Physics

Major and Minor

Faculty and professional interests

Thomas Moses, chair
Liquid crystals, condensed matter physics, laser physics
Charles Schulz
Magnetic resonance, Mössbauer spectroscopy, biophysics
Mark Shroyer (on leave Fall 2012)
Nuclear quadrupole double resonance, magnetic susceptibility, condensed matter physics

Physics has developed and grown throughout history as a result of the intricate but essential interplay of theory and experiment. Department programs emphasize this theme as the student takes courses involving both theoretical and laboratory work, which become progressively more complex and rigorous. At the same time, there is an emphasis on the development of a variety of skills and techniques necessary in the pursuit of physics and also highly valuable in almost any career in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) the student might choose. These skills include experimental design, instrumentation, data analysis and evaluation of experimental results; the application of mathematics and the computer to the solution of problems; communication of results and understanding to others; and, perhaps most important, the application of general principles to the analysis of specific problems.

The physics major in the context of a liberal arts program provides the student with great flexibility in the choice of a career. In the past five years, some physics majors have embarked on careers in research and/or teaching by entering graduate programs in physics or physics-related areas (such as biophysics, astronomy, astrophysics, or atmospheric science). Others have entered programs in engineering through Knox’s pre-engineering program or have pursued graduate degrees in engineering or in business prior to joining the management group of a science-related industry. Some have gone directly into secondary education or industry, while others have entered medical, law or theological school.

One of the great advantages of the physics major at Knox is the opportunity to participate in a research project as an undergraduate. Knox faculty have active research interests in both experimental and theoretical physics, and experimental facilities are available at Knox for Mössbauer spectroscopy, magnetic susceptibility, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, evanescent-wave ellipsometry and nuclear magnetic resonance experiments. The department also has a microprocessor controlled 10-inch Meade telescope, and a Nexstar 8-GPS with a CCD camera.

The departmental curriculum contributes to the College's Key Competency Requirements as follows:

• Writing Key Competency - PHYS 241 serves as a writing-intensive course for majors
• Speaking Key Competency - PHYS 241 serves as a speaking-intensive course for majors
• Information Literacy and Informed Use of Technology - Confident use of technology and skills with Information Literacy are both critical for those interested in careers in the sciences. Physics majors are exposed in PHYS 241 to tools for scientific presentation and data analysis. They experience in multiple courses (PHYS 110, 241, 242, 312 and others) the use of computers for data collection, physical modeling, and numerical calculations. Information Literacy skills are developed through assignments in multiple courses requiring searching physics literature and interpreting the results of those searches.

Departmental Learning Goals

Students completing a Physics major will:

1. Critical thinking - To be able to read intermediate-level science literature, follow the logic of the development and data analysis, and to think consciously about and be able to respond to flaws in papers.
2. Scientific Literacy - To be familiar with and be able to explain key developments in the history of physics, to be able to do literature searches on research topics.
3. Numerical Literacy - To be able to correctly and confidently apply the analytic tools of mathematics through differential equations to problems in physics, to be able to correctly and confidently solve physics problems using numerical and computer-based methods (e.g. Mathematica).
4. Physics Content Areas - To be familiar with, to be able to solve intermediate-level problems, and to be able to interpret their results in the areas of Analytical Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Electromagnetism, and Modern/Quantum Physics.
5. Lab and Research Skills - To be able to use standard physics lab instrumentation (e.g. oscilloscopes; multimeters; various force, pressure and temperature sensors) to make physical measurements, to be able to properly do error analysis on data collected from those measurements, and to be able to write a well-crafted report on the experiment.
6. Communication Skills - To be able to speak confidently and coherently to an audience about topics in physics, to be able to write clear, concise, and accurate research reports in standard style.

Requirements for the Major and Minor