17 - Physics

This course provides an introduction to mechanics, heat, sound, electricity, magnetism and light. This is a hands-on, laboratory/activity-based course.  Laboratory fee applies.

Offering physical science for students in the humanities, social sciences, or communication arts, this course communicates some of the findings of classical and modern physical science.

Students are introduced to physical principles and their application to students' everyday experience with weather.

This course is designed for students requiring a general science class that integrates physics, chemistry, biology and environmental science.  This is the first semester of a two-semester sequence.  Topics covered include the practice of science, measurement, motion, heat, energy, wave motions, atomic structure, chemical reactions, water and the solar system.  Emphasis is placed on the integration of these concepts across the physical, chemical and biological disciplines.  Lecture students must also concurrently enroll in 17-121, a weekly lab that reinforces concepts reviewed in the lecture section.

This course is the laboratory companion to 17-120 Integrated Science I. This course must be taken concurrently with 17-120. Laboratory fee applies.

The purpose of this course is to provide secondary education teachers with an introductory overview of the solar system, stars, galaxies, and the universe as a whole. The formation, evolution, and properties of each are discussed.

Illinois Institute of Technology courses in this category introduce the major to the basic concepts significant to the study of aerospace engineering.  Courses include MMAE 100 Introduction to the Profession (4);  MMAE 200 Introduction to Mechanics (4);   MS 201 Materials Science (3).

This course offers a study of the fundamental laws of mechanics, material properties, fluids, and heat.

This laboratory reinforces the concepts discussed in 17-200 and develops experimental skills.  Laboratory fee applies.

This course is a study of waves and sound, electricity, magnetism, light, and topics in modern physics.

This laboratory reinforces the concepts discussed in 17-205 and develops experimental skills.  Laboratory fee applies.

This course is the first of three introductory calculus-based Physics courses and provides the foundation for the other two.  Translational, rotational, and oscillatory motions of objects and the forces and torques acting on them are covered. Newton's Laws and the laws of conservation of energy, momentum, and angular momentum are emphasized.

This is the laboratory component to 17-210.  Experiments reinforcing topics in mechanics are conducted.  Measurement techniques and data analysis are emphasized. Laboratory fee applies.

This course is a calculus-based introduction to electricity and magnetism.   Properties and sources of electric and magnetic fields are investigated.  Electric and magnetic forces and torques; induction;  DC and, time permitting, AC circuits; and the physics of various circuit components are covered.  Maxwell's equations are introduced.  17-215 and 17-218 may be taken in any order.

This is the laboratory component to 17-215.  Experiments reinforcing topics in electricity and magnetism are conducted.  Electric circuits are a primary focus of this laboratory.  Measurement techniques and data analysis will be emphasized. Laboratory fee applies.

This course is a calculus-based introduction to waves, light, thermodynamics, and modern physics. Wave properties, electromagnetic radiation, geometric and wave optics, heat and thermodynamics, special relativity, and an introduction to modern physics will be covered. 17-215 and 17-218 may be taken in any order.

This is the laboratory component to 17-218.    The primary focus of this laboratory is on waves and optics though other pertinent experiments may also be conducted.  Students also conduct a multi-week project in this lab.  Measurement techniques and data analysis are emphasized. Laboratory fee applies.

Basic D.C. and A.C. circuit theory is reviewed, including semiconductor electronic devices and theory and application of these devices as linear circuit elements in power supplies, amplifiers, communication circuits and control circuits. The emphasis is on experimental techniques.

Students explore electronic instruments and techniques used in research, in science and in digital computers. Theory and experiments emphasizing the use and design of digital circuits are examined as well.

The Illinois Institute of Technology foundation course which provides exploration of a special topic necessary for further study of aerospace engineering is MMAE 202 Mechanics of Solids II (3).

The Illinois Institute of Technology 200-level courses provide a foundation for later courses in mechanical engineering.  Courses include: MS 201 Materials Science (3), MMAE 202 Mechanics of Solids II, and MMAE 232 Design for Innovation (3).

This course is intended to give an overview of the research process and focus strongly on scientific communication.  Topics covered include research ethics, scientific method and the experimental process, literature searches and literature reviews, scientific writing (journals, proposals, abstracts), and presentation skills.  This course partially fulfills the advanced writing requirement for the Physics major.

Following an introduction to vector analysis this course develops the Newtonian, Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations of mechanics. The power of each of these formulation is examined through their application to the solution of a broad range of problems in particle and rigid body dynamics and oscillation theory.

