced experimental work and research, students should take this course in their sophomore or junior year. Prerequisite(s): PHYS 227.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Natural science and mathematics

Course Materials

This course is an introduction to laboratory methods that are useful in experimental physics and other laboratory-based disciplines, with an emphasis on computer interfacing techniques. Topics will include basic analog electronics, fundamental instrumentation such as analog-digital converters and digital oscilloscopes, and computer interfacing using LabView. Student will design and construct several significant computer interfacing projects throughout the semester. Since this course provides the foundation for advanced experimental work and research, students should take this course in their sophomore or junior year. Prerequisite(s): PHYS 227.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Natural science and mathematics

Course Materials

This course introduces students to coding and computational methods, focusing on developing computation-based skills that are critical for practicing physicists. Students process experimental data using statistical tools, study the implications of realistic physical models using a toolbox of numerical methods, and visualize information in meaningful formats.The course starts with an introduction to coding (in Python) and a survey of data manipulation tools (e.g., reading, writing, analyzing statistically, etc.). The focus is on skills that help students in labs, research, and anywhere else they need to extract physical insight from data. After the introduction to data analysis, the course transitions into a survey of numerical techniques which facilitate quantitative analysis of theoretical models describing complex physical phenomena, thereby creating a bridge between experimental/observational and theoretical physics.The lab provides hands-on experience in the application of computational skills discussed in lecture to realistic physical models drawn from a wide range of physics subdisciplines. Projects in the lab are implemented using Jupyter notebooks, via the Google Colaboratory environment. Students write documentation in Latex and Markdown. No previous experience with any of these is assumed. Prerequisite(s): PHYS 331

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:

Course Materials

This course introduces students to coding and computational methods, focusing on developing computation-based skills that are critical for practicing physicists. Students process experimental data using statistical tools, study the implications of realistic physical models using a toolbox of numerical methods, and visualize information in meaningful formats.The course starts with an introduction to coding (in Python) and a survey of data manipulation tools (e.g., reading, writing, analyzing statistically, etc.). The focus is on skills that help students in labs, research, and anywhere else they need to extract physical insight from data. After the introduction to data analysis, the course transitions into a survey of numerical techniques which facilitate quantitative analysis of theoretical models describing complex physical phenomena, thereby creating a bridge between experimental/observational and theoretical physics.The lab provides hands-on experience in the application of computational skills discussed in lecture to realistic physical models drawn from a wide range of physics subdisciplines. Projects in the lab are implemented using Jupyter notebooks, via the Google Colaboratory environment. Students write documentation in Latex and Markdown. No previous experience with any of these is assumed. Prerequisite(s): PHYS 331

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:

Course Materials

This course introduces students to coding and computational methods, focusing on developing computation-based skills that are critical for practicing physicists. Students process experimental data using statistical tools, study the implications of realistic physical models using a toolbox of numerical methods, and visualize information in meaningful formats.The course starts with an introduction to coding (in Python) and a survey of data manipulation tools (e.g., reading, writing, analyzing statistically, etc.). The focus is on skills that help students in labs, research, and anywhere else they need to extract physical insight from data. After the introduction to data analysis, the course transitions into a survey of numerical techniques which facilitate quantitative analysis of theoretical models describing complex physical phenomena, thereby creating a bridge between experimental/observational and theoretical physics.The lab provides hands-on experience in the application of computational skills discussed in lecture to realistic physical models drawn from a wide range of physics subdisciplines. Projects in the lab are implemented using Jupyter notebooks, via the Google Colaboratory environment. Students write documentation in Latex and Markdown. No previous experience with any of these is assumed. Prerequisite(s): PHYS 331

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:

Course Materials

This is an upper-level course for physics and astronomy majors that covers techniques of astronomical data acquisition and analysis. The class is divided roughly equally between optical and radio techniques. Students complete observational projects using both the Macalester Observatory and national telescope facilities. Lectures are supplemented by a required 3-hour analysis session that meets once per week. Prerequisite(s): PHYS 113 and PHYS 120; or PHYS 113 and a lab-based upper-division natural science course (e.g., PHYS 331, CHEM 311).

