Undergraduate Courses

An introductory course for students enrolled in the engineering curriculum.  Weekly lecture with demonstrations and a weekly recitation.  Bi-weekly exams  evaluate the students progress in learning the central concepts of the course  which include: Quantitative description of particle motion, vector  manipulation and multiplication, Newton's Laws of Motion, forces, friction,  uniform circular motion, work and energy, momentum, conservation laws,  rational kinematics.  Typical text: Halliday & Resnick, Fundamentals of  Physics.

Please contact the Registrar for more information.
Phone: (201)216-5555
Fax: (201)216-8030
E-mail: registrar@stevens.edu

Vectors, kinetics, Newton’s laws, dynamics or particles, work and energy, friction, conserverative forces, linear momentum, center-of-mass and relative motion, collisions, angular momentum, static equilibrium, rigid body rotation, Newton’s law of gravity, simple harmonic motion, wave motion and sound.

Coulomb’s law, concepts of electric field and potential, Gauss’ law, capacitance, current and resistance, DC and R-C transient circuits, magnetic fields, Ampere’s law, Faraday’s law of induction, inductance, A/C circuits, electromagnetic oscillations, Maxwell’s equations and electromagnetic waves.

This is the first course of a two-course, algebra-based conceptual general physics sequence for students in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences. This course covers the basic principles and applications of mechanics and electricity and magnetism. The course consists of 3 lectures per week, with certain lectures designated as recitations and/or demonstrations at the discretion of the instructor. Fall semester. Typical text: Cutnell and Johnson or any other algebra-based general physics text complemented by supplemental handouts, as needed.

This is the second course of a two-course, algebra-based conceptual general physics sequence for students in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences. This course covers the basic principles and applications of oscillations and waves in mechanics, acoustics, electricity and magnetism, and optics and provides an introduction to modern physics. The course consists of three lectures per week, with certain lectures designated as recitations and/or demonstrations at the discretion of the instructor.  Spring course. Typical text: Cutnell and Johnson or any other algebra-based general physics text complemented by supplemental handouts as needed.

Please contact the Registrar for more information.
Phone: (201)216-5555
Fax: (201)216-8030
E-mail: registrar@stevens.edu

Please contact the Registrar for more information.
Phone: (201)216-5555
Fax: (201)216-8030
E-mail: registrar@stevens.edu

The course is designed to fulfill a science requirement credit for the general student population.  The main objective of the course is to present a coherent introduction to the methods of study and physical properties of astronomical objects.  Throughout the course complex objects will be reduced to their essential fetures that explain the observed phenomena.  Current and historic observations will be used as the moivation.  Data analysis assignments will be given from real observational data (listed as'Lab' in the syllabus).  A set of semester-long group projects in astro-photography will give students a hands-on expereince in imaging astronomical phenomena using everyday digital cameras(listed as'Project' in the syllabus).  The course will include an evening demonstration on campus and a visit to the planetarium.  In terms of general education, astronomy will be used as a vehicle to introduce the essentials of model-building, justified simplifications, physical reasoning and self-correcting nature of scientific method.

Newtonian mechanics.  The course, however, begins with an exploration of high energy particle  physics, using the relatistically correct conservation laws as the fundamental  organizing principle.  Bubble chamber "photograph" of high energy collisions  and decays are analyzed.  Standard topics in particle dynamics, rotational  dynamics of extended bodies, work-energy theorem, angular momentum  conservation as well as other less traditional topics such as relativistic  coordinate transformation, center-of-mass reference frames, and harmonic  oscillatory motion will be explored in depth.

Introduction in classical electricity and magnetism, this course emphasizes the interdependence of electromagnetic phenomena.  It begins with Maxwell's equations in integral form, and dissects each equation carefully, showing how it is used as well as the experimental evidence for its derivation.  Topics such as electrostatic and magnetostatic fields, capacitors, inductors, electromagnetic radiation, waveguide propagation, microwave cavities, dielectrics, and magnetic materials are explored using Maxwell's equations. The transformations of the fields to equivalent inertial reference frames  using some ideas from Special Relativity is also explored.  The concept of symmetry and its' applications will be studied in depth.

Selected topics in modern physics and applications. By invitation only.

Simple harmonic motion, oscillations and waves; wave-particle dualism; the Schrödinger equation and its interpretation; wave functions; the Heisenberg uncertainty principle; quantum mechanical tunneling and application; quantum mechanics of a particle in a "box," the hydrogen atom; electronic spin; properties of many electron atoms; atomic spectra; principles of lasers and applications; electrons in solids; conductors and semi-conductors; the n-p junction and the transistor; properties of atomic nuclei; radioactivity; fusion and fission.