This course will provide an overview of mathematical concepts and techniques frequently encountered in Physics, Engineering, and Chemical Physics (and Physical Chemistry). Topics are drawn from linear algebra, matrix algebra, complex variables, Fourier analysis, series expansion, and vector calculus.

This course develops Maxwell's Equations through a survey of electrostatics, conductors and dielectrics, magnetostatics, magnetic materials, and induction.  The vector calculus used in this course is also reviewed.  Time-permitting, electromagnetic radiation and waves will be introduced.

This course presents the fundamentals of both analog and digital electronic circuits.  Analog electronics topics include DC and AC circuit analysis using circuit elements including diodes, op amps, and transistors. Digital electronics topics include basic digital logic and digital circuits including gates, flip-flops, and counters.  Other topics may include non-linear circuits, converters, data acquisition, filtering, or transducers.  This course includes lecture and laboratory components and meets for 6 hours each week.  Laboratory fee applies.

This course builds on the Physical and Geometrical Optics covered in 17-218 and 17-219.  Topics include wave optics and beam propagation, Fourier optics, Gaussian beams, optical properties of atoms and laser gain media, laser design, light detection, and applications of lasers.  Other topics such as nonlinear optics or quantum optics may also be discussed at the instructor’s discretion.  This course has lecture and laboratory components and meets for 6 hours each week.   Laboratory fee applies.

Using microscopic models, this course examines the remarkable properties arising from the aggregation of atoms and molecules in solids. Topics included are the structure of crystals, waves in crystals, specific heat and thermal conduction, electrical conduction in metals and semi-conductors, superconductivity and magnetism.

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the thermodynamics of the gaseous, liquid and solid states of matter and solutions.

Students learn about relativity, thermal radiation, electrons, quanta, Bohr's Theory, particles and waves, and Schrodinger's Theory of Quantum Mechanics, with application to one-electron atoms. This course partially fulfills the advanced writing requirement.

This course builds on 17-218.  It covers special relativity, foundations of quantum mechanics, wave-particle duality, the uncertainty principle, the Schrodinger Equation in 1D, an introduction to the hydrogen atom, and spin.  The Pauli exclusion principle and application to atomic electron shell filling and periodic table properties will also be discussed.

This course will cover atomic structure and properties, spectroscopy, molecular bonding, and the structure and properties of matter.  Applications may include lasers, semiconductor devices, nanostructures, phase transitions, superconductors, and/or Bose-Einstein condensates.

This course covers simple nuclear models and properties of nuclei, radiation types, nuclear reactions, the Standard Model of Physics, fundamental particles, fundamental particle interactions and interaction mediators, and conservation laws.   Other topics that may be introduced include techniques of nuclear and particle physics experiments, medical applications, and physics beyond the Standard Model.

This course offers a study of light waves, interference, diffraction, the diffraction grating, the electromagnetic character of light, and polarization of light.

Illinois Institute of Technology intermediate courses provide in-depth study of corollary aspects of aerospace engineering.   Courses include MMAE 311 Compressible Flow (3);  MMAE 312 Aerodynamics of Aerospace Vehicles (3);  MMAE 313 Fluid Mechanics without laboratory (3);  MMAE 315 Aerospace laboratory I (4);  MMAE 320 Thermodynamics (3);  MMAE 350 Computational Mechanics (3);  MMAE 372 Aerospace Materials (3).

The Illinois Institute of Technology 300-level courses provide in-depth study in core topics in mechanical engineering.  Courses include: MMAE 302 Mechanics of Solids III (3), MMAE 305 Dynamics (3), MMAE 313 Fluid Mechanics (3), MMAE 319 Mechanical Laboratory (4), MMAE 320 Thermodynamics (3), MMAE 321 Applied Thermodynamics (3), MMAE 323 Heat and Mass Transfer (3), MMAE 332 Design of Machine Elements (3), and MMAE 350 Computational Mechanics (3).

Students explore the physics of the atmosphere, including the thermodynamics of dry and moist air, the equations of motion on a rotating Earth, atmospheric motions under balanced forces, variations in wind and pressure fields and their relation to "weather," numerical modeling of the atmosphere and the application of principles to forecasting.