General Education Requirements:
Quantitative Thinking Q1

Distribution Requirements:
Natural science and mathematics

Course Materials

This is an upper-level course for physics and astronomy majors that covers techniques of astronomical data acquisition and analysis. The class is divided roughly equally between optical and radio techniques. Students complete observational projects using both the Macalester Observatory and national telescope facilities. Lectures are supplemented by a required 3-hour analysis session that meets once per week. Prerequisite(s): PHYS 113 and PHYS 120; or PHYS 113 and a lab-based upper-division natural science course (e.g., PHYS 331, CHEM 311).

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Natural science and mathematics

Course Materials

This is an upper-level course for physics and astronomy majors that covers techniques of astronomical data acquisition and analysis. The class is divided roughly equally between optical and radio techniques. Students complete observational projects using both the Macalester Observatory and national telescope facilities. Lectures are supplemented by a required 3-hour analysis session that meets once per week. Prerequisite(s): PHYS 113 and PHYS 120; or PHYS 113 and a lab-based upper-division natural science course (e.g., PHYS 331, CHEM 311).

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Natural science and mathematics

Course Materials

The fundamental principles of classical mechanics are discussed and applied to problems of contemporary interest. Topics include: charged particle motion in electromagnetic fields, oscillations and resonance, central force motion including the Kepler problem and Rutherford scattering, Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations of classical dynamics, symmetry and conservation laws, non-inertial reference frames, rigid body dynamics and applications, and an introduction to non-linear dynamics. Three lectures, problem discussions, and 1 one-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisite(s): PHYS 227 and MATH 312 .

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Natural science and mathematics

Course Materials

The fundamental principles of classical mechanics are discussed and applied to problems of contemporary interest. Topics include: charged particle motion in electromagnetic fields, oscillations and resonance, central force motion including the Kepler problem and Rutherford scattering, Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations of classical dynamics, symmetry and conservation laws, non-inertial reference frames, rigid body dynamics and applications, and an introduction to non-linear dynamics. Three lectures, problem discussions, and 1 one-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisite(s): PHYS 227 and MATH 312 .

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Natural science and mathematics

Course Materials

This course explores the equilibrium and kinetic properties of many-particle systems such as gases, liquids, and solids. The fundamental notions of entropy, temperature, and the Boltzmann relation are rigorously derived from statistical mechanics, and are used to develop other thermodynamic ideas such as chemical potential and free energy. The theory is applied to classical and quantum systems, including photon gases (black-body radiation), Bose-Einstein condensation, fermion systems such as metals and neutron stars, classical ideal gases, vibrations in solids (phonons), chemical reactions, semiconductors, and transport phenomena.  Three lectures per week. Prerequisite(s): PHYS 331 and MATH 237.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Natural science and mathematics

Course Materials

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Natural science and mathematics

Course Materials

This course discusses topics of current interest in astronomy and the physical concepts that lead to our understanding of the Universe. There are three main sections: the Solar System, Celestial Light and Stars, and Galaxies and the Universe. Lectures include the formation of the sun and planets, properties of stars and stellar remnants (like black holes and supernovae), characteristics of our Milky Way and other galaxies, and the formation and fate of the Universe. Prerequisite(s): Basic algebra and trigonometry are recommended.

General Education Requirements:
Quantitative Thinking Q1

Distribution Requirements:
Natural science and mathematics

Course Materials

Mechanics, heat and sound, including laboratory experiments and demonstrations. This course does not use calculus, has no prerequisites, and is appropriate for students pursuing pre-med or for students looking to satisfy a science distribution requirement.  This course does not count toward the physics major or minor.  This course is not appropriate for students who intend to major in physics, chemistry, or biology with the biochemistry emphasis.

General Education Requirements:
Quantitative Thinking Q1

Distribution Requirements:
Natural science and mathematics

Course Materials

Mechanics, heat and sound, including laboratory experiments and demonstrations. This course does not use calculus, has no prerequisites, and is appropriate for students pursuing pre-med or for students looking to satisfy a science distribution requirement.  This course does not count toward the physics major or minor.  This course is not appropriate for students who intend to major in physics, chemistry, or biology with the biochemistry emphasis.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:

Course Materials

Mechanics, heat and sound, including laboratory experiments and demonstrations. This course does not use calculus, has no prerequisites, and is appropriate for students pursuing pre-med or for students looking to satisfy a science distribution requirement.  This course does not count toward the physics major or minor.  This course is not appropriate for students who intend to major in physics, chemistry, or biology with the biochemistry emphasis.

