Course Descriptions

Physics
SCI 110, (406) 657-2341

* PHYS 101 Earth, Air, Fire & Water 3 cr. Prerequisite: M 095. Corequisite: PHYS 102.  Concentrates on fundamental ideas of physics:  energy, forces, and conservation laws.  Helps students understand basic principles which underlie and explain all diverse phenomena and structures of the physical world.  Emphasizes conceptual rather than mathematical treatment; however, basic algebra skills are required.

* PHYS 102 Earth, Air, Fire & Water Lab 1 cr. Corequisite: PHYS 101.  Requires the student to critically examine and analyze his or her immediate physical environment in terms of fundamental principles.  Develops an appreciation for the simplicity of basic physical laws and the broad range of physical phenomena which can be explained by them.

* PHYS 110 College Physics I 3 cr. Prerequisite: M 151. Corequisite: PHYS 111.  Presents an algebra-based treatment of introductory physics.  This first semester of a two-semester sequence will cover vector analysis as it applies to kinematics (motion in three-dimensions) and to Newton’s laws of motion.  Conservation laws will be discussed as an aid to understanding motion.  Fluids and thermodynamics will also be covered.  Students may receive credit for only one introductory sequence:  PHYS 110-120 or PHYS 210-220.  Lab required.

* PHYS 111 College Physics I Lab (TN) 1 cr. Prerequisite: M 151. Corequisite: PHYS 110.  Laboratory to complement the lecture in PHYS 110.

PHYS 120 College Physics II 3 cr. Prerequisite: PHYS 110 and PHYS 111.  Presents continuation of algebra-based treatment of physics with a discussion of the behavior of matter in bulk, leading to simple harmonic motion and waves, electricity and magnetism and their application in electric circuits, and the behavior of light, emphasizing optical applications.  Students may receive credit for only one introductory sequence: PHYS 110-120 or PHYS 210-220.  Lab required.

PHYS 121 College Physics II Lab 1 cr. Prerequisites: PHYS 110 and PHYS 111.  Complements the lecture in PHYS 120 with emphasis on electricity, magnetism, and thermodynamics.

* PHYS 201 Introduction to Astronomy 3 cr.  Surveys the historical highlights and traditional topics in classical and modern astronomy, such as the solar system, sun, planets, galaxies, and the universe.  Exotic objects such as quasars, pulsars, and black holes will be examined.  Recent discoveries, modern evolutionary theories, and current unsolved problems will be discussed.

PHYS 202 Special Topics in Astronomy 3 cr. Prerequisite: PHYS 201.  Provides the opportunity for students who have completed the survey course to explore a number of special topics in depth.  These may include the Big Bang and alternate cosmologies, the dark matter problem, the galaxy formation problem, the dark sky paradox, supernovae, black holes, and/or other topics of current interest.

* PHYS 203 Introduction to Astronomy Lab 1 cr. Corequisite: PHYS 201 Introduces students to the night sky.  Illustrates the difference between real and apparent motions in the heavens.  Develops useful observational techniques and an appreciation by the student of the broad range of phenomena in the Universe.

PHYS/EE 206 Circuits I 4 cr. (Lec. 3/Lab 1 – Lab required) Prerequisite: M 172. Corequisites: PHYS 220 & 221.  Introduces students to circuit analysis including Ohm’s and Kirchhoff’s Laws; nodal and mesh methods; network theorems; resistors, capacitors, inductors, independent and dependent sources, and diodes; ideal OP-AMP and transistor circuits; R-L, R-C, and R-L-C responses; complex frequency and phasors; and steady-state AC circuits.
This course is offered online with only the lab portion at MSU Billings.

PHYS 210 University Physics I 3 cr. Prerequisite: M 171. Corequisite: PHYS 211.  Presents a calculus-based treatment of introductory physics.  This first semester of a two-semester sequence will cover vector analysis as it applies to kinematics (motion in three-dimensions) and to Newton’s laws of motion.  Conservation laws will be discussed as an aid to understanding motion.  Simple harmonic motion and wave motion will also be covered.  Students may receive credit for only one introductory sequence: PHYS 110-120 or PHYS 210-220.

PHYS 211 University Physics I Lab 1 cr. Corequisite: PHYS 210.  Laboratory to complement the lecture in PHYS 210.

PHYS 220 University Physics II 3 cr. Prerequisite: M 171, PHYS 210, PHYS 211. Corequisite: PHYS 221.  Continues the curricula of PHYS 210.  The calculus-based treatment of physics will continue with a discussion of the behavior of matter in bulk, leading to thermodynamics, electricity and magnetism and their application in electric circuits, and the behavior of light emphasizing optical applications.  Students may receive credit for only one introductory sequence:  PHYS 110-120 or PHYS 210-220.  Lab required.

PHYS 221 University Physics II Lab 1 cr. Corequisite: PHYS 220.  Laboratory to complement the lecture in PHYS 220.

PHYS 230 Modern Physics 3 cr. Prerequisite: PHYS 220.  Presents the fundamentals of Twentieth century physics—relativity and quantum mechanics—with an emphasis on developing the mathematical tools necessary for analyzing probabilities and waves.

PHYS 231 Modern Physics Lab 1 cr. Prerequisite: PHYS 220. Corequisite: PHYS 230.  Presents laboratory exercises to complement the lecture in PHYS 230.

PHYS 240 Electronics Instrumentation 4 cr. (Lec. 3; Lab 1).  Presents the basics of circuit design and analysis to develop an understanding of the behavior of electric circuits.  The remainder of the course will be devoted to the use of integrated circuit chips in the construction of filters, amplifiers and logic circuits.  Lab required.

PHYS 350 Advanced Topics I 3 cr. Prerequisite: PHYS 230.  Designed to serve the needs of students who are interested in continued study in physics beyond the introductory level.  The course will be devoted to an in-depth study of one of the following topics: electricity and magnetism, classical mechanics, or quantum mechanics.

PHYS 450 Advanced Topics II 3 cr. Prerequisite: PHYS 350 in the area to be continued.  Continues a topic covered in PHYS 350.  The follow-up for electricity and magnetism will be electromagnetic wave theory; for classical mechanics will be fluid dynamics; for quantum mechanics will be further analysis of more complicated atomic systems and a study of Dirac’s matrix representation of the Schrodinger equation.

PHYS 491 Independent Study V 1-4 cr. Prerequisites: consent of instructor and department chairperson.  Designed to provide the student with the opportunity to study any special aspect of physics which is not offered directly as a course.

PHYS 492 Seminar V 1-3 cr. Prerequisites: major or minor in one of the natural sciences and consent of instructor.  Provides advanced students an opportunity to investigate intensively topics pertinent to the field of Physics.

PHYS 493 Workshop V 1-4 cr. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.  Provides an opportunity for experimental study in an area of Physics.