A study of planets and other sub-stellar objects, both in our Solar System and in other planetary systems, taught at an advanced undergraduate level. Topics include planet formation, planet structure, the relationship between planets and their host stars, and a scientific discussion about the possibility of life in other planets.  Note: This course is only offered in the spring semester of odd years (2019, 2021, etc.). 

[Pre-requisites: (ASTRON 0113 or 0413) and (MATH 0240 or 0245) and (MATH 0290 or 1270) and (PHYS 0175 or 0476)] [Co-requisite: PHYS 0477]

There are occasional opportunities for students to work (not necessarily for pay) in a nonacademic position that has academic value. Credits are variable.

PREQ: Departmental Consent

An opportunity for qualified students to pursue a course of study outside of the classroom, under faculty supervision.

This Honors supplement to the firrst half of algebra-based introductory Physics sequence for life sciences applies physics concepts to the human body and its interactions with the physical environment. The topics explored in this course include: human proportions, scaling laws, locomotion, strength and balance, elasticity, basics of blood circulation. This course is especially tailored around the interests of students who plan a career in the medical and health professions.

At the end of this course, the successful student will be able to apply mechanics principles to the human body, as well as show a moderate competence in analyzing complex situations. It is strongly recommended that students have already completed PHYS 0110 before enrolling in this course; however students with some background in Newtonian mechanics taking PHYS 0110 concurrently will also be permitted to enroll in this course.

This is a one-term course for non-science majors which explores the physical basis for the production, propagation and perception of musical sounds. The course begins with a discussion of some of the basic physical quantities, such as frequency, wavelength, intensity, etc., used in the physical understanding of music. Examples of topics to be covered are the perception of sound (the ear, tone quality, pitch and loudness, scales, temperament). What makes a pleasant sound and what makes a dissonant one. How does this affect the arrangement of music? How are musical sounds produced by the various orchestral instruments including strings, winds, keyboard and other instruments, and how are they characterized?

PREQ: Any MATH Course or CREQ: (MATH 0032 or 0100 or 0120 or 0125 or 0200 or 0220)

Words like "force," "field," "radiation," "black hole" and "antimatter" are part of our culture; science fiction movies and popular science magazines use them all the time. What do these words really mean? How much of what we see in science fiction is based on real science and how much is pure fantasy? This course will emphasize the meanings of science terms and the way scientists really work, without getting bogged down in mathematics. Our goal will be to understand science terms and claims when we encounter them in fiction and the popular press. We will read several short stories and novels from the leading science fiction writers; we will also have in-class demonstrations of things like lasers, cryogenics, and electric fields. Students will be encouraged to bring in their own examples of science fiction literature that highlight some physics concept (or misconception) to share with the rest of the class. Starting with Newtonian physics, this course surveys modern physics including Quantum Mechanics and Einstein's Theory of Relativity. Along the way, we will discuss whether travel to other stars is possible, conditions for the existence of life, and whether other "dimensions" exist. This course fulfills the Physical Science course requirement for School of Arts and Sciences students.

This is the first term in a two-term lecture-demonstration sequence that presents the elements of both classical and modern physics. The emphasis of the course is on a clear understanding of the underlying principles rather than on mathematical formalism and problem-solving (although some attention is given to these aspects of physics). This course is appropriate for non-science majors, and for those majoring in the social, psychological and life sciences that do not need the more mathematically oriented course required of engineering and physical science students (Physics 0174,0175). The introductory laboratory course to be associated with this sequence is Physics 0212 (see below) which should be taken after Physics 0110. Credit will not be given for both this sequence and the Physics 0174, 0175 sequence. Subjects covered in the course include: kinematics; Newtonian mechanics; heat and heat transfers; mechanical waves and sound. 

PHYS 0110 Learning Objectives

This is the first part of a two-term sequence that introduces students to the basic principles of physics.  An effort has been made to achieve a better integration of physics with the first term of calculus, engineering, and chemistry.  The course covers mechanics and waves. Students planning to major in physics are urged to take the equivalent honors course (Physics 0475).

COREQ: MATH 0220 

PHYS 0174 Learning Objectives

This is the introductory course in physics laboratory associated with Physics 0110 and 0111. The course involves carrying out experiments in mechanics, electricity, optics, atomic physics and radioactivity. The student then gets insight into the collection and interpretation of experimental data. A lab manual should be purchased from the University Book Center. Credit for Physics 0212 cannot be granted to students who are taking or have completed Physics 0175 or 0476.

Introduce first-year students to the field, practice, research, and opportunities in Physics and Astronomy. Students will be able to describe the variety of pursuits that physicists pursue; explain both the basic and recent topics in Physics and Astronomy to the lay-person; understand their own career interests and potential pursuit of Physics, Astronomy, and related disciplines. This is intended to be taken for a satisfactory/non-satisfactory grade. 

Honors version of Physics 0174,0175.

PREQ: A minimum cumulative QPA of 3.25.

CO-REQ: MATH 0230 or 0235

This honors laboratory course provides an introduction to the scientific basis of modern methods of physical measurements. The student is given the means to appreciate what can be done currently in the way of measuring and controlling physical processes. The course emphasizes sophisticated methods of data acquisition and analysis. It provides hands-on experience with research grade electronics, lasers and optics, vacuum systems, mass spectrometers, nuclear magnetic resonance devices, microcomputer-controlled experiment interfaces and the like. The course is valuable both to those interested in following a career in science and technology and to those who want to be able to use or critically judge scientific and technical results for broader purposes.

