In this class you will get a chance to explore the scientific wonders of the universe. Topics vary each semester but generally include: motion, energy, waves, electricity, magnetism, sound, light, …
Explores the physics behind everyday life, considering objects from our daily environment and their principles of operation. Through these explorations, the course illustrates the deep impact of physics on our …
Explores the physics behind everyday life, considering objects from our daily environment and their principles of operation. Through these explorations, the course illustrates the deep impact of physics on our …
For non-science majors. Examines how new understandings of the natural world develop, starting with the ancient world and emphasizing two famous scientists as case studies. Galileo was the first to …
Energy has always been essential to civilization, and never more than in the modern world. But what is energy? Will affordable sources of energy disappear in our lifetimes? Will our …
A study of the physics concepts behind the motion of spinning and curving projectiles in worldwide sports such as soccer, tennis, basketball, baseball, football, etc. and rolling and sliding balls/diska …
First semester of the introductory physics sequence recommended for prospective physics majors. Topics include particle kinematics and dynamics, energy and momentum conservation, rotational motion, fluids, oscillatory motion, waves, sound, and …
First semester of introductory physics sequence recommended for engineers. Topics include particle kinematics and dynamics, energy and momentum conservation, rotational motion, fluids, oscillatory motion, waves, sound, and thermodynamics. Emphasis is …
Group problem solving, data acquisition and analysis, and application of physics to real life scenarios in the framework of classical mechanics and thermodynamics. The course is geared towards STEM majors …
New course in the subject of physics.
This course provides an introduction to the Python programming language with applications to common problems in the science and engineering fields. It emphasizes three core skills: analyzing data, simulating data, …
This course teaches how to use the computer to solve quantitative problems. This involves learning the skills to write computer programs dedicated to certain tasks, to visualize data graphically, to …
Overview of current areas of research in the broad discipline of physics, including the historical context of their development. Describes various career options in physics, including academia, government, and industry. …
Physics 2010 and 2020 constitute a terminal course sequence covering the principles of mechanics, heat, electricity and magnetism, optics, atomic, solid state, nuclear, and particle physics. A working knowledge of …
Physics 2010 and 2020 constitute a terminal course sequence covering the principles of mechanics, heat, electricity and magnetism, optics, atomic, solid state, nuclear, and particle physics. A working knowledge of …
Group problem solving, data acquisition and analysis, and application of physics to real life scenarios in the framework of classical mechanics and thermodynamics. The course satisfies the requirements for pre-health …
Group problem solving, data acquisition and analysis, and application of physics to real life scenarios in the framework of electricity and magnetism. The course satisfies the requirements for pre-health students. …
Second semester of the introductory physics sequence recommended for prospective physics majors. Topics include electricity, magnetism, circuits and optics. Emphasis is on building foundations for future studies in physics. Three …
Second semester of introductory physics sequence recommended for engineers and other scientists. Topics include electricity, magnetism, circuits and optics. Emphasis is on development of skills for practical applications. Three lecture …
Group problem solving, data acquisition and analysis, and application of physics to real life scenarios in the framework of electricity and magnetism. The course is geared towards STEM majors and …
Introduction to quantum physics and relativity, with application to atomic structure, nuclear and elementary particle physics, condensed matter physics, and cosmology. Three lecture hours, one problem hour. Prerequisite: PHYS 1720 …
Elementary Lab for Physics Majors, 1st semester. Selected experiments in mechanics, heat, electricity and magnetism and optics. One lecture hour and four laboratory hours per week. Prerequisites: PHYS 1710, 1720; …
Elementary Lab for Physics Majors, 2nd semester. Selected experiments in mechanics, heat, electricity and magnetism and optics. One lecture hour and four laboratory hours per week. Prerequisites: PHYS 1710, 1720, …
Applications of computers to solving basic problems in physical science. Introduction to programming, use of external libraries, and implementation of basic algorithms with focus on numerical methods, error analysis & …
Develop and extend the techniques of introductory physics and calculus to solve more complicated problems. The course covers topics in mechanics, fluids, thermodynamics, electromagnetism, waves, and optics. Recommended prerequisites: PHYS …
Application of basic physics principles to functions of the human body: biomechanics, metabolism, cardiovascular, cognitive & respiratory systems, and the senses. Medical diagnosis and therapy technologies (e.g., PET, MRI, CT) …
Applications of physical principles to a diverse set of phenomena: order of magnitude estimates, dimensional analysis, material science and engineering, astrophysics, aeronautics and space flight, communications technology, meteorology, sound & …
Basic physics principles of energy sources and energy production, conversion, distribution, and storage. This course will focus on the basic physics principles and applications of engines, nuclear energy, solar power …
Selected experiments in mechanics, thermodynamics, electricity and magnetism, optics, and modern physics. One lecture hour and four laboratory hours per week. Prerequisites: PHYS 1429, PHYS 2419; co-requisite: PHYS 2620.
