Physics

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  • CAS PY 100: Physics of the Twentieth Century and Beyond
    A historical survey of modern physics, focusing on quantum mechanics and relativity as applied to the microworld (subatomic physics) and the macroworld (the early universe). Covers exotic phenomena from quarks to quasars, from neutrinos to neutron stars. For non-science majors. Carries natural science divisional credit (without lab) in CAS.
  • CAS PY 103: Cinema Physica
    Conceptual introduction to physical law as portrayed in film. Quantitative understanding using simple estimates, elementary physics, and dimensional analysis. Kinematics; forces; conservation laws; heat and temperature; atoms, molecules and materials. Sample films: Speed; Armageddon; Independence Day; X-Men; The Sixth Sense; Contact. Carries natural science divisional credit (with lab) in CAS.
  • CAS PY 105: Elementary Physics 1
    CAS PY 105/106 sequence satisfies premedical requirements; presupposes algebra and trigonometry. Principles of classical and modern physics. Mechanics, conservation laws, heat, light, electricity and magnetism, waves, light and optics, atomic and nuclear physics. Lectures, discussions, and laboratory. Carries natural science divisional credit (with lab) in CAS.
  • CAS PY 106: Elementary Physics 2
    CAS PY 105/106 sequence satisfies premedical requirements; presupposes algebra and trigonometry. Principles of classical and modern physics. Mechanics, conservation laws, heat, light, electricity and magnetism, waves, light and optics, atomic and nuclear physics. Lectures, discussions, and laboratory. Carries natural science divisional credit (with lab) in CAS.
  • CAS PY 192: Directed Study in Physics
    For freshman and sophomore physics majors.
  • CAS PY 195: Freshman Seminar for Physicists
    Seminar where freshman physics majors learn successful strategies for studying physics and become familiar with BU's policies, procedures, resources, and extracurricular activities. Exploration of research and career opportunities through invited speakers, book discussions, and laboratory tours.
  • CAS PY 211: General Physics
    For premedical students who wish a more analytical course than CAS PY 105, 106, and for science concentrators and engineers. Basic principles of physics emphasizing Newtonian mechanics, conservation laws, thermal physics, electricity and magnetism, geometrical optics. Lectures, discussion, and laboratory. Carries natural science divisional credit (with lab) in CAS.
  • CAS PY 212: General Physics
    For premedical students who wish a more analytical course than CAS PY 105, 106, and for science concentrators and engineers. Basic principles of physics emphasizing Newtonian mechanics, conservation laws, thermal physics, electricity and magnetism, geometrical optics. Lectures, discussion, and laboratory. Carries natural science divisional credit (with lab) in CAS.
  • CAS PY 231: The Physics in Music
    An introduction to musical acoustics, which covers vibrations and waves in musical systems, intervals and the construction of musical scales, tuning and temperament, the percussion instruments, the piano, the string, woodwind and brass instruments, room acoustics, and the human ear and psychoacoustical phenomena important to musical performance. Some aspects of electronic music are also discussed. Carries natural science divisional credit (with lab) in CAS.
  • CAS PY 241: Principles of General Physics 1
    Calculus-based introduction to principles and methods of physics. Mechanics, heat, light, electricity and magnetism, atomic and nuclear physics, and relativity are treated. Topics relevant to medical science are emphasized. Ideal for premedical students. Lectures, discussions, and laboratory. Carries natural science divisional credit (with lab) in CAS.
  • CAS PY 242: Principles of General Physics 2
    Calculus-based introduction to principles and methods of physics. Mechanics, heat, light, electricity and magnetism, atomic and nuclear physics, and relativity are treated. Topics relevant to medical science are emphasized. Ideal for premedical students. Lectures, discussions, and laboratory. Carries natural science divisional credit (with lab) in CAS.
  • CAS PY 251: Principles of Physics 1
    Introduction to mechanics, conservation laws, heat and thermodynamics, electrostatics, magnetism, alternating currents, electromagnetic radiation, geometrical optics. Primarily for physics, mathematics, and astronomy concentrators, but open to other students with a strong background in mathematics. Carries natural science divisional credit (with lab) in CAS.
  • CAS PY 252: Principles of Physics 2
    Introduction to mechanics, conservation laws, heat and thermodynamics, electrostatics, magnetism, alternating currents, electromagnetic radiation, geometrical optics. Primarily for physics, mathematics, and astronomy concentrators, but open to other students with a strong background in mathematics. Carries natural science divisional credit (with lab) in CAS.
  • CAS PY 313: Waves and Modern Physics
    Waves and physical optics, relativistic mechanics, experimental foundations of quantum mechanics, atomic structure, physics of molecules and solids, atomic nuclei and elementary particles. Along with CAS PY 211, 212, PY 313 completes a three-semester introductory sequence primarily intended for students of engineering.
  • CAS PY 351: Modern Physics I
    An introduction to modern physics including quantum mechanics, classical and quantum statistics, and special relativity. Topics include Schroedinger equation, temperature, entropy, black-body radiation, Lorentz transformations. Labs are a required course component.
  • CAS PY 352: Modern Physics II
    Continuation of CAS PY 351. An introduction to modern physics including quantum mechanics of atoms and molecules, condensed matter physics, nuclear physics, and elementary particle physics. Labs are a required course component.
  • CAS PY 355: Methods of Theoretical Physics
    First and second order ordinary differential equations. Partial differential equations (waves, heat, Schrödinger) and series solutions of differential equations. Vectors and vector calculus. Matrices, matrix algebra, and matrix transformations. Rotations, similarity, unitarity, hermiticity, eigenvalues, and eigenvectors.
  • CAS PY 371: Electronics for Scientists
    A survey of practical electronics for all College of Arts and Sciences science students wishing to gain a working knowledge of electronic instrumentation, and in particular, its construction. Two four-hour laboratory-lecture sessions per week.
  • CAS PY 401: Senior Independent Work
  • CAS PY 402: Senior Independent Work

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