This lab course emphasizes experimental techniques and data analysis through various experiments from a range of Physics topics. Statistical methods and scientific writing are taught in the lecture portion of this class.  Students will write formal lab reports, reviews of outside lectures and/or scientific literature and other papers on topics such as classic experiments, laboratory techniques, and laboratory apparatus. This course has lecture and lab components and meets for 5 hours each week. This course partially fulfills the advanced writing requirement for the Physics Major. Laboratory fee applies.

This course provides the student with concepts, methods, and hands-on experience covering a wide range of topics of current interest in Physics.

This course includes selected advanced experiments, with an emphasis on modern experimental techniques. The course partially fulfills the advanced writing requirement.

This course builds on 17-300 and 70-315.  Computational techniques will be used to study various topics in mechanics selected at the discretion of the instructor.  Topics may include coupled oscillators, fluids, non-linear systems and chaos.

This course covers the properties of atomic nuclei and beta decay, modern ideas of the structure of the nucleus, theories of low and intermediate energy-induced nuclear reactions, the deuteron problem and nucleon-nucleon scattering. (See 03-403.)

This course is a continuation of 17-310.  Maxwell's Equations are used to describe EM radiation, reflection and refraction, polarization, and energy density.  Applications may include radiating charges, antennae, waveguides, transmission lines, and/or relativistic electrodynamics. Computational techniques will be used to study and model these phenomena.

Building on the theory developed in 17-341 Modern Physics, this course will develop operator techniques, Dirac notation, angular momentum, perturbation theory, and scattering theory. Applications of quantum mechanics in solid state, nuclear, and/or particle physics will be introduced.

This course covers the structure and properties of crystals, waves in crystals, specific heat and thermal conduction, electrical conduction in metals and semi-conductors, superconductivity and magnetism.  Other contemporary topics and applications to materials science and optics may also be discussed.

This course builds on the material covered in 17-343.  Topics include nuclear structure models, nuclear decay, Standard Model particles and interactions, conservation laws, angular momentum and isospin, Feynman diagrams, boson and fermion properties, and fundamentals of experimental nuclear and particle physics.  Physics beyond the Standard Model, nuclear and particle astrophysics, or other contemporary topics may be discussed at the instructor’s discretion.

Illinois Institute of technology advanced level courses integrate concepts  learned throughout the program of study pertinent to aerospace systems.  Courses include MMAE 410 Aircraft Flight Mechanics (3);  MMAE 411 Spacecraft Dynamics (3);  MMAE 412 Spacecraft Design I (3);  MMAE 413 Spacecraft Design II (3);  MMAE 414 Aircraft Design I (3);  MMAE 415 Aerospace laboratory II (4);  MMAE 416 Aircraft Design II (3);  MMAE 417 (3);  MMAE 418 (3);  MMAE 443 Systems Analysis and Control; (3);  MMAE 450 Computational Mechanics II (3);  MMAE 452 Aerospace Propulsion (3);  MMAE 472 Ferrous Technology (3) ;  IPRO 497 Interprofessional Project (3).

The Illinois Institute of Technology 400-level courses provide in-depth study in advanced topics in mechanical engineering. Courses include: IPRO 497 Interprofessional Project (3), MMAE 419 Mechanics Laboratory (4), MMAE 432 Design of Mechanical Systems (3), MMAE 433 Design of Thermal Systems (4), MMAE 443 Systems Analysis and Controls (3), MMAE 445 Computer-aided design (3), MMAE 485 Manufacturing Processes (3).

In this course, students carry out a major project or set of topically-linked smaller projects from proposal through data collection and data analysis to dissemination. Capstone projects may be experimental, computational, or pedagogical depending on the students’ interests and emphasis within the major.  Students present their Capstone Project results in a written journal-style article, an oral presentation, and a poster.  This course partially fulfills the advanced writing requirement for the Physics Major. Laboratory fee applies.

Students work under faculty supervision on a research project in Physics, Chemical Physics, Optics, or a related area chosen in consultation with the faculty member. This course may be repeated multiple times for credit.

Students have the opportunity to work with faculty members or other researchers on problems of basic research in various areas of physics. Topic and advisor are chosen in consultation with Physics faculty members.

This seminar gives students the opportunity to explore contemporary topics in Physics though literature research and class presentations and by attending seminars and colloquia.  This seminar also helps prepare students for the major departmental assessment exam, which students will take during the seminar semester.

Students study a specific area of interest in Physics. Topics vary with semester. Course may be repeated for credit if different topics are offered.

Students undertake advanced study in Physics under the supervision of a department faculty member.