• PHYS 4070: Extragalactic Astro

  3.00 Credits

  University of Utah

  
  This course will introduce undergraduate students to the study of galaxies, one of the most active fields of research in astrophysics. The course is intended for students following the astrophysics emphasis or getting an astronomy minor. The course will focus on understanding both the contents of galaxies and the tools we sue to understand their formation and evolution. It will cover galaxies near and far, from the Milky Way to the most distant galaxies visible to us. Topics will include galaxy structure, galaxy dynamics, stellar populations, the measurement of distances, gas and star formation in galaxies, the mass spectrum of galaxies, and evidence of dark matter. Prerequisites: 'C-' or better in (PHYS 3070 OR ASTR 3070) AND (MATH 1260 OR MATH 1321 OR MATH 2210 OR MATH 3140).
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• PHYS 4080: Intro to Cosmology

  3.00 Credits

  University of Utah

  
  An introductory course which explores modern cosmological concepts. Discusses formation of galaxies, and clusters of galaxies, the expansion and the age of the Universe. Topics include the existence and properties of the cosmic microwave background, the origin of the light elements, cosmological inflation, and the role of dark matter and dark energy in the formation and expansion of the Universe. The course will introduce concepts of statistical mechanics, quantum mechanics, special and general relativity as needed to explore the course topics. Prerequisites: 'C-' or better in (PHYS 3070 OR ASTR 3070) AND (PHYS 2710 OR PHYS 3740) AND MATH 2250
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• PHYS 4090: Stellar Astrophysics

  3.00 Credits

  University of Utah

  
  This course introduces students to one of the most active areas of research in astrophysics. It is intended for students who have taken a first course in astronomy and are interested in learning more. It also satisfies requirements of the astrophysics emphasis and astronomy minor. We focus on understanding how stars function by using physical concepts and observational results. Topics include star formation; nucleosynthesis & stellar evolution (including discussion of supernovae, white dwarfs, neutron stars, and stellar black holes); radiative transfer and energy transport; stellar atmospheres and interiors. The course will introduce concepts of statistical and quantum mechanics, and aspects of relativity, as needed to help explore the course topics. Prerequisites: 'C-' or better in (PHYS 3070 OR ASTR 3070).
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• PHYS 4210: Optics in Biology

  3.00 Credits

  University of Utah

  
  The use of optics in biology has evolved from the simple light microscope used by Darwin to the complex cryo-electron and live cell high resolution microscopes used today. With all these advances it can now be argued that we stand at the dawn of quantitative biology and optics provides an essential tool in this pursuit. This course is designed to give students a good understanding of physics involved in advanced optics while focusing their attention on the biological problems amenable to these techniques. Students with backgrounds in biology, chemistry or physics are equally encouraged however knowing algebra is a requirement for taking this course. Each section of the course would deal specifically with a special kind of microscopy followed with a case study in a biological problem that is most amenable to the use of the techniques discussed. Recommended Prerequisites: PHYS 2220. Prerequisites: "C-" or better in ((PHYS 2220 OR PHYS 3220) OR AP Physics C E&M score of 4+).
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• PHYS 4230: Molecular Motors

  3.00 Credits

  University of Utah

  
  This course will provide an overview of microtubule and actin-based motors: their structure, their function (including topics of motor regulation,) and the quantitative approaches used to study and model motor activity. Students with back grounds in biology or physics are equally encouraged. The class will outline the biological context of motoractivity, discuss motor families and details of their mechano-chemical activity, and further cover measurement and modeling techniques as well as related advanced topics. Recommended Prerequisites: PHYS 2220 or Instructor Consent. Prerequisites: "C-" or better in ((PHYS 2220 OR PHYS 3220) OR AP Physics C E&M score of 4+) OR Department Consent.
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• PHYS 4310: Physics in Biology

  3.00 Credits

  University of Utah

  
  This course is designed to give students a good understanding of Physics involved in biological processes. The goal is to equip students with analytical tools that would enable them to tackle biological problems in new ways. Students with backgrounds in biology, chemistry and physics are equally encouraged however knowing basic calculus is a requirement for taking this course. Recommended Prerequisites: PHYS 2220 AND MATH 1210 OR Equivalent. Prerequisites: "C-" or better in ((PHYS 2220 OR PHYS 3220) OR AP Physics C E&M score of 4+).
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• PHYS 4410: Advanced Mechanics

  4.00 Credits

  University of Utah

  
  This is an advanced undergraduate course in analytical mechanics with tensors and fluids. It will build on material mastered in previous core courses (e.g., PHYS 3010 - Intermediate Mechanics with Relativity). The course will go deeper into collisions, Lagrangian and Hamiltonian dynamics, motion in non-inertial reference frames, oscillations, rotations of rigid bodies, and fluid dynamics. Should time allow, nonlinear mechanics, chaos, and continuum mechanics may be introduced as well. Prerequisites: 'C-' or better in (PHYS 3010) AND (MATH 2250 OR (MATH 2270 AND MATH 2280)) AND (MATH 1260 OR MATH 1321 OR MATH 2210 OR MATH 3140) Corequisites: MATH 3140 OR MATH 3150 OR MATH 5440
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• PHYS 4730: Computational Physics I

  4.00 Credits

  University of Utah

  
  Brief introduction to computing tools for science and engineering work on modern workstations. Topics include Unix (file structures, commands, scripts, etc.), editing (especially with emacs), spreadsheets, technical document preparation (LaTeX, Postscript), symbolic manipulation (Maple), use of library routines (LAPACK), programming in Python and C++, and organizing large codes with makefiles. These tools will be illustrated by applying them to scientific and engineering problems. It is recommended that students complete MATH 3150 and MATH 3160 prior to completing this course. Prerequisites: 'C-' or better in PHYS 3010 AND (MATH 2250 OR (MATH 2270 AND MATH 2280))
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• PHYS 4760: Thermal & Stat Physics

  4.00 Credits

  University of Utah

  
  Augmenting the core courses of Physics I to V, this course introduces more systematically the principles of thermodynamics and statistical approach to these phenomena. Thermodynamics topics include laws of thermodynamics; entropy, temperature, reversible/irreversible processes; heat engine and refrigerators; phase transitions, Clapeyron's equation; paramagnetism. Statistical mechanics topics include basic statistical distributions, statistical definition of entropy and temperature; microcanonical, canonical, Gibbs canonical and grand canonical ensembles, Boltzmann distribution and partition function; Bose-Einstein and Fermi-Dirac statistics. Finally, the Bose-Einstein and Fermi-Dirac distributions are applied to degenerate Fermi gas, Debye theory of solids, Bose-Einstein condensation, and other systems of choices by students and instructor. Prerequisites: 'C-' or better in (PHYS 2710 OR PHYS 3740) AND (MATH 2250 OR (MATH 2270 AND MATH 2280))
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• PHYS 4800: Undergraduate Research

  1.00 - 6.00 Credits

  University of Utah

  
  This course is for undergraduate physics majors who are doing faculty directed research. Since variable credit is assigned to the course, students must meet with the faculty research supervisor of the project to establish credit hours before registering for the class. This course does not substitute for required primary curricula.
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