PHYSICS FOR UNDERGRADUATES

AT THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA

Physics is concerned with the most basic principles that underlie all phenomena in the universe. Physicists ask "How does the world work?" They search for the most elementary particles; they seek understanding of the behavior of collections of particles ranging from quarks in nuclei and electrons in atoms to stars in galaxies; they strive for insights into the nature of space and time; and they explore the behavior of matter and energy. On a more human scale, physicists study an enormous range of topics including all the devices of modern electronics, complex biological molecules, the atmosphere, and all forms of energy and its uses. Physics is the basis for much of engineering and technology. Studying physics prepares some students to push back the boundaries of knowledge in this most fundamental of the natural sciences. For others it provides training in the concepts and methods of science for application in many professional areas, and for many others it gives a more substantial basis for understanding many aspects of modern society.

The Physics Department offers courses tailored to the needs and interests of almost any undergraduate student:

There are courses for liberal arts students designed to give a qualitative and historical understanding of physics, insight into the process of discovering new knowledge of the physical universe, and an appreciation of the role of science in society. See particularly those numbered 101-177 in the list below. These courses make minimal use of mathematics.

Beginning in fall 1995 there is a new course in this group:

Physics 121N - The Science of Sound and Music, which introduces the basic physical concepts needed to understand sound and treats aspects of perception, the human voice, the measurement of sound, and the acoustics of musical instruments.

There are courses oriented to the needs of students preparing for careers in business, education, engineering, law and medicine. Beginning in fall 1995 there are new more flexible requirements for the BA in Physics initiated specifically to meet the needs of students who desire a solid background in physical science but who have career objectives in these and other areas. A centerpiece of the new BA program is the pair of courses, Physics 311, 312, Widely Applied Physics, being initiated in the fall of 1995, which treat principles of physics from the perspective of modern applications including electronics, communications, materials, medical physics and aeronautics.

There is an extensive range of courses for physics and other science majors planning to attend graduate school and to pursue careers in physics or physics-related areas in science and engineering.

The Department has a distinguished faculty of 36 members, making possible relatively small classes and much interaction with students, particularly in introductory seminars and in upper level courses. The faculty are engaged in research in all the major frontier areas of theoretical and experimental physics, and there are very extensive laboratory facilities. Physics majors participate in independent study courses that involve them directly in the challenge and excitement of these research activities.

Introductory Physics Courses

All of the following courses are available to students with no previous preparation in physics. They are listed in order of increasing use of mathematics. Some satisfy specific requirements for science, engineering and premedical students, while others are intended primarily for liberal arts students.

USEM 170, 171 University Seminars [ credits: 2] These seminars are designed to increase the opportunities for undergraduate students to learn from the faculty in an environment that encourages interaction and discussion. They are given predominantly by senior faculty and are intended primarily for first and second year students. Several are offered each semester. Recent topics include: Galileo and the New Science, Technology and History, The Physics of Music, Time and Its History, A Few Mysteries of Physics, The Origin of the Universe, and The Physics of the Automobile.

There are seven courses ( Phys 101N, 102N, 105N, 106N, 109N, 121N, and 177N) intended particularly for students who are majoring in disciplines other than physical science. All of them count toward the College science requirement.

Physics 101N, 102N - Concepts of Physics [credits: 3,3] The ideas and concepts of scientific thought from the Egyptians to current nuclear and subnuclear theory are traced with emphasis on the social and intellectual interactions of science with society. The first semester covers the development of physics to the end of the nineteenth century, while the second semester deals with relativity, atomic and nuclear science and current problems at the interface of science and public policy.

Physics 105N, 106N - The Physics of How Things Work [credits: 3,3] A practical introduction to physics and science in everyday life. These two courses consider objects from our daily environment and focus on their principles of operation, history and relationships to one another. In contrast to most physics courses, which are taught from the perspective of the basic laws of physics, these courses begin with the examples and develop the physical principles in the context of the examples. The courses can be taken in either order.

Physics 109N - Galileo and Einstein [credits: 3] This course examines how new understanding of the natural world develops, taking two famous scientists as case studies. Galileo was the first modern scientist: the first to appreciate the importance of experiment, the first to observe the heavens with a telescope. He wrote up his ideas and insights as a very witty dialogue. Einstein was the first to realize time is not absolute and mass can be converted to energy. He wrote a popular book on how his ideas developed and how they evolved from earlier ideas back to Galileo. The texts for the course are these two books.