The course begins by covering the fundamentals of analog and digital electronics, including the use of transistors, FET's, operational amplifiers, TTL, and CMOS integrated circuits. Following this students conduct projects …
Approximately five experiments drawn from the major fields of physics. Introduces precision apparatus, experimental techniques, and methods of evaluating experimental results. Outside report preparation is required. Six laboratory hours. Prerequisite: …
Approximately five experiments drawn from the major fields of physics. Introduces precision apparatus, experimental techniques, and methods of evaluating experimental results. Outside report preparation is required. Six laboratory hours. Prerequisite: …
Statics and dynamics of particles and rigid bodies treated with extensive use of vector calculus; includes the Lagrangian formulation of mechanics. Prerequisites: MATH 2310 or equivalent, MATH 3250 or equivalent, …
Applications of nuclear physics and nuclear energy: Introduction to nuclear physics, radioactivity, radiation standards and units, interaction of radiation with matter, accelerators, x-ray generators, detectors, biological effects, nuclear medicine, nuclear …
Includes temperature and the laws of thermodynamics; introductory treatments of kinetic theory and statistical mechanics; and applications of Boltzmann, Bose-Einstein, and Fermi-Dirac distributions. Recommended Prerequisites: MATH 3250, PHYS 2620, and …
This course covers linear algebra and complex analysis, with a review of vector calculus. Emphasis is on applications in physics. Students cannot receive credit for both PHYS 3340 and MATH …
Systematic treatment of static electromagnetic phenomena with extensive use of vector calculus, including Maxwell's equations. Recommended Prerequisite: MATH 4220, PHYS 1720 or PHYS 2410 or PHYS 2415, and PHYS 2720.
Includes Maxwell's equations; electromagnetic waves and their interaction with matter; interference, diffraction, polarization; waveguides; and antennas. Prerequisite: PHYS 3420.
Independent study supervised by a faculty member, culminating in a written report, essay, or examination. May be repeated for credit.
The course will examine basic principles of simple theories for metals, the basics of crystallography and crystal structures, the reciprocal space, lattice vibrations, elastic properties of solids, electronic band structure, …
Surveys computational methods for problem solving in the physical sciences. Topics include numerical precision and efficiency, solutions of differential equations, optimization problems, Monte Carlo simulation, statistical methods, and data analytics. …
Includes quantum phenomena and an introduction to wave mechanics; the hydrogen atom and atomic spectra. Prerequisite: MATH 3250, MATH 4210 or PHYS 3340, PHYS 2620, or instructor permission.
Continuation of PHYS 3650. Intermediate quantum mechanics including perturbation theory; application to systems of current interest. Prerequisite: PHYS 3650.
Individual study of topics in physics not normally covered in formal classes. Study is carried out under the tutelage of a faculty member with whom the requirements are agreed upon …
A research project on a topic in physics carried out under the supervision of a faculty member culminating in a written report. May be taken more than once. (S-SS) Prerequisite: …
First and second year students enrolled in the Physics PhD program are required to take Physics Colloquium in their first and second years of study.
Lectures on topics of current interest in physics research and pedagogy. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Instructor permission.
This course introduces a modern topic in theoretical high energy physics to an advanced undergraduate / beginner graduate student audience. Among the directions which are being explored are the physics …
This is an introductory cosmology course for an advanced undergraduate/beginner graduate audience. This course aims to give a window into the history of our Universe, presented here in reverse order: …
Practical electronics for scientists, from resistors to microprocessors. Prerequisite: Instructor permission.
