Astronomy Courses | Physics Courses | Additional Courses at Harvey Mudd

Astronomy Courses
Astronomy (ASTR) courses satisfy Area 4 of the Breadth of Study Requirements.
 
1. Introductory Astronomy. Mr. Penprase A non-calculus based survey course on modern astronomy with a focus on stellar, galactic and cosmic evolution. Particular emphasis will be placed on new and exciting observational results from space and ground-based observatories, and how they shape our contemporary understanding of the formation and evolution of the universe and solar system. Includes a laboratory component with telescope. No perquisites. Every fall.

2. Introduction to Galaxies and Cosmology. Mr. Choi. A non-calculus introduction to cosmology. Topics will include our Milky-Way galaxy, galaxy classification and evolution, historical perspectives on cosmology, an examination of the the large scale structrure of the universe and the history of the universe from the big bang to the present. Modern results and problems in cosmology will be examined. No prerequisites. Next offered 2010-11.

6. Archeoastronomy and World Cosmology. Mr. Penprase. A survey of the development of astronomy and cosmology around the world.. Explores the role of astronomy and cosmology in organizing society and culture, and in interpreting time and space. Additional topics include details of the cosmological systems of the ancient Mesoamerican, Greek and Chinese civilizations, and a non-mathematical exploration of modern scientific cosmology. Next offered 2010-11.
 
51. Advanced Introductory Astronomy. Mr. Penprase, Mr. Choi. Provides an overview of the modern science of astrophysics. Theoretical and experimental evidence for the hot big bang, the formation of elements and the solar system, and stellar evolution; exposition of the most pressing issues in the field of astronomy and astrophysics. Students design investigations and conduct a final project based on research in literature or observational studies in astronomy. Prerequisites: AP Physics or PHYS 41 or 70. Every spring.

62. Introduction to Astrophysics. Staff. Introduction to astrophysics with emphasis on topics of interest to students with a strong background in introductory physics. Topics include astronomical coordinate systems, celestial mechanics, solar physics, stellar structure, stellar evolution and cosmology. Prerequisite: 41 and 42 or PHYS 70. Every spring.

101. Observational Astronomy. Ms. Esin. A course emphasizing techniques of visual, photographic and electronic observations of astronomical objects. Discussion of infrared and radio astronomy, as well as space-based UV and X-ray astronomy. Includes preparation for and data reductions of observations. Also includes original astronomical observations using both the Brackett Observatory and the one-meter telescope at Table Mountain. Prerequisites: PHYS 41 and 42, or 70 or 101, and ASTR 51 or 62. Offered jointly with HM and Joint Sciences Every fall.

121. Cosmology and Extragalactic Astrophysics. Mr. Penprase. Examination of large-scale structure of the universe and evolution of the universe from Big Bang to present epoch. Topics include alternate cosmologies, dark matter, cosmic background radiation and formation and evolution of galaxies and clusters of galaxies. Half-course. Prerequisites: PHYS 101, and ASTR 51 or 62, or permission of the instructor. Offered jointly with HM and Joint Sciences. Spring 2010; offered alternate years.

122. High-Energy Astrophysics. Ms. Esin. Analysis of the results of new ultraviolet, X-ray and gamma-ray observations, and the astrophysical processes that produce high-energy photons. Topics include active galactic nuclei, black holes, neutron stars, supernova remnants and cosmic rays. Half-course. Prerequisites: PHYS 101, and ASTR 51 or 62, or permission of the instructor. Offered jointly with HM and Joint Sciences. Spring 2010; offered alternate years.

123. Stellar Structure and Evolution. Mr. Choi. A rigorous treatment of stellar atmospheres and radiative transfer. Topics include stellar energy generation, evolution on and away from the main sequence, and the internal structures of stars and other self-gravitating objects. Prerequisites: PHYS 101, and ASTR 51 or 62, or permission of the instructor. Spring 2011; offered alternate years.

125. Galactic Astronomy. Mr. Choi. A detailed phenomenological investigation of galaxy structure, formation and evolution. We will explore galaxies as both aggregate stellar populations and signposts of cosmic evolution. The course will have a special focus on recent advances in the field. Half-course. Prerequisites: PHYS 101, and ASTR 51 or 62, or permission of the instructor. Offered jointly with HM and Joint Sciences. Spring 2011; offered alternate years.

