Division of Physics and Astronomy

Welcome to the web home of the Division of Physics and Astronomy at Oxford College, Emory!  The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers two laboratory science, two-semester sequences in physics. One, Physics 141-142, is suitable for pre-med students and majors in other sciences; the other, calculus-based Physics 151-152 is appropriate for majors in physics, mathematics, computer science and chemistry, also for students who are pre-engineering.  The Department offers a one-semester survey course in astronomy at least once each academic year. The lectures are visually-oriented and the laboratory incorporates both planetarium computer simulations and first-hand viewing.  In general terms, Physics is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves. Oxford Physics and Astronomy Faculty:              Effrosyni Seitaridou, PhD - Assistant Professor of Physics BA, Smith College, 2002; B.Eng, Dartmouth College, 2002; Ph.D., California Institute of Technology (Caltech), 2008. 209 Pierce Hall Phone: 770-784-8344 eseitar@emory.edu Phil Segre PhD - Lecturer in Physics and Astronomy. BS, Carnegie-Mellon University, 1985; Ph.D., University of Maryland, 1993. 207A Pierce Hall Phone: 404-754-7742 psegre@emory.edu Jim Honeycutt - MS, Adjunct Lecturer in Astronomy BS, MA, Georgia State University, 1969. 208 Pierce Hall Phone: 770-784-8433 jhoneyc@emory.edu Physics and Astronomy Courses at Oxford: PHYS141, 142, and ASTR116 are algebra based SNT courses that are suitable for non-science majors. These courses are all 4 credit hours and have three hours of lecture and one three-hour laboratory per week.  Course  Name  Description Pre-requisite  Taught    Class Size       ASTR116 Introductory Astronomy   A descriptive astronomy course  covering the celestial coordinate system, ancient astronomy, light and telescopes, the solar system, the sun, stellar evolution, galactic astronomy, and cosmology.  none   Fall and Spring   18 PHYS141 Introductory  Physics I Introductory, algebra based, course covering the principles of mechanics, heat, thermodynamics and wave motion.   Expected to be competent in algebra, trigonometry, and plane geometry.     Fall   < 32 PHYS142 Introductory Physics II      Introductory, algebra based, course covering the principles of Optics, electricity and magnetism, and special relativity.  PHYS141 or consent of Instructor  Spring   < 32 PHYS151, 152, and 253 are calculus based SNT courses for students who are strongly motivated in science. They are for majors in physics, mathematics, computer science and chemistry, also for students who are pre-engineering.  These courses are all 4 credit hours and have three hours of lecture and one three-hour laboratory per week. Course  Name  Description Pre-requisite  Taught   Class Size       PHYS151  Introductory Physics I   Introductory, calculus based, course covering the principles of mechanics,  heat, thermodynamics and wave motion.   Corequisite: MATH112 and consent of Instructor  Fall   < 32   PHYS152    Introductory Physics II     Introductory, calculus based, course covering Electric and magnetic fields and forces, Gauss's law, electrical properties of materials, electromagnetic induction, electromagnetic waves, and optical phenomena.   PHYS151  or consent of Instructor   Spring    < 32   PHYS253  Modern Physics   Special theory of relativity, wave and particle properties of electromagnetic radiation and matter, introduction to quantum mechanics, Schrödinger equation, atomic models, and simple molecules. PHYS142 or 152 and MATH112 or the equivalent  Fall ~ 3 - 7 The following are special topics research courses that are taught on demand, with permission of the Instructor. Course  Name  Description Pre-requisite Credit    Taught       PHYS380R Special Topics in Physics ----  Permission of Instructor  Variable On demand   PHYS397R    Directed Study      ----  At least 1 course in Physics and permission of Instructor   Variable On demand   PHYS399R Undergraduate Research  For students who want to participate in physics research with an Oxford College physics faculty member acting as research director. At least 1 course in Physics and permission of Instructor Variable On demand