Please contact the Registrar for more information.
Phone: (201)216-5555
Fax: (201)216-8030
E-mail: registrar@stevens.edu

Concepts of geometrical optics for reflecting and refracting surfaces, thin and thick lens formulations, optical instruments in modern practice, interference, polarization and diffraction effects, resolving power of lenses and instruments, X-ray diffraction, introduction to lasers and coherent optics, principles of holography, concepts of optical fibers, optical signal processing.  Spring semester.

 An introduction to experimental physics.  Students learn to use a variety of  techniques and instrumentation, including computer controlled experimentation  and analysis, error analysis and statistical treatment of data.  Experiments  include basic physical and electrical measurements, mechanical, acoustical,  and electromagnetic oscillation and waves, and basic quantum physics  phenomena.

An introduction to experimental measurements and data analysis. Students will learn how to use a variety of measurement techniques, including computer-interfaced experimentation, virtual instrumentation, and computational analysis and presentation. First semester experiments include basic mechanical and electrical measurements, motion and friction, RC circuits, the physical pendulum, and electric field mapping. Second semester experiments include the second order electrical system, geometrical and physical optics and traveling and standing waves.

An introduction to experimental measurements and data analysis. Students will learn how to use a variety of measurement techniques, including computer-interfaced experimentation, virtual instrumentation, and computational analysis and presentation. First semester experiments include basic mechanical and electrical measurements, motion and friction, RC circuits, the physical pendulum, and electric field mapping. Second semester experiments include the second order electrical system, geometrical and physical optics and traveling and standing waves.

Simple harmonic motion, oscillations and pendulums; Fourier analysis; wave properties; wave-particle dualism; the Schrödinger equation and its interpretation; wave functions; the Heisenberg uncertainty principle; quantum mechanical tunneling and application; quantum mechanics of a particle in a "box," the hydrogen atom; electronic spin; properties of many electron atoms; atomic spectra; principles of lasers and applications; electrons in solids; conductors and semiconductors; the n-p junction and the transistor; properties of atomic nuclei; radioactivity; fusion and fission. Spring Semester.

SKIL (Science Knowledge Integration Ladder) is a six-semester sequence of project-centered courses. This course introduces students to the concept of working on projects that foster independent learning, innovative problem solving, collaboration and teamwork, and knowledge of integration under the guidance of a faculty advisor. SKIL I familiarizes the student with the ideas and realization of project-based learning using simple concepts and basic scientific knowledge.  Specific emphasis is put on the development of “Guesstimates” skills, application and recognition of scaling laws as well as fundamental measurement techniques.

Particle motion in one dimension.  Simple harmonic oscillators.  Motion in two and three dimensions, kinematics, work and energy,
conservative forces, central forces, scattering.  Systems of particles, linear
and angular momentum theorems, collisions, linear spring systems, normal modes. Lagrange's equations, applications to simple systems.  Introduction
to moment of inertia tensor and to Hamilton's equations

An introduction to statistical mechanics including classical thermodynamics and their statistical foundation.  Essential concepts in both classical and quantum statistical mechanics are developed along with their relations to thermodynamics.  Topics covered include: laws of thermodynamics, entropy, thermal processes including Carnot engine and refrigerators, basic concepts of probability theory, statistical description of systems of particles, microscopic description of macroscopic quantities such as temperature and entropy, ideal and real gases, Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution, kinetics of classical gases, Bose-Einstein and Fermi-Dirac distributions, blackbody radiation, thermal properties of solids, and phase transitions. 

 Electrostatics; Coulomb-Gauss Law; Poisson-Laplace equations; boundary value  problems; image techniques, dielectric media; magnetostatics; multipole  expansion, electromagnetic energy, electromagnetic induction, Maxwell's  equations, electromagnetic waves, waves in bounded regions, wave equations and  retarded solutions, simple dipole antenna radiation theory, transformation law  of electromagnetic fields.

This course is designed to build upon the core mathematics
sequence in engineering and thus enable the student to fully utilize
quantitative mathematical analysis in the junior and senior level
courses in engineering physics. Topics covered will include complex numbers and functions, linear algebra, advanced vector analysis, Fourier series and integrals, special functions for mathematical physics, orthogonal functions solutions to differential equations and elements of tensor analysis. Review of previously covered material will be integrated with topics of greater depth as appropriate.  Applications to problems in engineering
physics will be stressed throughout.

 Historical introduction; radioactivity; laws of statistics of radioactive  decay; alpha decay; square well model; gamma decay; beta decay; beta energy  spectrum; neutrinos; nuclear reactions; relativistic treatment; semi-empirical  mass formula; nuclear models; uranium and the transuranic elements; fission;  nuclear reactors.   Spring semester.