PHYS 121N - The Science of Sound and Music [credits: 3] The basic physical concepts needed to understand sound are presented. Aspects of perception, the human voice, the measurement of sound, and the acoustics of musical instruments are developed and illustrated. The following topics are discussed: motion, force and energy; vibrating systems; waves; resonance; hearing; speech production; sound pressure, power and loudness; pitch and timbre; combination tones and harmony; musical scales and temperament; string instruments; brass instruments; woodwind instruments; percussion instruments; keyboard instruments; the recording and reproduction of sound; digital techniques for generating and recording sound; the acoustics of rooms. Only algebra and trigonometry are required for this course.

Physics 177N - Science and Technology Issues [credits: 3] An introduction to the scientific basis and prospects of modern technologies at a level suitable for motivated non-science majors. The use of lasers, microwaves, and superconductors in health care and communications are discussed. Environmental and strategic defense problems are debated via case studies by student teams. A high school math background suffices, in view of the qualitative nature of the analysis in this course.

Physics 201, 202 - Principles of Physics [credits: 4,4] These courses provide an introduction to mechanics, heat, electricity and magnetism, optics and topics in modern physics. They do not require calculus, but they assume a knowledge of algebra and trigonometry. They are normally taken by students who do not expect to take more advanced courses in physics. Taken with the associated laboratory courses, Physics 201L, 202L, they satisfy the physics requirements for medical and dental schools.

Any one of the following course sequences provides the basis for entering a physics major or minor:

Physics 231, 232 - Classical and Modern Physics [credits: 4,4] This is a two-semester, calculus-based introductory sequence for science majors. It covers mechanics, electricity and magnetism, heat and thermodynamics, physical optics, elementary quantum theory, atomic and nuclear physics. A year of calculus (usually Math 131, 132) is a prerequisite. These courses taken with the associated laboratory courses, Physics 231L, 232L satisfy the physics requirements of medical and dental schools. They are normally taken in the second year.

Physics 142E, 241E, 242E - General Physics [credits: 4,3,3] This is a three-semester calculus-based introductory sequence for engineering students. It covers mechanics, electricity and magnetism, heat and thermodynamics, physical optics, elementary quantum theory, atomic and nuclear physics. One semester of calculus is prerequisite for Physics 142E, and second and third semesters of calculus are taken concurrently with Physics 241E, 242E. Laboratory courses, Physics 241L and 242L are designed to be taken concurrently with Physics 241E, 242E. These courses are open to College students, but they count towards the 18 semester hours allowed in other schools of the University.

Physics 151, 152, 251, 252 - Introductory Physics [credits: 4,4,4,4] This four-semester calculus-based sequence is designed to provide a broad background in introductory physics for potential physics and other science majors. This sequence is particularly appropriate for students ready to begin the study of physics during their first semester. Calculus (Math 131, 132) is taken concurrently with Physics 151, 152. The associated laboratory courses, Physics 221, 222 and Math 221, 225 are normally taken concurrently with Phys 251, 252. Topics covered in Physics 151, 152 include kinematics and Newton's laws, conservation principles, gravitation, frames of reference, thermodynamics, waves, sound and optics. Physics 251, 252 cover electricity and magnetism, special relativity, elementary quantum theory, atomic and nuclear physics.

Physics Major Programs

The Department of Physics offers both Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BS) degrees. In addition there is a joint Astronomy/Physics BA. The basic BA is designed for students interested in physics who plan to enter fields including medicine, education, business and law, and for liberal arts students seeking a concentration in physics. For premedical students, a BA in physics requires only five courses (19 hours) in addition to those already required for admission to medical school. Physics majors have an outstanding record of success in admission to medical, law and other professional schools.

Students planning graduate study in physics or physics-related areas in science or engineering should elect the BS or the BA with a Distinguished Major course sequence, or for astronomy or astrophysics, the Astronomy/Physics BA.

Students are urged to contact a physics undergraduate advisor as early as possible to design a program to fit their specific needs.

There are several course sequences leading to the physics major. For all of them it is highly desirable to complete Math 131, 132 or equivalent courses in calculus by the end of the first year. However, it is possible to begin calculus in the second year and to complete the requirements for the BA.

Requirements for the BA in Physics

There are two options leading to the BA in physics, each having three components:

Option I

(1) Prerequisites - Math 131, 132 and Phys 151, 152.

(2) Math 221 and Phys 251, 252, 221, 222.

(3) Any three 300-level physics courses.

Option II

(1) Prerequisites - Math 131, 132.

(2) Math 221 and Phys 231, 232, 231L, 232L.

(3) Any four 300-level physics courses.

