Physics Major, Astronomy Concentration (B.S.) - Undergraduate - 2011 University Catalog
You are viewing the 2011 University Catalog. Please see the newest version of the University Catalog for the most current version of this program's requirements.
ASTRONOMY CONCENTRATION
Complete 72 semester hours including the following 3 requirement(s):
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PHYSICS/ASTRONOMY REQUIRED COURSES
Complete the following 6 courses:
PHYS 191 University Physics I 4 PHYS 192 University Physics II 4 PHYS 210 Mechanics 4 PHYS 240 Electricity and Magnetism 4 PHYS 350 Optics 4 PHYS 460 Modern Physics 4 -
PHYSICS/ASTRONOMY CONCENTRATION COURSES
Complete at least 14 semester hours from the following:
PHYS 280 Astronomy 4 PHYS 380 Observational Astronomy 4 PHYS 480 Astrophysics 3 PHYS 495 Laboratory Research in Physics 1-4 -
PHYSICS/ASTRONOMY COLLATERAL COURSES
Complete the following 9 courses:
CHEM 120 General Chemistry I 4 CHEM 121 General Chemistry II 4 CMPT 183 Foundations of Computer Science I 3 MATH 122 Calculus I 4 MATH 221 Calculus II 4 MATH 222 Calculus III 4 MATH 420 Ordinary Differential Equations 4 STAT 401 Applied Statistics for the Sciences 3
Course Descriptions:
CHEM120: General Chemistry I
Introductory lecture and laboratory course for science majors, prerequisite for all advanced chemistry courses. Introduction to atomic and molecular structure, bonding, stoichiometry, states of matter, solutions, and selected topics in descriptive inorganic chemistry. Laboratory stresses techniques and data treatment and their use in examining chemical systems. (3 hours lecture, 3 hours lab.) 4 sh.
Prerequisites: One year of high school chemistry.
CHEM121: General Chemistry II
Introductory lecture and laboratory course for science majors, prerequisite for all advanced chemistry courses. Introduction to thermochemistry, kinetics; general acid base, precipitation, redox equilibria, electrochemistry and selected topics in descriptive inorganic chemistry. Laboratory stresses techniques and data treatment and their use in examining chemical systems. (3 hours lecture, 3 hours lab.) 4 sh.
Prerequisites: CHEM 120 with a grade of C- or better.
CMPT183: Foundations of Computer Science I
Basic theory of digital computers. Syntax and semantics of a programming language. Algorithms: logic, design, testing and documentation. (2 hours lecture, 2 hours lab.) 3 sh.
Prerequisites: MATH 100, MATH 112, MATH 114, MATH 116, MATH 122 or MATH 221.
MATH122: Calculus I
Limits, continuity; derivative and differentiation; applications of the derivative, maxima, minima, and extreme considerations; antiderivatives; Riemann integral. (4 hours lecture.) 4 sh.
Prerequisites: MATH 111 or MATH 112 or placement through the Montclair State University Placement Test (MSUPT) or a satisfactory score on department's Calculus Readiness Test. (Students who did not satisfy the course prerequisite at MSU and students who received a grade of D-, D, or D+ in the prerequisite course taken at MSU are required to demonstrate competency on the department's Calculus Readiness Test.)
MATH221: Calculus II
Riemann integral applications, transcendental functions, techniques of integration, improper integrals, L'Hospital's rule, infinite series. (4 hours lecture.) 4 sh.
Prerequisites: MATH 122.
MATH222: Calculus III
Vector algebra; partial differentiation, and extreme considerations; polar, cylindrical, and spherical coordinates, multiple integration; introduction to line integrals. (4 hours lecture.) 4 sh.
Prerequisites: MATH 221.
MATH420: Ordinary Differential Equations
A course in the theory and applications of ordinary differential equations which emphasizes qualitative aspects of the subject. Topics include analytic and numerical solution techniques for linear and nonlinear systems, graphical analysis, existence-uniqueness theory, bifurcation analysis, and advanced topics. Prerequisite: MATH 335. (4 hours lecture.) 4 sh.
