PHY 300 · Compass

PHY 300

Waves and Optics

4 credits · STEM+

The physics of oscillations and waves, from mechanical waves to light waves to electron waves. Topics include resonance and normal modes of coupled oscillators, the wave equation and wave propagation, interference and diffraction, polarization and imaging, coherence, and lasers. Three lecture hours and one two-hour laboratory per week. This course has an associated fee. Please see www.stonybrook.edu/coursefees for more information.

Prerequisites

All of

One of

All of

PHY 132Classical Physics II

PHY 134Classical Physics Laboratory II

All of

PHY 142Classical Physics II: Honors

PHY 134Classical Physics Laboratory II

All of

PHY 126Classical Physics B

PHY 127Classical Physics C

PHY 134Classical Physics Laboratory II

One of

MAT 203Calculus III with Applicationsmay be taken together

MAT 205may be taken together

AMS 261Applied Calculus IIImay be taken together

MAT 307Multivariable Calculus with Linear Algebramay be taken together

Catalog text

Prerequisite: PHY 132/PHY 134 or PHY 142/PHY 134 or PHY 126/PHY 127/PHY 134 Pre- or Corequisite: MAT 203 or MAT 205 or AMS 261 or MAT 307

Sections

Fall 2026

Section	Days	Time	Room	Instructor
LEC 01	MoWe	11:00AM–12:20PM	PHYSICS P118 WESTCAMPUS	Laszlo Mihaly★ 4.4
LAB L01	Fr	11:00AM–12:50PM	PHYSICS P118 WESTCAMPUS	Laszlo Mihaly★ 4.4

Spring 2027

Section	Days	Time	Room	Instructor
LEC 01	MoWe	11:00AM–12:20PM	PHYSICS P118 WESTCAMPUS	Staff
LAB L01	Fr	11:00AM–12:50PM	PHYSICS P118 WESTCAMPUS	Staff