Physics (PHYS) Courses

PHYS 106  College Physics I (3) Basic principles of physics designed for students in non-physical science and education majors. Covers mechanics, waves and heat. Pre: three years of high school math and placement exam. See also, PHYS 170L, which serves as the lab course.

PHYS 107  College Physics II (3) Basic principles of physics designed for students in non-physical science and education majors. Covers electricity and magnetism, optics, and modern physics. Pre: PHYS 106. See PHYS 171L, which serves as the lab course.

PHYS 110  Physics of Contemporary Issues (3) Contemporary issues of political interest such as nuclear warfare and waste, the greenhouse effect and alternative energies will be studied at a physics level appropriate for any college student. A course objective is to develop scientific reasoning. Pre: none. (GenEd/IntReq: GCC)

PHYS 111  Intro to Space Exploration (3) Survey of applied science, social, cultural and engineering topics in space science, focusing on exploration. Past, present and future aspects of space exploration. Relationship to Hawaiian views of cosmology and Hawaiian traditions such as Wayfaring and relationship to the land. (Same as ASTR 111)

PHYS 115  Phys for Liberal Arts (3) Designed for non-science majors. Basic physical concepts through student's active participation and practical experience in a manner that is simple and intuitive.

PHYS 120  Weather & Climate Hawaii (3) For non-science majors and prospective science teachers. Basic meteorology, sun-earth-ocean-atmosphere interrelationships, weather types, seasonal changes, trade winds, clouds, rainfall, with examples drawn from the local weather and climate. (Same as GEOG 120). (GenEd/IntReq: H/A/P, GCC, HPP)

PHYS 150  World Models (3) This course examines computer and mathematical models of the world that take into account how its subsystems (environment, resources, politics, finance) affect each other. No prerequisites.

PHYS 170  Gen Phys I: Mechanics (4) Introductory physics designed for students majoring in physical sciences or engineering. Covers mechanics of particles, extended bodies, rotational dynamics, conservation laws, fluids, wave motion, and thermodynamics. Co-req or Pre: MATH 205

PHYS 170L  Gen Phys I Lab (1) (lab) A required laboratory supplement for PHYS 170; covers basic principles of experimentation and physical measurement. Concurrent registration in PHYS 106, PHYS 170, or PHYS 172.

PHYS 171  Gen Phys II: Elec & Magnetism (4) Introductory physics designed for students majoring in physical sciences or engineering. Covers electric fields and potentials, magnetic fields, Maxwell's equations and basic optics. Pre: PHYS 170, PHYS 170L, MATH 250. Co-req or Pre: MATH 206.

PHYS 171L  Gen Phys II Lab (1) (lab) A required laboratory supplement for PHYS 171 and 173; covers basic principles of experimentation and physical measurement. Pre: PHYS 106 or 170 or 172 and 170L. Registration in PHYS 107 or 171 or 173.

PHYS 172  Gen Physics I-Particles & Wave (4) Introductory physics designed for students with a declared major or minor in physics or astronomy. Covers mechanics of particles, rigid bodies and fluids, wave motion, thermodynamics and kinetic theory. Pre: MATH 205 and placement exam.

PHYS 173  Gen Physics II-Electric & Magn (4) Introductory physics designed for students with a declared major or minor in physics or astronomy. Covers electrostatics, conductors and current, dielectrics, magnetic fields and induction, Maxwell's equations and basic optics. Pre: MATH 206 or concurrent.

PHYS 211  Electronics (4) (lec., lab) Theory and application of circuit design and analysis. AC and DC circuits and filters; circuits based on diodes and transistors and operational amplifiers; digital circuits and filters. Laboratory will consist of the design, assembly and testing of circuits. Pre: PHYS 171, 171L, and MATH 206.

PHYS 224  Spaceflight (3) All aspects of manned and unmanned spaceflight, with emphasis on actual technologies and procedures used in space exploration. For students interested in Astronomy, Physics, Planetary Sciences, Aerospace Engineering or with a general interest in spaceflight. Pre: PHYS 106 or higher; CHEM 114 or higher; MATH 104 or higher or instructor's consent. (Same as ASTR 224)

PHYS 230  Applied Electronics (4) (lec., lab) Theory and applications of circuit design and analysis with an emphasis on analog devices. AC and DC series and parallel RLC circuits, diodes, transistors and operational ampliphiers. Laboratory will consist of construction and analysis of representative circuits. Pre: PHYS 171 or PHYS 173, and PHYS 171L. (Same as ASTR 230).

PHYS 260  Computational Physics & Astron (3) Computational techniques in physics and astronomy, with an emphasis on fundamental algorithms and development of code in high-level languages. Topics include least squares, interpolation, random number generators and numerical integration of differential equations. Pre: PHYS 170 or PHYS 172, CS 150.