Prerequisites: MATH 335.
PHYS191: University Physics I
This one-semester calculus-based course including laboratory is a study of the principles of physics and some applications to society's problems. Topics covered include mechanics, thermodynamics, fluids, and harmonic motion. (3 hours lecture, 2 hours lab.) 4 sh.
Prerequisites: MATH 122 is prerequisite or co-requisite.
PHYS192: University Physics II
Calculus-based course. Study of some principles of physics and some applications to society's problems. Topics include: wave motion, sound and noise pollution, optics, electricity, lasers, nuclear theory, radiation, nuclear reactors, waste disposal. (3 hours lecture, 2 hours lab.) 4 sh.
Prerequisites: MATH 221 is prerequisite or corequisite.
PHYS210: Mechanics
Classical mechanics: Kinematics, Newton's laws, impulse and momentum, statics, work and energy, oscillations, general motion, central force motion, non-inertial frames, system of particles, methods of handling data. (3 hours lecture, 2 hours lab.) 4 sh.
Prerequisites: PHYS 191.
PHYS240: Electricity and Magnetism
Basic principles of electromagnetism: Coulomb's law and general techniques in electrostatics, currents and their associated magnetic field, electromagnetic induction and magnetic properties of materials. Foundations of Maxwell's equations (without detailed solutions). Laboratory experiments. (3 hours lecture, 2 hours lab.) 4 sh.
Prerequisites: PHYS 192. MATH 222 is a prerequisite or corequisite.
PHYS280: Astronomy
Application of physical laws to the earth as a planet; nature of the other planets; orbital motion and space flight; origin of the solar system; the birth, life and death of a star galactic structure; and cosmology. Meets the University Writing Requirement for majors in Physics. (3 hours lecture, 2 hours lab.) 4 sh.
Prerequisites: PHYS 191, 192 or PHYS 193, 194.
PHYS350: Optics
Propagation of light, optical components, instruments and photometry. Interference, diffraction and polarization with elements of spectroscopy. (Offered alternate years.) Meets the University Writing Requirement for majors in Physics. (3 hours lecture, 2 hours lab.) 4 sh.
Prerequisites: PHYS 240.
PHYS380: Observational Astronomy
Observational techniques for the Moon, planets, satellites of other planets, asteroids, comets, stars, star clusters, and galaxies. (3 hours lecture, 2 hours lab.) 4 sh.
Prerequisites: PHYS 191, PHYS 192 or PHYS 193, PHYS 194.
PHYS460: Modern Physics
Special relativity, kinetic theory of matter; quantization of electricity, light and energy; nuclear atom; elementary quantum mechanics and topics on solid state. (Offered alternate years.) (3 hours lecture, 2 hours lab.) 4 sh.
Prerequisites: PHYS 210, 240.
PHYS480: Astrophysics
The laws of physics applied to planetary structure, stars and their evolution in time, the interstellar medium, galaxies, and large-scale structure of the universe. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
Prerequisites: PHYS 191, 192 or PHYS 193, 194; PHYS 280; MATH 221. Prerequisite or corequisite: STAT 401.
PHYS495: Laboratory Research in Physics
Solution of a laboratory problem research in pure physics or in physics education. Written report required. (Not offered every year.) () 1 - 4 sh.
Prerequisites: At least 16 credit hours of physics beyond PHYS 192.
STAT401: Applied Statistics for the Sciences
Organizing, displaying, and describing data; designing experiments; methods for drawing conclusions from data; significance testing, confidence intervals, linear regression, analysis of variance, chi-square tests of independence. Examples from disciplines in the natural and physical sciences. Statistical software is used. Not for Mathematics and Computer Science majors. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
Prerequisites: MATH 111 or Math 112.
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