Courses

• CAS PY 106: Elementary Physics 2
  The CAS PY 105/106 sequence satisfies premedical requirements; presupposes knowledge of algebra and trigonometry. Principles of classical and modern physics; electricity and magnetism, waves, optics, light, atomic and nuclear physics. Students must register for three sections: a lecture section, discussion section, and laboratory section. Carries natural science divisional credit (with lab) in CAS.
• CAS PY 107: Physics of Food/Cooking
  Physical science concepts of thermal physics, and soft matter physics such as phase transitions, gelation, viscosity, elasticity illustrated via cooking. Labs and demos using molecular gastronomy methods of sous-vide cooking, pressure cooking, making desserts, cheese, emulsions, foams, gels, ice creams. Carries natural science divisional credit (with lab) in CAS.
• 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 seek a more analytical course than CAS PY 105/106, and for science majors and engineers. Basic principles of physics emphasizing Newtonian mechanics, conservation laws, and thermal physics. Lectures, discussion, and laboratory. Carries natural science divisional credit (with lab) in CAS.
• CAS PY 212: General Physics
  For premedical students who seek a more analytical course than CAS PY 105/106, and for science majors and engineers. Basic principles of physics emphasizing electricity, magnetism, and 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. Primarily for physics, mathematics, and astronomy majors, 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 electromagnetic radiation and geometrical optics. Primarily for physics, mathematics, and astronomy majors, 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, Schrodinger) 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 392: Directed Study or Research in Physics
  Intensive study of one aspect of physics under the supervision of a faculty member.
• CAS PY 401: Senior Independent Work
  
• CAS PY 402: Senior Independent Work
  
• CAS PY 405: Electromagnetic Fields and Waves I
  Vector analysis; Gauss's law; electric field intensity; energy and potential; conductors, dielectrics, and capacitance; Poisson's and Laplace's equations; steady magnetic fields;
• CAS PY 406: Electromagnetic Fields and Waves II
  Maxwell's equations; electromagnetic waves in vacuum and matter; reflection and refraction; diffraction and interference; coherence; special theory of relativity.

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