Theories of the universe, general relativity, big bang cosmology and the  inflationary universe; elementary particle theory and nucleosynthesis in the  early universe.  Observational cosmology; galaxy formation and galactic  structure; stellar evolution and formation of the elements.  White dwarfs,  neutron stars and black holes; planetary systems and the existence of life in  the universe.            Spring semester

This course focuses on the detection principles and technology of modern telescopes and observatories.  Data analysis and instrumentation projects are an essential component of the course.  Topics covered include: propagation of astrophysical information via photons and particles, the Earth's atmosphere, spacecraft design and launch, telescope optics, interferometry techniques, and a systematic survey of detection techniques from radio to gamma-ray telescopes and astro-particle instruments.

 Development of deterministic and non-deterministic models for physical  systems, engineering applications, simulation tools for deterministic and  non-deterministic systems, case studies and projects.

This course introduces basic concepts of planetary science through the development of simple physical models.  The first part of the course studies the planetary formation and related problems - evolution of the planet-satellite systems, orbital stability and impact events.  The second part studies planets as equilibrium sytems - topics include planetary atmospheres, climate cycles, seismic activity, and magnetism.  The course concludes with the topics of current interest such as global warming, extra-solar planets, and planetary habitability.

Numerical solution of ordinary differential equations describing oscillation  and/or decay.  Formulation of diffusion and heat conduction equations  (conservation laws, continuity equation, laws of Fick and Fourier).  Numerical  solution of heat equation by explicit method.  Theory of simulation of sound  waves.

 Continuation and extension of SKIL II to more complex projects.  Projects may include research participation in well defined research projects.

This course is designed to make students comfortable with the handling and use of various optical components, instruments, techniques,and applications. Included will be the characterization of lens, wavefront division and multiple beam interferometry, partial coherence, spectrophotometry,coherent propogation, and properties of optical fibers.


 Spring term.

This course consists of lectures designed to explore a topic of contemporary interest in physics from the perspective of current research and development. In addition to lectures by the instructors and discussions led by students, the course may include talks by professionals working in the topic being studied. When appropriate, projects are included.

Individually-supervised projects associated with theory, design, construction  and operation of instrumentation for biophysics, lasers and optical systems,  plasma discharges and cryogenics systems.  Off-campus projects in industrial  research laboratories and high- technology companies are encouraged.

 Individually-supervised projects associated with theory, design, construction  and operation of instrumentation for biophysics, lasers and optical systems,  plasma discharges and cryogenics systems.  Off-campus projects in industrial  research laboratories and high- technology companies are encouraged.

Senior design courses.  Complete design sequence with capstone project.  While  focus is on capstone disciplinary design experience, it includes the  two-credit core module on Engineering Economic Design (E 421) during the first  semester.

Senior design courses.  Complete design sequence with capstone project.  While  focus is on capstone disciplinary design experience, it includes the  two-credit core module on Engineering Economic Design (E 421) during the first  semester.

 You select from a variety of experiments illustrating the phenomena of modern physics.  Typical experiments are: Rydberg constant and Balmer series, Zeeman effect, charge of the electron, excitation potential of
mercury, Hall effect, absorption of photons by matter, half-life of radioactive decay, statistics of counting processes, mass of the neutron, gamma ray energies, diffraction grating, neutron activation of nuclides; X-ray diffraction, nuclear magnetic resonance, Langmuir probe.

You select from a variety of experiments illustrating the phenomena of modern physics.  Typical experiments are: Rydberg constant and Balmer series, Zeeman effect, charge of the electron, excitation potential of
mercury, Hall effect, absorption of photons by matter, half-life of radioactive decay, statistics of counting processes, mass of the neutron, gamma ray energies, diffraction grating, neutron activation of nuclides; X-ray diffraction, nuclear magnetic resonance, Langmuir probe.

Continuation of SKIL IV.

Continuation of SKIL V.

The course addresses the science underpinnings of nanotechnology to provide a hands-on experience for undergraduate students in nanofabrication and characterization. It will discuss the grand challenges of nanofabrication and will showcase examples of specific applications in electronics, photonics, chemistry, biology, medicine, defense, and energy. NANO 200 would be a pre-requisite for this course. This course will offer hands-on experiments to fabricate prototype devices/systems (e.g. relatively simple sensors or actuators) in order for students to understand the full sequence/spectrum of development of nanodevices and systems, e.g. from concept design, fabrication and characterization.Prerequisites:  NANO 200 or instructor permission