Group theory is an elegant method based on symmetry to understand complex phenomena in nature. This course is to learn the basic principles of Discrete Group Theory and its application …
Reviews special relativity and coordinate transformations. Includes the principle of equivalence; effects of gravitation on other systems and fields; general tensor analysis in curved spaces and gravitational field equations; Mach's …
Discusses matrices, complex analysis, Fourier series and transforms, ordinary differential equations, special functions of mathematical physics, partial differential equations, general vector spaces, integral equations and operator techniques, Green's functions, group …
Includes reflection and refraction at interfaces, geometrical optics, interference phenomena, diffraction, Gaussian optics, and polarization. Prerequisite: PHYS 2320, 2415, 2610, or an equivalent college-level electromagnetism course; knowledge of vector calculus …
This course is designed to provide an understanding of the physics that underlies technologies such as lasers, optical time/frequency standards, laser gyros, and optical telecommunication. Covers the basic physics of …
This course will study various phenomena in condensed matter physics, including crystallography, basic group theory, x-ray and neutron diffraction, lattice vibrations, electrons in a metal, electronic band theory, electrons under …
Surveys computational methods for problem solving in the physical sciences. Topics include numerical precision and efficiency, solutions of differential equations, optimization problems, Monte Carlo simulation, statistical methods, and data analytics. …
Advanced topics in computational physics including numerical methods for partial differential equations, Monte Carlo modeling, advanced methods for linear systems, and special topics in computational physics. Prerequisite: PHYS 5630, or …
Studies subatomic structure; basic constituents and their mutual interactions.
An introduction to quantum computation, a modern discipline looking for ways to harness the power of quantum mechanics to gain exponential speedup of computations and simulations. We will go through …
The statics and dynamics of particles and rigid bodies. Discusses the methods of generalized coordinates, the Langrangian, Hamilton-Jacobi equations, action-angle variables, and the relation to quantum theory. Prerequisite: PHYS 3210 …
Discusses thermodynamics and kinetic theory, and the development of the microcanonical, canonical, and grand canonical ensembles. Includes Bose-Einstein and Fermi-Dirac distributions, techniques for handling interacting many-particle systems, and extensive applications …
A consistent mathematical account of the phenomena of electricity and magnetism; electrostatics and magnetostatics; macroscopic media; Maxwell theory; and wave propagation. Prerequisite: PHYS 7250 or instructor permission.
Development of the theory of special relativity, relativistic electrodynamics, radiation from moving charges, classical electron theory, and Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations of electrodynamics. Prerequisite: PHYS 7420 or instructor permission.
Introduces the physical basis of quantum mechanics, the Schroedinger equation and the quantum mechanics of one-particle systems, and stationary state problem. Prerequisite: Twelve credits of 3000-level physics courses and MATH …
Includes angular momentum theory, techniques of time-dependent perturbation theory, emission and absorption of radiation, systems of identical particles, second quantization, and Hartree-Fock equations. Prerequisite: PHYS 7610 or instructor permission.
Independent research or practical training supervised by a faculty member. May be repeated for credit.
Studies nonlinear optical phenomena; the laser, sum, and difference frequency generation, optical parametric oscillation, and modulation techniques. Prerequisite: PHYS 5310 and exposure to quantum mechanics.
This course will build upon PHYS 5240 and will explore topics in relativity that are frequently used in research in gravitation and cosmology theory. This will include Hamiltonian, tetrad, and …
Studies the principles and techniques of atomic physics with application to selected topics, including laser and microwave spectroscopy, photoionization, autoionization, effects of external fields, and laser cooling. Prerequisite: PHYS 7620 …
The description and basic theory of the electronic properties of solids including band structure, electrical conduction, optical properties, magnetism and super-conductivity. Prerequisite: PHYS 7620 or instructor permission.
Introduces the quantization of field theories, including those based on the Dirac and Klein-Gordon equations. Derives perturbation theory in terms of Feynman diagrams, and applies it to simple field theories …
Applies field theory techniques to quantum electrodynamics and to the renormalization-group description of phase transitions. Introduces the path integral description of field theory. Prerequisite: PHYS 8630.
Discusses nuclear theory and experiment from the modern perspectives of the fundamental theory of the strong interaction: Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD).
Introduction to the Standard Model of Electroweak and Strong Interactions, to be followed by physics beyond the Standard Model, including aspects of Grand Unification, Supersymmetry, and neutrino masses.
Studies the quantum theory of light and other boson fields with a special emphasis on the nonclassical physics exemplified by squeezed and entangled quantum states. Applications to quantum communication, quantum …
For master's thesis, taken under the supervision of a thesis director.
Workshops given by UVA Physics faculty describing their research. Restricted to Arts and Sciences graduate students in Physics only
Workshops given by UVA Physics faculty describing their research.
For students who have not passed the Qualifying exam for doctoral research, taken before a dissertation director has been selected.
For doctoral dissertation, taken under the supervision of a dissertation director.