The equipment available to the Physics Department is extensive, especially when compared to liberal arts institutions of similar size. Students receive hands-on experience using a number of cutting-edge research facilities and labs on campus, giving them a greater understanding of physics and making them competitive for both jobs and graduate programs.
Research Facilities
Optics laboratory
Liquid Nitrogen Cryostat
Scanning Electron Microscope
Scanning-Tunneling Microscope
10-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain and Dobsonian Telescopes
Gamma Ray Spectrometer
X-ray Spectrometer
Computer lab for physics majors
8-core MacPro research computer for data analysis and computer simulations
Laboratory Course Facilities
Mechanics Labs
Conservation of Momentum in Two Dimensions
Measurement of the Acceleration of Gravity
Computer Modeling of Free Fall with Air Resistance
Measurement of the Speed of Sound
Conservation of Momentum and Energy in a Ballistic Pendulum
Measurement of Absolute Zero Temperature
Electricity and Magnetism Labs
Electrolysis of Water
DC and AC Circuits
Diode Characteristics
Lissajous Patterns and the Oscilloscope
Measurement of the Charge to Mass Ratio of the Electron
Optics Labs
Analysis of the Atomic Spectrum of Hydrogen
Measuring the Speed of Light Using the Rotating Mirror Method
Michelson and Fabrey-Perot Interferometry
Diffraction from Slits
Measuring the Index of Refraction of Air
Laser Fundamentals
Modern Physics Labs
The Absorption Coefficient of Lead for Gamma Rays
Measuring the Speed of Light Using the Rotating Mirror Method