PHYS- Physics

NS- Intended for non-science majors, this class is an introduction to scientific inquiry through the exploration of a subset of topics covered in a general physics series. Students will be encouraged to examine science's place in a global, cultural context. With an emphasis on active discovery, students are guided to construct scientific concepts for themselves based on their own observations and hands-on experimentation. A major goal is to view science as an active process of inquiry as opposed to a memorized, stagnant body of knowledge.

NSL- This course is the first in a three quarter sequence designed for liberal arts and other majors that do not require calculus-based physics. Students will learn and apply the laws that govern motion, explore the relationship between work and energy, and examine momentum. Laboratory activities extend lecture concepts and introduce the student to the experimental process. (LAB)

NSL- This course is the second in a three quarter sequence designed for liberal arts and other majors that do not require calculus-based physics. Students will study the property of fluids, the relationship between energy, heat and kinetic theory, and use the laws of thermodynamics to describe the changes in energy. Students also learn the properties and applications of electricity and magnetism. Laboratory activities extend lecture concepts and expose the student to an array of basic tools of experimental physics and data analysis. (LAB)

NSL- This course is the third in a three quarter sequence designed for liberal arts and other majors that do not require calculus-based physics. Students explore sound waves and the behavior of light described as rays (geometric optics) and as waves (wave optics). Students also learn the scientific process by examining the development of the special theory of relativity. Laboratory activities extend lecture concepts and emphasize the connection between experimental observation and construction of physics theories. (LAB)

NSL- This course is the first in a calculus-based sequence designed for physical science and engineering majors. Students gain an in-depth conceptual and analytical understanding of the motion of objects. Laboratory activities extend lecture concepts and introduce the student to experimentation with laboratory instruments and equipment. (LAB)

NSL- This course is calculus-based and designed for physical science and engineering majors. Students gain an in-depth conceptual and analytical understanding of electrical and magnetic phenomena. Laboratory activities extend lecture concepts and emphasize the connection between experimental observation and construction of physics theories. (LAB)

NSL- This course is calculus-based and designed for physical science and engineering majors. Students gain an in-depth conceptual and analytical understanding of sound, light, optics, fluids, and thermodynamics. Students explore the properties and applications of oscillatory motion. Topics in modern physics are also explored. Laboratory activities extend lecture concepts and emphasize data collection and analysis. (LAB)