199. Reading and Research. Staff. Prerequisite: permission of instructor. 99, lower-level; 199, advanced work. Course or half-course. May be repeated. Every semester. (Summer Reading and Research taken as 98/198.)

Physics Courses
Physics (PHYS) courses satisfy Area 4 of the Breadth of Study Requirements

3. The Physics of Music. Ms. Zook. The physical principles underlying sound and its production, propagation and perception, with particular emphasis on the application of these principles to the production of musical sound with acoustic instruments. Lecture and laboratory. Intended for students without previous scientific background. Every fall.

17. Physics in Society: A Critical Analysis of Energy Policies. Mr. Tanenbaum. Analysis of solutions to the world’s demand for energy. The physical principles behind energy production and the rationality of these approaches, including an exploration of feasibility, cost, efficiency, resource depletion, environmental waste products, environmental impact, global accessibility and risks of potentially catastrophic failures. Topics discussed will include coal, gas, fission, fusion, hydro, solar, biofuels and energy storage. Next offered 2010/11.

41/42.General Physics with Laboratory. Ms. Zook, Mr. Kwok, Mr. Tanenbaum. Calculus-based introductory Physics for non-majors. 41 focuses on Newtonian Mechanics and Thermodynamics; 42 focuses on Electricity & Magnetism and Waves. Both courses highlight the physical principles behind modern instrumentation in geology, chemistry, biology and other scientific disciplines, and biomedical applications are discussed. Prerequisites: completion of or concurrent enrollment in MATH 30 for 41; MATH 31 and PHYSICS 41 or permission of the instructor for 42. 41 is offered in Spring semester, and 42 is offered in Fall semester.

70. Spacetime, Quanta, and Entropy with Laboratory. Mr. Moore, Mr. Kwok. Calculus-based introduction to principles of contemporary physics, designed especially for potential physics and astronomy majors. (Life-science students should take 41/42). Topics include conservation laws, special relativity, quantum physics, and thermal physics, all viewed from a 21st-century perspective. Prerequisites: high-school physics and completion or concurrent enrollment in MATH 30. Sophomores and above may enroll only with permission. Every fall.

71. Introductory Classical Mechanics. (half course) Mr. Moore. An introduction to classical mechanics, emphasizing the centrality of the fundamental conservation laws of Newtonian mechanics, and focusing on applying Newton's Laws of Motion and their consequences to standard physical systems such as the simple harmonic oscillator and planetary motion. Prerequisites: PHYS 70, and completion or concurrent enrollment in MATH 30. Sophomores and above may enroll only with permission. Every spring.

72. Introductory Electricity and Magnetism (half course) Mr. Moore. An introduction to electricity, magnetism, and waves, as summarized in Maxwell's equations of electricity and magnetism. The course will emphasize the concepts of electric and magnetic fields and their interactions with charged particles, ultimately leading to the great synthesis of electricity, magnetism, and light. Prerequisites: PHYS 70, and completion or concurrent enrollment in MATH 30. Sophomores and above may enroll only with permission. Every spring.

101. Atomic and Nuclear Physics with Laboratory. Mr. Whitaker, Mr. Mawhorter. Introduction to wave mechanics, spectra and structure of atoms, molecules, and solids, nuclear physics and particle physics. Prerequisites: 41/42 or 70 and completion of, or concurrent enrollment in, MATH 32 or 107. Every fall.

125. Mechanics. Mr.Tanenbaum. The classical mechanics of Newton, Lagrange and Hamilton. The harmonic oscillator, the two-body problem, systems of oscillators and chaos. Heavy emphasis on problem solving. Prerequisites: PHYS 41/42, or 70; MATH 32 or 107; and completion of, or concurrent enrollment in, MATH 60. Every spring.

128. Electronics with Laboratory. Mr. Mawhorter. Transistors and integrated circuits in a variety of applications, including operational amplifiers, basic digital circuits, analog/digital conversion and an introduction to microprocessors. Project required. Prerequisite: 41/42 or 70. Every spring.
 
142. Electricity and Magnetism. Mr. Kwok. Electrostatics, steady currents, magnetic fields, induction, Maxwell’s equations, potential theory, material media, and radiation theory. Prerequisites: 41/42 or 70; MATH 32 or 107 and completion of, or concurrent enrollment in, MATH 60. Every spring.

