Physics Courses

Course Detail: This course examines basic concepts of energy and force in topics such as planetary motion, geology, nuclear technology, and meteorology. In the Lab, students conduct lab activities to reinforce material from the lecture material. NOTE: This does not satisfy the 1.5 CU of physics required at ASMS. Prerequisites: MA100 or MA101 or passing score on the Algebra placement exam.

Course Detail: This introductory survey course in astronomy covers the motion of the sun, moon, planets, and stars in the sky, lunar and solar eclipses, the tides, and seasons. The historical development of astronomy and astronomical models from the time of the ancient Greeks through Newton is discussed. The properties of solar system bodies are covered, along with current theories of the formation and evolution of the solar system. Finally, the basic properties of the sun and other stars are covered, along with our current understanding of the formation, evolution, and death of stars. Prerequisites: none.

Course Detail: Students begin with the wave theory of light. The propagation of waves through homogeneous and inhomogeneous media, theory of holography and its practice, and application of lasers to surgery and other fields are explored. In the lab, practical work in laser techniques and holography are performed by students. This class is not offered every year. Prerequisite: PH101H, PH101AP, or PH201AP, or permission of instructor.

Course Detail: The ability to successfully work in teams to develop an idea is necessary in the advancement of various scientific technologies. In this course, students will improve their teamwork skills as they work together to build a robot that can successfully compete in a national robotics competition. In building this robot, students will be able to apply their scientific and engineering knowledge to analyze and solve various problems that arise during the designing and building processes of the robot. Students will learn to use computer-aided designing (CAD) software, to program the robot using a blocks-based language, and to 3D print custom parts for the robot, amongst other skills. Furthermore, students will develop their technical writing and oral presentation skills through reports documenting their progress and through the maintaining of a laboratory notebook. Previous robotics experience is not required. Prerequisites: None.

Course Detail: This course covers the emerging technology of 3D printing in Medicine, Electronics, Manufacturing and Engineering. Students will explore 3D printing in each of these fields, doing papers on the current use of this technology. As a practical component, the students will learn how to use CAD software such as Autodesk, Google Sketchup and Makerware to design practical devices. They will then convert these designs to STL files and use 3D printing to create these devices. Scanning technologies will also be used to copy 3D shapes which can then be recreated as solid prints. Prerequisites: None.

Course Detail: This course introduces students to concepts of analogue electronics, electrical motors and machine control. They will be introduced to programming in Processing of the Arduino micro-controller, which will be used for data gathering, motor control and sensors. Prerequisites: none.

Course Detail: The principles of statics and dynamics are essential in the field of mechanical engineering. This course is designed to introduce students to these principles and how they are used in real mechanical structures in preparation for future college courses. Students will be able to use these principles to analyze simplified real world examples of mechanical structures, such as cables, beams, bridges, and machines, to determine conditions for static or dynamic equilibrium. Students will also research and learn more about the field of mechanical engineering and how it differs from other engineering disciplines. Prerequisite: PH090

Course Detail: This course continues Mechatronics 1 with the study of digital electronics and the structure of digital systems. Students will be given projects where they will do meaningful embedded system design. Prerequisite: PH208.

Course Detail: This course is designed to introduce students to the basic principles in the field of materials science. Materials science is an interdisciplinary field in which physics, chemistry, and engineering intersect to explain why materials behave in the manner in which they do. Students will learn about various different classes of materials (metals, ceramics, polymers, semiconductors) and how their structures, properties, and engineering applications differ. Prerequisites: PH090 or PH101AP or permission of instructor, CH101 or CH201.

Course Detail: This course analyzes the forces involved in flight applying properties of fluid flow and gas properties. Drag, lift, turbulence will be studied with a mind of how these forces affect flight performance and characteristics. We will study the rocket, fixed wing aircraft and rotary wing aircraft during the term. Flight characteristics will be examined with actual flights and with the school’s wind tunnel. Prerequisite: none.

Course Detail: This online/lecture course prepares students to pass the written FAA Pilot Knowledge Test required for private pilot certification. This course covers aerodynamics, aircraft performance, instruments, engines and systems, weight and balance, flight maneuvers, airports, airspace and ATC, navigation, aviation weather, Federal Air Regulations, aeromedical factors and aeronautical decision making. (Fee Required) Prerequisite: PH 090, MA 101, and MA 103.

Course Detail: This class will provide an overview of nuclear fission, fusion, reactions, radioactive decay, and nuclear interactions with an emphasis on nuclear energy. Starting with the basic physics of the nuclear process, this class includes discussions on nuclear reactor control, thermal hydraulics, fuel production, and spent fuel management for various types of reactors. Reactor characteristics and power production operations are discussed in terms of macroscopic cross-sections and the six-factor formula. Prerequisite: None.

Course Detail: In this course, basic concepts in radiation dosimetry, the interaction of gamma and X-rays with matter, radiation therapy, radiological images, mammography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, nuclear medicine, ultrasound imaging, radiation shielding, protection will be discussed. It will be taught for one term at a university level. This class will not offer every year. Prerequisite: BL101, MA104, PH 090 Corequisite: MA201, or PH101 AP or PH101 H or permission of instructor.

Course Detail: In this course, the laws of physics will be used to explain several functions of human body, including the mechanics of muscles and body movements, fluid mechanics of blood and air flow, hearing and acoustic properties of the ears, vision and optics, heat and energy, and electrical signaling. To understand the biophysical process of human body, students will practice more numerical problems than they do in pure biological sciences. It will be taught one term at a university level. Prerequisite: PH 090 or PH101AP, Corequisite: MA201, BL101 or permission of instructor.