General Education Requirements:
Quantitative Thinking Q1

Distribution Requirements:
Natural science and mathematics

Course Materials

Rocket Science is a rocketry themed calculus-based introductory physics course for first-year students only. The course covers standard material such as Newton’s laws, conservation of energy, linear momentum, and angular momentum, oscillations and orbital dynamics, but with a strong focus on applying these basic physics principles to rocket propulsion and flight dynamics. Instead of a conventional lab, the course includes a hands-on, semester-long project where students design, simulate, build, and fly their own high-power rockets. Apart from the rocket building project, evaluation will take the form of regular problem sets, exams, short papers, and a research paper.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:

Course Materials

Rocket Science is a rocketry themed calculus-based introductory physics course for first-year students only. The course covers standard material such as Newton’s laws, conservation of energy, linear momentum, and angular momentum, oscillations and orbital dynamics, but with a strong focus on applying these basic physics principles to rocket propulsion and flight dynamics. Instead of a conventional lab, the course includes a hands-on, semester-long project where students design, simulate, build, and fly their own high-power rockets. Apart from the rocket building project, evaluation will take the form of regular problem sets, exams, short papers, and a research paper.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:

Course Materials

Rocket Science is a rocketry themed calculus-based introductory physics course for first-year students only. The course covers standard material such as Newton’s laws, conservation of energy, linear momentum, and angular momentum, oscillations and orbital dynamics, but with a strong focus on applying these basic physics principles to rocket propulsion and flight dynamics. Instead of a conventional lab, the course includes a hands-on, semester-long project where students design, simulate, build, and fly their own high-power rockets. Apart from the rocket building project, evaluation will take the form of regular problem sets, exams, short papers, and a research paper.

General Education Requirements:
Writing WA
Quantitative Thinking Q3

Distribution Requirements:
Natural science and mathematics

Course Materials

This course provides a survey of the science and engineering needed for the transition to a sustainable, renewable, and carbon-free energy economy, with a focus on the built environment. The first part of the course will examine the science and status of wind, solar, storage and other renewable technologies for electricity generation. The second part of the course will focus on approaches to urban and sustainable building design. Topics include electrification of transportation and heating, distributed energy and energy storage, microgrids, efficiency and demand side management, water and waste management, food resources, geothermal heating and cooling, passive heating and cooling building design, lighting, and embodied energy. We will explore questions such as: Does the technology exist to attain these goals at a reasonable cost? What are the current obstacles for wide-scale implementation? What is the feasibility and implications of a nearly complete electrification of our energy economy? What are the economic, social, and environmental trade-offs? Can we accomplish the transition on a time scale to avoid the worst effects of climate change? No pre- or co-requisites.

General Education Requirements:
Writing WA

Distribution Requirements:

Course Materials

A study of motion, including Newton's Law of Motion, conservation of energy and momentum, rotational kinematics and dynamics, oscillations, waves in elastic media and thermal properties of matter. Three lectures and one two-hour laboratory per week. Students cannot receive credit for both this course and PHYS 221. Prerequisite(s): Concurrent or previous registration in MATH 135 or MATH 137; or a 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement AB or BC Calculus exam.

General Education Requirements:
Quantitative Thinking Q1

Distribution Requirements:
Natural science and mathematics

Course Materials

A study of motion, including Newton's Law of Motion, conservation of energy and momentum, rotational kinematics and dynamics, oscillations, waves in elastic media and thermal properties of matter. Three lectures and one two-hour laboratory per week. Students cannot receive credit for both this course and PHYS 221. Prerequisite(s): Concurrent or previous registration in MATH 135 or MATH 137; or a 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement AB or BC Calculus exam.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:

Course Materials

A study of motion, including Newton's Law of Motion, conservation of energy and momentum, rotational kinematics and dynamics, oscillations, waves in elastic media and thermal properties of matter. Three lectures and one two-hour laboratory per week. Students cannot receive credit for both this course and PHYS 221. Prerequisite(s): Concurrent or previous registration in MATH 135 or MATH 137; or a 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement AB or BC Calculus exam.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:

Course Materials

This course provides an introductory treatment of the exciting foundations of modern microscopic physics, including special relativity, quantum theory, atomic structure, nuclear structure and elementary particles. The primary goal of the course is to build the solid theoretical foundation in microscopic physics necessary for advanced studies in nearly all science disciplines. In addition to the theoretical treatment of the topics there will be laboratory exercises, which recreate the spirit and excitement of the pioneering experiments. Three lectures, one three-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisite(s): PHYS 227.

General Education Requirements:
Quantitative Thinking Q2

Distribution Requirements:
Natural science and mathematics

Course Materials

This course provides an introductory treatment of the exciting foundations of modern microscopic physics, including special relativity, quantum theory, atomic structure, nuclear structure and elementary particles. The primary goal of the course is to build the solid theoretical foundation in microscopic physics necessary for advanced studies in nearly all science disciplines. In addition to the theoretical treatment of the topics there will be laboratory exercises, which recreate the spirit and excitement of the pioneering experiments. Three lectures, one three-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisite(s): PHYS 227.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:

Course Materials

This course provides an introductory treatment of the exciting foundations of modern microscopic physics, including special relativity, quantum theory, atomic structure, nuclear structure and elementary particles. The primary goal of the course is to build the solid theoretical foundation in microscopic physics necessary for advanced studies in nearly all science disciplines. In addition to the theoretical treatment of the topics there will be laboratory exercises, which recreate the spirit and excitement of the pioneering experiments. Three lectures, one three-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisite(s): PHYS 227.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:

Course Materials

Solids occur as crystals, amorphous materials, and nanostructures. They function as metals, insulators and semiconductors, and form the basis of nearly all electronic, optical and magnetic technology. This course is an introduction to the physics of solids. Topics will include bonding in solids, the band theory of crystalline solids, the physics of semiconductors, recent developments in nanostructures such as nanoclusters, quantum dots and quantum wires, magnetism and superconductivity. Prerequisite: Modern Physics (PHYS-331) or Quantum Chemistry (Chem 312) or permission of the instructor.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Natural science and mathematics

Course Materials

This course treats the interactions between electrical charges in free space by developing the concepts of potential, electric and magnetic fields, and electromagnetic induction. Maxwell's equations are developed and used to derive the properties of plane electromagnetic waves in free space. Special emphasis is placed on boundary value problems and other useful mathematical techniques. Three lectures, 1 one-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisite(s): PHYS 227 and MATH 237.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Natural science and mathematics

Course Materials

This course treats the interactions between electrical charges in free space by developing the concepts of potential, electric and magnetic fields, and electromagnetic induction. Maxwell's equations are developed and used to derive the properties of plane electromagnetic waves in free space. Special emphasis is placed on boundary value problems and other useful mathematical techniques. Three lectures, 1 one-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisite(s): PHYS 227 and MATH 237.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Natural science and mathematics

Course Materials

The course rigorously covers many fundamental concepts of non-relativistic quantum mechanics, including the Heisenberg uncertainty principle and Pauli exclusion principle, single- and multi-particle stationary states in one, two, and three dimensions, and quantized angular momentum and spin. Schrodinger equation solutions for atomic and nuclear systems are studied, using differential equation, matrix, and perturbation techniques. Three lectures, 1 one-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisite(s): PHYS 331 and MATH 312 .

General Education Requirements:
Quantitative Thinking Q1

Distribution Requirements:
Natural science and mathematics

Course Materials

The course rigorously covers many fundamental concepts of non-relativistic quantum mechanics, including the Heisenberg uncertainty principle and Pauli exclusion principle, single- and multi-particle stationary states in one, two, and three dimensions, and quantized angular momentum and spin. Schrodinger equation solutions for atomic and nuclear systems are studied, using differential equation, matrix, and perturbation techniques. Three lectures, 1 one-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisite(s): PHYS 331 and MATH 312 .

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:

Course Materials

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Natural science and mathematics

Course Materials