148. Computational Methods in Physics. Ms. Zook. Numerical and computational techniques used in modern physical sciences. Numerical methods for differentiation, integration, and approximation, and for the solution of differential equations and model systems. Examples from numerical modeling of both deterministic and random systems. Prerequisite: MATH 60. Next offered 2010/11.

160. Introduction to General Relativity. Mr. Moore. Development of Einstein’s theory of general relativity from basic physical principles. Development of the mathematics of curved spacetime. Astrophysical applications, including spherically symmetric objects, black holes, cosmology and the creation and detection of gravitational waves. Prerequisite: 125 or permission of instructor. Spring 2010; offered alternate years.

165. Introduction to Physical Hydrodynamics. Mr. Mitescu. This course introduces the ideas underlying fluid mechanics using a fundamental physical approach. It discusses transport coefficients of fluids, the kinematics of continuous media, conservation laws, and potential flow. Finally, it concludes with a treatment of vorticity and vortex dynamics, flow at low Reynolds numbers – including suspensions and porous media, boundary layers and hydrodynamic instabilities. Prerequisites: 125 and MATH 102. Fall 2009.

170. Quantum Mechanics. Mr. Moore. The Schroedinger equation, operator methods using Dirac notation, harmonic oscillator, angular momentum and other two- and three-dimensional systems with applications to atoms and molecules. Prerequisites: 101 and MATH 60. Every fall.

174. Contemporary Experimental Physics.Ms. Zook, Mr. Mawhorter. Experimental study of selected areas in physics and astronomy with emphasis on modern instrumentation and techniques. Discussion of techniques in error analysis and use of professional data presentation packages. Prerequisite: 101.Every spring.

175. Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics. Mr. Whitaker. Classical thermodynamics, kinetic theory and introduction to statistical mechanics. Prerequisites: 101 and MATH 60. Every spring.

180. Applied Mathematics for Physicists. Mr. Mitescu. Introduction to theory of functions of a complex variable. Evaluation of integrals by residues and other methods. Vector-derivative operations in curvilinear coordinates. Second-order linear differential equations: series and second solutions. Special properties of orthogonal functions: generating functions, recursion relations. Integral transforms. Prerequisites: 41/42, or 70, and MATH 102. Next offered 2010-11.

190. Senior Seminar. Mr. Kwok, Mr. Whitaker. Review and integration of major topics in Physics. Reading, presentation and discussion of current research topics. In addition, each student formulates, executes and presents the results of his or her own individual research project, beginning with focused reading and presentations of pertinent research literature (from short communications to review articles), ending with a conference-style progress report. Senior majors or minors only. Every fall.

191E. Senior Thesis (Experimental). Staff. An experimental senior thesis consisting of a research project and paper in experimental, theoretical or computational physics. Full course. May be repeated once with the department’s permission. Senior majors only. Every fall.

191L. Senior Thesis (Library). Staff. A library senior thesis consisting of a thorough and up-to-date literature survey and research paper on a topic of current interest in physics. Seniors whose senior thesis is based on a team project in a Harvey Mudd engineering or physics clinic should also select this thesis option. Half-course. May be repeated once with the department’s permission. Every semester.

193. Senior Comprehensive Examination. Staff. Opportunity to demonstrate mastery of introductory and upper-division physics topics studied. P/NC grading only; no course credit. Senior majors only. Every fall.

199. Independent Study and Research. Staff. The following types of work, with faculty guidance, are available: 1) independent study of advanced subjects not treated in other courses of the department; and 2) individual or collaborative research for which funds and equipment are available. Prerequisite: permission of instructor. Course or half-course. Every semester.
 
Additional Courses Available at Harvey Mudd College
HM 80. Topics in Physics
HM 111. Theoretical Mechanics (equivalent to 125)
HM 116. Quantum Mechanics (equivalent to 170)
HM 117. Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics (equivalent to 175)
HM 151. Electromagnetic Field (equivalent to 142)
HM 154. Fields and Waves
HM 161. Topics in Quantum Theory
HM 162. Solid State Physics
HM 164. Particle Physics
HM 166. Geophysics
HM 168. Electrodynamics
HM 170. Computational Methods in Physics
HM 172. General Relativity and Cosmology
HM 174. Biophysics
HM 183, 184. Teaching Internship
HM 193, 194. Physics Clinic