Course Detail: This course introduces the fundamental particles that constitute matter and the universe, their interactions, and the properties of exotic astrophysical objects. Topics covered include space-time and gravity, the foundation of modern cosmology, dark matter, dark energy, the formation, and evolution of white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes, and our current theoretical and observational understanding of the past evolution and eventual fate of the universe. This class is not offered every year. Prerequisite: MA201, PH090 or PH101 AP, or PH101 H Corequisite: MA202 or permission of instructor.

Course Detail: Einstein’s theory of relativity is explored. Students cover the quantum theory of light, particle-wave duality of nature, and quantum mechanics. In the lab historical experiments leading to quantum mechanics and relativity are performed. This class is not offered every year. Prerequisite: PH102AP, or PH202AP, or permission of instructor.

Course Detail: In this course, the properties of crystalline and amorphous solid materials will be studied using computer simulations. Structural properties, bond angles, bond lengths, dihedral angle, pair-correlation function, radial distribution function and structure factor of simulated material will be examined and compared with the experimental results. A high level programming skill in any of the language (Python Matlab or Fortran) is required for this course. Students can use their own language, but for assignments and projects, Python, Matlab, or Fortan language is highly recommended. A portable computer with Linux or OS operating system throughout the course is required. Software packages Siesta, Quantum-Expresso, LAMPS will be used for material simulation and Jmole or VMD or X-crysden will be used for material visualization. For graphing purposes, Xmgrace, Gnuplot, or Octave will be used. This course will be taught one term at university level. Prerequisite: CS101 or CS216 or permission of instructor.

Course Detail: This course is designed to introduce students to the basic principles of various energy sources. The implementation of renewable or alternative energy technologies is one of the best ways that society can combat both climate change and the ever-growing demand for energy resources. Students will learn about various alternative energy sources, including solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal, and nuclear fission/fusion. After taking this course, students will understand the underlying physics, the various applications, and the associated costs of each of these energy sources. Prerequisites: PH090, MA103

Course Detail: In this three-quarter trigonometry-based course, students are introduced to the concepts of mechanics (kinematics, force, momentum, and energy), thermodynamics (buoyancy, fluid motion, heat energy, and engines), wave physics (oscillary systems and sound waves), and electricity (electric fields and electric circuits). This is taught at a level comparable to university and Advanced Placement courses. Prerequisites: PH090 and MA103. Corequisite: MA104 or permission of instructor.

Course Detail: In this three-quarter trigonometry-based course, students are introduced to the concepts of mechanics (kinematics, force, momentum, and energy), thermodynamics (buoyancy, fluid motion, heat energy, and engines), wave physics (oscillary systems and sound waves), and electricity (electric fields and electric circuits). This is taught at a level comparable to university and Advanced Placement courses. Prerequisites: PH090 and MA103. Corequisite: MA104 or permission of instructor.

Course Detail: In this three-quarter trigonometry-based course, students are introduced to the concepts of mechanics (kinematics, force, momentum, and energy), thermodynamics (buoyancy, fluid motion, heat energy, and engines), wave physics (oscillary systems and sound waves), and electricity (electric fields and electric circuits). This is taught at a level comparable to university and Advanced Placement courses. Prerequisites: PH090 and MA103. Corequisite: MA104 or permission of instructor.

Course Detail: In this two–quarter trigonometry-based course, students are introduced to the concepts of mechanics (kinematics, force, momentum, and energy), thermodynamics (buoyancy, fluid motion, heat energy, engines), electromagnetism (electric fields, electric circuits, magnetic fields, and electromagnetic theory), and wave physics (oscillary systems, sound waves, wave optics, and spectroscopy). This is taught at a level comparable to university courses. Prerequisite: PH090 and MA103. Corequisite with PH101H: MA104 or permission of instructor.

Course Detail: In this two–quarter trigonometry-based course, students are introduced to the concepts of mechanics (kinematics, force, momentum, and energy), thermodynamics (buoyancy, fluid motion, heat energy, engines), electromagnetism (electric fields, electric circuits, magnetic fields, and electromagnetic theory), and wave physics (oscillary systems, sound waves, wave optics, and spectroscopy). This is taught at a level comparable to university courses. Prerequisite: PH090 and MA103. Corequisite with PH101H: MA104 or permission of instructor.

Course Detail: In this three–quarter calculus-based course, students are introduced to the concepts of mechanics (kinematics, force, momentum, and energy), thermodynamics (buoyancy, fluid motion, heat energy, engines), electromagnetism (electric fields, electric circuits, magnetic fields, and electromagnetic theory), and wave physics (oscillary systems, sound waves, wave optics, and spectroscopy). This is taught at a level comparable to university and Advanced Placement courses. Prerequisite: PH090 and MA201. Corequisite: MA202.

Course Detail: In this three–quarter calculus-based course, students are introduced to the concepts of mechanics (kinematics, force, momentum, and energy), thermodynamics (buoyancy, fluid motion, heat energy, engines), electromagnetism (electric fields, electric circuits, magnetic fields, and electromagnetic theory), and wave physics (oscillary systems, sound waves, wave optics, and spectroscopy). This is taught at a level comparable to university and Advanced Placement courses. Prerequisite: PH090 and MA201. Corequisite: MA202.

Course Detail: In this three–quarter calculus-based course, students are introduced to the concepts of mechanics (kinematics, force, momentum, and energy), thermodynamics (buoyancy, fluid motion, heat energy, engines), electromagnetism (electric fields, electric circuits, magnetic fields, and electromagnetic theory), and wave physics (oscillary systems, sound waves, wave optics, and spectroscopy). This is taught at a level comparable to university and Advanced Placement courses. Prerequisite: PH090 and MA201. Corequisite: MA202.