PHYS 270  Gen Phys III: Intro Modern Phy (3) Survey of contemporary physical theory and applications: special relativity; quantum physics; atomic structure and spectra, molecular and solid-state physics; nuclear structure and reactions; elementary particles and fundamental forces. Pre: PHYS 170-171 and MATH 300 or concurrent enrollment.

PHYS 330  Electromagnetism (4) Electrostatics; electric and magnetic properties of ideal and real materials; Maxwell's equation of electromagnetism; conservation laws; electromagnetic waves and boundary value problems. Pre: PHYS 171, MATH 231, 231 and 300.

PHYS 331  Optics (3) Modern optics and the design of optical instruments: interactions of electromagnetic radiation with matter; paraxial and Seidel optical theory; design of simple optical instruments; aberrations and stops; design of telescope, spectrographs, and interferometers; photon optics; Fourier optics. Pre: PHYS 270 and MATH 231.

PHYS 341  Thermodynamics (3) Thermodynamic properties of matter; equations of state; heat transfer; classical statistical treatment of kinetic theory. Pre: PHYS 171 and PHYS 270.

PHYS 360  Mathematical Physics (3) Special functions of mathematical physics which arise from Sturm-Liouville equations: Bessel, beta, elliptical, gamma and Legendre functions. Generating functions, complex integral representations. Other topics may include transforms, Fourier analysis and linear algebra. Pre: MATH 232, or MATH 231 and MATH 300 or instructor's consent.

PHYS 371  Gen Phys IV: Classical Mechani (3) The classical kinematics and dynamics of constant, time-dependent and position-dependent forces. Particle, rigid body and fluid dynamics; central force motion; normal modes of vibrations; introduction to Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalism. Pre: PHYS 170-171 and MATH 300.

PHYS 380  Chaos (3) An introduction to nonlinear dynamical systems for science majors. Topics include dynamics in one and several dimensions, stability, excitable media, fractals, and time series analysis. Applications in physics, chemistry, ecology and other fields are illustrated. Pre: C or better in MATH 206 and C or better in PHYS 171 or MATH 232. (Same as MATH 380).

PHYS 430  Quantum Mechanics I (4) Postulates and formalisms of quantum mechanics. The Schrodinger equation in one and several dimensions: scattering, the harmonic oscillator, tunneling and the hydrogen atom. Orbital angular momentum and spin. The statistical interpretation and the uncertainty principles. Quantum statistical mechanics. Fermions and bosons. Pre: PHYS 270 and MATH 300.

PHYS 431  Modern Physics II (3) Introductory quantum mechanics and its applications to nuclear, atomic and particle physics. Quantum mechanical treatment of molecular structure and spectra, and the thermal properties of matter. Pre: PHYS 170-171, PHYS 270, 341 and MATH 300.

PHYS 432  Senior Lab/Thesis Project (3) (lab) Individual research projects conducted in the college laboratory, library, or observatory; or at an external research facility; under the direct guidance of a member of the physics and astronomy faculty or an affiliated faculty member. Students must propose and complete a research project and present a final report to the department. Permission of the department is required for registration. May be repeated once for a maximum of 6 credits. Pre: Permission of the department is required. (Same as ASTR 432)

PHYS 495A  Seminar (1) Seminar presentations of topics in the physical sciences by faculty, enrolled students and invited speakers. The first semester (495A) is taken CR/NC, in the second semester (495B), students are required to present a seminar for a letter grade. Pre: senior standing or instructor's consent. (Same as ASTR 495A-495B, CHEM 495A-495-B, GEOL 495-A-495-B, and MATH 495A-495B).

PHYS 495B  Seminar (1) Seminar presentations of topics in the physical sciences by faculty, enrolled students and invited speakers. The first semester (495A) is taken CR/NC, in the second semester (495B), students are required to present a seminar for a letter grade. Pre: senior standing or instructor's consent. (Same as ASTR 495A-495B, CHEM 495A-495B, GEOL 495A-495B, and MATH 495A-495B).

PHYS 496  Space Studies Seminar (1) Seminar presentations of topics related to space exploration by invited speakers, faculty, and enrolled students. Students are required to prepare and submit reaction papers/essays.

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PHYS x94 Special Topics in Subject Matter (Arr.) (IO) Special topics chosen by the instructor. Course content will vary. May be repeated for credit, provided that a different topic is studied. Additional requirements may apply depending on subject and topic.

PHYS x99 Directed Studies (Arr.) (IO) Statement of planned reading or research required. Pre: instructor’s consent.