The concepts and principles of physics form the foundation on which all other sciences are built. Developments in the field of physics have also influenced thinking in philosophy, politics, and art, among other areas.

Physics courses at Rocky Mountain College cover the major ideas of both classical and modern physics. Students can gain the understanding required for majors in other sciences, including biology, chemistry, environmental science, and geology. Physics courses are also necessary for students planning careers ranging from aviation and engineering to the health sciences. Other physics courses provide an option for non-science majors to satisfy general education requirements while learning to better appreciate the physical universe around them and also to be better-informed members of a technologically complex society living on an environmentally challenged planet.

Physics courses provide students the opportunity to learn and practice rigorous, quantitative, and mathematical analyses as well as careful and precise verbal discussions. Courses are offered on a wide range of mathematical levels. Some levels require a proficiency in calculus; other levels require little mathematics, but all levels expect students to have, or develop, some ability at quantitative thinking.

Minor in Physics

A minimum of 18 semester hours is required, including:
PHS201 General Physics I
PHS202 General Physics III
PHS300 Physics Lab Projects

Of these 18 semester hours at least six must be upper division.

PHS100 - Atoms to Stars

Semester: On Demand
Semester hours: 3
A course designed for non-science majors. A selection of topics in physics will be discussed to give the student a greater understanding of the physical universe. This course provides the background for an appreciation of the laws and phenomena of physics, which control the universe, from the sub-atomic to the cosmological scale, including the scale of human existence. Topics discussed may include force and motion, energy, the nature of light, the structure of matter, and ideas of modern physics. Only minimal mathematics will be used.

PHS101 - Fundamental Physics I

Semester: Fall; Alternate Years
Semester hours: 4
Students examine a survey of the laws and phenomena of classical physics, including motion, force, energy, momentum, waves, and thermodynamics. This course is suitable for non-science majors who have a strong background in high school algebra and who wish to have a more rigorous understanding of physics than provided in most courses for non science majors. The course will satisfy the requirements of geology and biology majors. Students considering graduate work in these areas should take PHS201 and PHS202 instead. Three lecture periods and one two-hour laboratory per week.

PHS102 - Fundamental Physics II

Semester: Spring; Alternate Years
Semester hours: 4
Students examine a survey of the laws and phenomena of classical and modern physics, including light, electricity, magnetism, and atomic and nuclear physics. This course is suitable for non-science majors who have a strong background in high school algebra and who wish to have a more rigorous understanding of physics than provided in most courses for non-science majors. This course will satisfy the requirements of geology and biology majors. Students considering graduate work in these areas should take PHS201 and PHS202 instead. Three lecture periods and one two- hour laboratory per week.
Prerequisite: PHS101

PHS105 - Principles of Physics

Semester: On Demand
Semester hours: 4
A survey of the laws and phenomena of classical physics, including motion, force, energy, momentum, waves, and thermodynamics. This course is algebra-based, and is intended for aviation majors. Others admitted with permission of instructor when space allows. Three lecture periods and one two-hour laboratory period per week.
Prerequisite: proficiency in high school algebra and trigonometry or MAT110 or MAT131

PHS201 - General Physics I

Semester: Fall
Semester hours: 4
This course is a calculus-based introduction to the laws and phenomena of classical physics, including force and motion, energy and momentum, their conservation laws, and their oscillations. This sequence is required for chemistry majors and engineering students and is recommended for mathematics, biology, and geology students. Three lecture periods and one two-hour laboratory per week.
Corequisite: MAT175

PHS202 - General Physics II

Semester: Spring
Semester hours: 4
This course is a calculus-based introduction to the laws and phenomena of classical physics, including mechanics, waves, light, electricity, and magnetism. This sequence is required for chemistry majors and engineering students and is recommended for mathematics, biology, and geology students. Three lecture periods and one two-hour laboratory per week.
Prerequisite: PHS201
Corequisite: MAT176

PHS225 - Modern Physics

Semester: Fall; Odd Years
Semester hours: 3
This course covers selected concepts from early twentieth century physics. Topics covered include special relativity, photoelectric effect, Compton scattering, and the wave nature of particles.
Prerequisite: PHS 202 or permission from the instructor

PHS300 - Physics Lab Projects

Semester: On Demand
Semester hours: 1-2
Builds on students' experience in introductory labs with more complex and sophisticated experiments selected by students in consultation with the instructor. Emphasis will be on experimental design, analysis, and presentation of results. The course will be available every semester on a directed independent study basis. Students may work alone or in teams of two or three students.
Prerequisite: permission of professor

PHS310 - Statics

Semester: On Demand
Semester hours: 3
Required for engineering students; involves a thorough analysis of forces and stresses on particles, rigid bodies, structures, and fluids in static equilibrium. Three lecture periods per week.
Prerequisite: PHS201

PHS311 - Dynamics

Semester: On Demand
Semester hours: 3
Required for engineering students; involves a thorough analysis of the kinematics and kinetics of particles, systems of particles, and rigid bodies. Three lecture periods per week.
Prerequisite: PHS310

PHS320 - Relativity Theory

Semester: Fall; Alternate Years
Semester hours: 2
Students are introduced to Einstein's theory of relativity with emphasis on the special theory.
Prerequisite: PHS201

PHS321 - Quantum Theory

Semester: Spring; Alternate Years
Semester hours: 2
Students are introduced to quantum mechanics, including the historical evolution of the theory. Emphasis will be on the wave mechanical formulation of the theory and Schrödinger's equation. Topics such as quantum tunneling and atoms will be analyzed. The impact of quantum theory on the scientific worldview will be considered.
Prerequisite: PHS202

PHS325 - Nuclear and Particle Physics

Semester: Fall; Alternate Years
Semester hours: 2
Introduction to nuclear physics, including theory, experiments, and nuclear processes, as well as a survey of modern particle physics, including quantum chromodynamics.
Prerequisite: PHS202

PHS343 - Classical and Modern Optics

Semester: Spring; Odd Years
Semester hours: 3
This course covers concepts in geometrical and modern optics. Topics covered include reflection, refraction, dispersion, image formation, diffraction, superposition, interfer- ence, and polarization.
Prerequisite: PHS 202 or permission from the instructor

PHS347 - Introduction to Health Physics

Semester: Fall; Even Years
Semester hours: 3
This course is an introduction to radiation physics and the biological effects of radiation exposure. Topics covered include atomic and nuclear structure, radioactivity, interaction of radiation with matter, radiation dosimetry, and the biological effects of radiation.
Prerequisite: PHS 202 or permission from the instructor

PHS380 - Human Biophysics II

Semester: Spring
Semester hours: 3
This 2 semester course applies the basic principles of physics in order to improve the understanding of human anatomy and physiology. In addition, the effects of forces and energies on the human body will be studied. Biophysical principles will be illustrated when possible by discussion of human disease as well as by normal medical practices and procedures.
The first semester considers biophysical principles based on the broad physical topics of mechanics, acoustics, and heat. The second semester considers biophysics based on electromagnetism and radiation, and then considers the biophysics of cancer and other human diseases.
Prerequisite: PHS380

PHS380 - Human Biophysics I

Semester: Fall
Semester hours: 3
This 2 semester course applies the basic principles of physics in order to improve the understanding of human anatomy and physiology. In addition, the effects of forces and energies on the human body will be studied. Biophysical principles will be illustrated when possible by discussion of human disease as well as by normal medical practices and procedures.
The first semester considers biophysical principles based on the broad physical topics of mechanics, acoustics, and heat. The second semester considers biophysics based on electromagnetism and radiation, and then considers the biophysics of cancer and other human diseases.