PREQ: A minimum grade of "C" in PHYS 0476, or a minimum grade of "B" in PHYS 0175, a minimum cumulative QPA of 3.25, or permission of the instructor

This course is for students who have a desire to become familiar with the nature and motions of celestial objects in the night sky and techniques to observe them. Each week students meet for two 50 minute lectures on campus and one evening session at Allegheny Observatory. Transportation to the Allegheny Observatory is provided by the University during the Fall and Spring terms. The course will be given at a level suitable for both science and non-science majors who want to learn how to use a telescope and enjoy observational and practical astronomy. The course will make use of existing Observatory facilities. The activities will focus on:

1. Practical astronomy from the standpoint of understanding the motions of objects in the sky (including constellations versus celestial coordinate systems)
2. Telescopes and their use
3. Observational astronomy using a digital CCD camera
4. The nature of astronomical objects which are observable with the unaided eye or a small telescope.

This is a self-contained course for students not majoring in the physical sciences. Lectures focus on practical astronomy and provide a historical perspective of our place in the Universe. Phenomena that can be readily observed with the unaided eye or a small telescope are discussed. The historical perspective starts with the earliest views, and discusses scientific discovery as a process leading up to the modern idea of the expanding Universe of galaxies. Part of this course includes the requirement of one evening "field trip" to the University of Pittsburgh's Allegheny Observatory. The purpose of these trips will be to tour the facility and, if possible, make observation with a telescope. On any one evening only a small fraction of the class will make a trip, so it should be possible to accommodate the students' evening schedules. Nominally, the trips will take place on a Tuesday or Wednesday evening. Bus transportation from the Oakland campus to the Observatory will be provided. A small percentage of the course grade will be based on participation in these field trips.

An introduction to the physics of the solar system, stars, galaxies, extragalactic objects and the Universe at large. Topics include: size scales of the Universe, some review of basic physics, telescopes, the evolution and deaths of stars, the interstellar medium, star clusters, our Milky Way galaxy, external galaxy formation and evolution, active galactic nuclei and quasars, dark matter, dark energy, and cosmology.  This course is intended for students majoring in the natural sciences. Although calculus is not used in this course, algebra and trigonometry are used extensively. Students who are not majoring in the natural sciences and/or who are not comfortable with algebra and trigonometry-based problem solving are advised to take ASTRON 0089. Although there are no formal physics prerequisites for ASTRON 0113, experience with at least high school physics is recommended.

  [Pre-requisites: Any MATH greater than or equal to MATH 0032 (Min Grade 'C') or MATH PLACEMENT SCORE (61 or greater)]

This course (followup to Physics 0477, Modern Physics 1) will cover the following topics: quantum mechanics of many particle systems, multielectron atoms and the periodic table, basics of quantum statistical mechanics, introduction to solid state physics (conductors, semiconductors, superconductors), basic nuclear physics, introduction to elementary particle physics. This course will be an introduction to the concepts and techniques that are important for understanding recent fundamental research and technology.

PREQ: A minimum grade of a "C" or better in PHYS 0477 

This course will cover problems solving techniques using a computer. Students will learn the steps needed to solve a problem and gain familiarity with approximation schemes.

PREQ: A minimun grade of "C-" or better in PHYS 0477, PHYS 0219 and a minimum grade of a "C-" in MATH 0240 or 0245

COREQ:PHYS 0477, PHYS 0219 or PHYS 0520 or CS 0008 or ENGR 0012, MATH 0240, MATH 0290

The properties of matter as described by thermodynamics, in which atomic structure is irrelevant, and by statistical mechanics, which is based on the atomic point of view.

PREQ: A "C" or better in all courses: PHYS 0477, MATH 0240 and MATH 0290 (or MATH 1270)

An intermediate course in waves and optics which includes a laboratory.

PREQ: A "C" or better in PHYS 0219 and MATH 0240

COREQ: MATH 0280 or MATH 1180 or MATH 1185

Physics 1371 will be a continuation of the material covered in Physics 1370 with special emphasis on applications of quantum mechanics. Topics to be covered are: multi-particle systems, time-independent perturbation theory and its application to the fine-structure and hyperfine structure of atoms, time-dependent perturbation theory and its application to the absorption and emission of light, and other approximation methods.

PREQ: A "C" or better in PHYS 1370

This course will prepare you for most of the mathematical techniques required in advanced undergraduate courses and most first year physics graduate courses, at Pitt or elsewhere. The course will include: Theory and applications of analytic functions, with emphasis on contour integration and infinite series. Review of finite-dimensional linear vector spaces, leading to an introduction to Hilbert spaces. Applications to ordinary and partial differential equations, including introduction to the most commonly used special functions.

COREQ: PHYS 1370

This course provides an introductory overview of the scientific issues that arise when we attempt to extend our current knowledge of physical systems into the nano length scale. Simple one-dimensional quantum problems will be examined, and difficulties of extending these to small but signidficant arrays of particles will be discussed. Simple statistical mechanical systems will be discussed, and difficulties of bringing them down to much smaller numbers of particles will be discussed. The course will conclude with consideration of all these as applied to one nano system of interest, which may be selected differently each time the course is offered.

This course will provide an overview of modern particle physics. It will teach typical experimental techniques for particle detection and acceleration, but also basic theoretical concepts, such as the role of conservation laws and symmetries. Students will learn how to calculate the leading aspects of particle physics processes, as well as the structure of the Standard Model and theoretical ideas that go beyond this model. Furthermore, this knowledge will be related to recent experimental results from colliders and astrophysics.

PREQ: PHYS 1370.

This course is the W component option to Physics 1426.

PREQ: A declared major in Physics, Physics and Astronomy, or Astronomy

COREQ:PHYS 1426 or ASTRON 1263

There are occasional opportunities for students to work (not necessarily for pay) in a nonacademic position that has academic value.

PREQ: Departmental Consent

An opportunity for qualified students to pursue a course of study outside of the classroom, under faculty supervision.

PREQ: Departmental Consent