Physics
Physics – The Foundation for Everything
Physics can be considered the most fundamental of sciences, because, ultimately, all
natural laws are laws of physics. By studying how fundamental principles can be applied
to produce new insights, physics majors become near-universal problem solvers.
The fundamental areas of physics are
- Mechanics: The study of forces, particles and their interactions. The foundation for
phenomena such as stability of buildings and jet propulsion.
- Electrodynamics: The study of electromagnetic fields. The foundation for wireless
communication.
- Quantum mechanics: The study of the amazing world at the nanoscale and beyond. The
final frontier for computer design and approaches to computing.
- Relativity: The study of gravity and particles at high speeds. The new frontier for
study of the early universe.
Active areas of research include computer simulations of solid-state and polymer systems,
nuclear theory, experimental atomic and molecular physics, optics and computational
ocean acoustics. Undergraduates will participate in a research project as part of
the curriculum.