Loyola University Chicago

Department of Physics

Courses

Course credit hours are indicated in parenthesis following the course title. Click on the course title for more information.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

101: Liberal Arts Physics (3)
Lecture and demonstration. A course for non-science majors that emphasizes the beauty, symmetry, and simplicity of physics through actual practice. Topics selected from classical and modern physics; contemporary issues of physics and technology are discussed. Prerequisites: High school algebra, high school geometry.

102: Planetary and Stellar Astronomy (3)
Lecture and observation.  Astronomy of the solar system and planetary science as well as the astronomy of stars and galaxies.  This includes study of the Earth and comparative study of the planets, as well as the birth, evolution, and death of stars, clustering of stars and galaxies, the expanding universe, and cosmology.

106: Physics of Music (3)
Lecture and demonstration.  Language, structure, history and styles of music; motion, force, energy and waves applied to production of sound; physical properties of instruments and musical acoustics.

111: College Physics I (3)
Lecture and discussion. This course provides a comprehensive, non-calculus introduction to physics. Vectors, forces, Newtonian mechanics of translational, rotational, and oscillatory motion; heat. Prerequisites: MATH 118 or MDT.

121: College Physics I with Calculus (3)
Lecture and discussion. This course provides a comprehensive, calculus-based introduction to physics. Vectors, forces, Newtonian mechanics of translational, rotational, and oscillatory motion; heat. Prerequisites: MATH 131 or MATH 161.

111L: College Physics Laboratory I (1)
One two-hour laboratory period per week. Complements PHYS 111. Prerequisite or corequisite: PHYS 111 or PHYS 121.

112: College Physics II (3)
Continuation of PHYS 111. Lecture and discussion. Electricity and magnetism, sound, optics, and selected topics from modern physics. Prerequisite: PHYS 111.

122: College Physics II with Calculus (3) Continuation of PHYS 121. Lecture and discussion. Electricity and magnetism, sound, optics, and selected topics from modern physics. Prerequisite: PHYS 121.

112L: College Physics Laboratory II (1)
One two-hour laboratory period per week. Complements 112. Prerequisite or corequisite: PHYS 112 or PHYS 122. 

125: General Physics I (4)
Lecture and discussion. Together with 126, this provides a comprehensive, calculus-based introduction to physics, designed for physics majors or minors or pre-engineers. Vectors, forces, Newtonian mechanics of translational, rotational, and oscillatory motion; heat. Corequisite: PHYS 125L and MATH 161. Restricted to Physics, Biophysics, and Theoretical Physics/Applied Math majors.

125L: General Physics Laboratory I (1)
One two-hour laboratory period per week. Complements PHYS 125. Prerequisite or corequisite: PHYS 125

126: General Physics II (3)
Continuation of PHYS 125. Lecture and discussion. Electricity and magnetism, sound, optics. Prerequisite: PHYS 125.

126F: Freshman Project (1)
Under the guidance of a faculty member, students carry out research in the area of mechanics, waves or thermodynamics.  The project must involve the submission of a proposal, building of a set-up, carrying out related theoretical calculation followed by experimentation.  Prerequisite: PHYS 125. Co-requisites:  PHYS 126F, PHYS 126L & MATH 162. Department consent required.

126L: General Physics Laboratory II (1)
One two-hour laboratory period per week. Complements PHYS 126. Prerequisite or corequisite: PHYS 126

130: Introduction to Computational Physics (3)

This course aims to introduce physics students to basic computational methods; with an emphasis on problems encountered in introductory physics. Students will develop data analysis skills using the Python programing language and associated modules, mainly NumPy. Students will also learn some numerical analysis methods and physics simulations techniques. Prerequisite: PHYS 125. Corequisite: PHYS 126.

235: Modern Physics (3)
Lecture only. Special relativity, blackbody spectrum, photoelectric effect, Compton effect, Bohr atom, DeBroglie waves, Schroedinger equation and applications. Prerequisites: PHYS 126; MATH 263 (may be taken concurrently). Restricted to Physics, Biophysics, and Theoretical Physics/Applied Math majors.

235L: Modern Physics Laboratory (1)
One two-hour laboratory period per week. Complements 235. Prerequisite or corequisite: PHYS 235

338: Intermediate Physics Laboratory (1)
One two-hour laboratory period per week. Follows 235L. Prerequisite or corequisite: PHYS 235L.

301: Mathematical Methods in Physics (3)
Lecture and computer laboratory. Mathematical and computer methods in physics and engineering. Topics include vector calculus, functions of a complex variable, phasors, Fourier analysis, linear transformations, matrices, first and second order differential equations, special functions, numerical and symbolic computer applications. Prerequisite: PHYS 235. Prerequisite or corequisite: MATH 264.

303: Electronics I (3)
Lecture. Direct and alternating current circuit analysis, resonant circuits, junction diode circuits, transistor amplifiers, operational amplifiers, oscillators and multivibrators. Prerequisites: PHYS 126. Co-requisites: PHYS 301 and 303L.

303L: Electronics I Laboratory (1)

Laboratory.  Students will learn to use various electronic components, instruments, techniques and applications.  This course complements PHYS303, which is a co-requisite.

310: Optics (3)
Lecture. Electromagnetic nature of light, polarization, Fresnel relations, imaging, interference, Fraunhofer and Fresnel diffraction, selected topics from Fourier optics, lasers, and holography. Prerequisites: MATH 263 and PHYS 235

310L: Optics Laboratory (1)
Laboratory.  Students will learn to understand various optics instruments, techniques and applications.  This course complements PHY310, which is a co-requisite.

314: Theoretical Mechanics I (3)
Newtonian particle dynamics, oscillations, variational principle. Lagrange's and Hamilton's formalisms. Prerequisites: MATH 264 and PHYS 126. Corequisite: PHYS 301.

328: Thermal Physics and Statistical Mechanics (3)
Concepts of temperature and heat, equations of state, laws of thermodynamics and applications, fundamental principles and simple applications of statistical mechanics. Prerequisites: PHYS 235 and PHYS 301

351: Electricity and Magnetism I (3)
Applications of vector calculus to electric fields and potentials. Solutions of Laplace's Equation. Electrostatics, magnetostatics, electromagnetic field energy. Maxwell's equations. Prerequisites: MATH 263, MATH 264, PHYS 126 and PHYS 301

361: Quantum Mechanics I (3)
Principles and mathematics of quantum mechanics, operators and representations, solutions to Schroedinger equation. Prerequisites: PHYS 235 and PHYS 301

366: Microcomputer Design and Interfacing (COMP 366) (3)
Lecture and laboratory. Microprocessor design; memory devices; interface languages; basic I/O; data acquisition, manipulation and transfer circuitry; support devices and computer interfaces. Individual projects constitute a significant part of the course. Prerequisite: PHYS 266 or MATH 362.

371: Biophysics (3)
An upper-level course in biological physics focused on a quantitative description of the physical processes driving molecular and cellular processes with an emphasis on experiment design and analysis. Prerequisites: PHYS 235 & 301.

381: Special Topics (3)
Advanced studies of special interest for students of demonstrated ability. Prior arrangements to be made with department.

391: Research (1-3)
Research under the direction of a physics faculty member, usually related to the faculty members research interests or courses. May be repeated. Prerequisite: Permission of chairperson