For either of the options, a year of chemistry may be substituted for one of the 300-level physics courses in (3). Math 225 is not required for the BA degree, however it is a prerequisite for many of the courses at 300-level and above. It is also possible to enter the physics major through Phys 142E. Students desiring to use this route should consult one of the physics undergraduate advisors.

Bachelor of Arts with Distinguished Major Course Sequence This sequence may be entered using components (1) and (2) of either Option I or II above. Component (3) is replaced by the following requirements: Math 225, Phys 315, 317, 321, 331, 342, 343, 355, 356, and 393.

Bachelor of Science in Physics The requirements for the BS in physics are the completion of the Distinguished Major Course Sequence plus Math 521, 522 (or equivalent APMA courses) and one additional upper-level physics elective. Except for Echols Scholars, the area requirements for the BS are ENWR 101 and the second writing requirement, one foreign language through the 202-level, six credits in the humanities, and six credits of social science, all taken on a graded basis.

All majors are expected to become proficient in the use of computers. In addition to the wide variety of computer courses available at the University, we provide an introduction to microprocessors in the intermediate physics laboratory, a course in Computational Physics, and class and laboratory exercises requiring use of computers. Personal computers and computer systems are widely available. A departmental computer facility is open to all majors, and there are computers in the undergraduate labs, as well as in research labs in which students participate.

An independent study project is an integral part of the Distinguished Major and of the BS requirements. Projects may be undertaken for more than one semester on the same or different topics. Independent studies are an opportunity to exercise concepts and skills learned in more formal courses and to learn about new topics in a laboratory or research setting, working in close collaboration with a faculty member. The study culminates in a written and an oral report. Students find these projects among the most valuable and enjoyable parts of their programs.

Some very interesting facts about the skills physics graduates find most useful emerged from a recent survey by the American Institute of Physics. They queried some thousands of people with physics degrees (bachelors, masters and doctorates) working in industry, government, and secondary and higher education about the skills they used most frequently. At all degree levels and for all types of jobs, whether directly involving physics or not, almost 100% of respondents said that problem solving is their most frequently used skill. Computer skills were highly ranked by most of the respondents, but even more highly ranked were interpersonal skills and technical writing. These same skills have been identified as most important by many companies who hire physics graduates.

We are beginning to address the development of these skills more explicitly in the physics major. Problem solving and computing are already strong components of the program. Now the upper-level physics laboratories and independent study courses are being structured to provide excellent opportunities for developing skills in both oral and written communication of technical material. Spontaneous teamwork on solving problems in the upper-level courses has long been a part of being a physics major. Working with a variety of partners in the elementary and upper-level lab courses also helps develop skills in interpersonal relationships. These experiences are beginning to be supplemented in some physics classes by group problem solving, which has been shown to be an effective way of learning new concepts and has the added effect of teaching and encouraging teamwork.

In addition to the undergraduate courses, many graduate courses in physics may be taken by advanced undergraduates. Undergraduate students are encouraged to take advantage of the frequent seminars and the weekly colloquia. These talks are given by eminent physicists from other institutions as well as from the University. They provide further contact with research on the frontiers of physics. In the fall there is an annual reception in the Rotunda for undergraduate physics students and faculty, and there are weekly meetings of the Society of Physics Students. All physics majors are issued keys that give them access at anytime to the Physics library, the Conference Rooms, the departmental computer lab and the undergraduate study lounge. Each year the student with the strongest academic record and program in physics is honored with the James W. Elkins Award.

Requirements for Minor A minor in physics can be earned through one of the following course sequences: 1. Phys 151,152, 251 252, and either 221 or any 300-level physics course; 2. Phys 231, 232, 231L, 232L and any two 300-level physics courses.

For more information Students interested in the study of physics are urged to consult a departmental advisor as early as possible to learn about the various possibilities and, for potential majors, to design a specific program to meet individual needs. A brochure entitled "Physics Undergraduate Major Programs" gives details of the various programs and some suggested course sequences. It is available in the Physics Department Office or from any one of the undergraduate advisors.

Physics Department Office - Room 101

Jesse Beams Laboratory of Physics, 205 McCormick Road

University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903

Phone: 804-924-3781

Undergraduate Advisors

Office Office Phone

Arthur S. Brill 305 Physics 924-6570

Bascom S. Deaver, Jr. 311C Physics 924-6574

Alan T. Dorsey 327C Physics 924-6584

James S. McCarthy 311B Physics 924-6783

Stephen E. Schnatterly 303 Physics 924-6798