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Physics

1500 N. Warner St. #1031
Tacoma, WA 98416-1031

253.879.5901

Administrative Support

Soph Kobernusz-Gibbs

Program Description

How is the material world structured, from subatomic particles to galaxies? How do objects act under the influence of forces, and what are the origins of those forces? As a discipline, physics uses mathematical techniques to study matter and energy. Physics majors learn to tackle complex problems by collecting and analyzing quantitative data, applying mathematical reasoning to model the physical world, expressing their scientific thought processes orally and in writing, and using technology to explore and understand physical phenomena. 

The Physics Department at Puget Sound embodies scientific inquiry and discovery on the part of both students and faculty. Students can work directly with faculty members who are engaged in research in fields such as particle physics, musical acoustics, optical materials science, and biophysics.

 

 

Who You Could Be

  • System Engineer
  • Research Physicist
  • Data Scientist
  • Physician
  • Physics Professor, Teacher
  • Database Specialist
  • Quantitative Analyst
  • Software Engineer
  • Astronomer

 

Matt Fergoda '18
Alumni
Matt Fergoda '18

"Learning physics as part of a liberal arts curriculum allowed me to place physics in the context of other academic endeavors and hone my verbal and written communication skills, too."

 

What You'll Learn

  • Problem-solving skills in a variety of subfields including classical mechanics, waves and optics, electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, and relativity
  • Laboratory skills, including data gathering, data analysis, and writing lab reports
  • To use computers to solve problems related to the physical world that lack simple analytical solution
SAMPLE COURSES

This course is intended primarily for students having some background in music. The scientific aspects of musical sound are treated including the basic physics of vibrating systems, wave phenomena, and acoustics and their applications to musical instruments and musical perception. A weekly laboratory is required.

Code
Natural Scientific and Mathematical Perspectives
Prerequisites
A solid knowledge of musical intervals and scales, or permission of the instructor.

The physics of waves is studied with emphasis on the nature of light, including propagation, interference, diffraction, and polarization. The constant speed of light leads to a careful study of the theory of special relativity. A weekly laboratory is required.

Code
Natural Scientific and Mathematical Perspectives
Prerequisites
PHYS 122 and MATH 280 (may be taken concurrently).

Theory of electrostatic and magnetostatic fields is discussed, with emphasis on the theory of potential, harmonic functions, and boundary value problems.

Code
Natural Scientific and Mathematical Perspectives
Prerequisites
PHYS 122, MATH 280, and MATH 301 (may be taken concurrently).

This course explores the principles of physics applied to living systems. Topics include diffusion, hydrodynamics and the low Reynolds-number world, importance of entropy and free energy, entropic forces, molecular machines, membranes, and nerve impulses. Written and oral scientific communication is emphasized. This course is appropriate for junior or senior undergraduates in the sciences, particularly physics and biology. No specialized knowledge of biology or physics is expected, but a facility with algebraic manipulations and a working knowledge of calculus is needed.

Code
Natural Scientific and Mathematical Perspectives
Prerequisites
Math 180 and Physics 111 or 121; and either BIOL 212 or a 300-level course in Biology or Physics; or permission of the instructor.

This course is an introduction to the quantum theory of matter. The emphasis is on exactly soluble systems including the infinite square well, harmonic oscillator, and hydrogen atom. The theory of angular momentum is also discussed.

Code
Natural Scientific and Mathematical Perspectives
Prerequisites
PHYS 305, PHYS 351, MATH 290, and MATH 301, or permission of the instructor.

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING

Students conduct a variety of research:

  • Sol Bhattacharya '27, "Anapole Scattering: Beyond Leading Order"
  • Max Ketterer '26, "The Differential Cross Section for Majorana Fermion Scattering"
  • Kade Stark '27, "Modeling Charged Particles with Electric Field Information Propagation Lag"
  • Logan Pollard '25, "From Two Heads to One; the Drum the Drummer & the Sound"
  • Kelsy Bryson '22, "Determining the effect of seed density on the seed dispersal pattern of splash cup plants"
  • Kiana Walter '21, "Spontaneous two-photon emission from a Majorana fermion​"
  • Matt Wells '20, "Characterizing the feeding flow of Vorticella Convallaria via inline digital holography"

JOBS

Our alumni work at:

  • Boeing Company (electrophysics engineer, scientist)
  • Google, Inc. (software engineer)
  • BP (subsea engineer)
  • SpaceX (space lasers engineer)
  • Apple (mechanical engineer)
  • Microsoft (software development engineer, mechanical engineer)
  • Bucknell University (physics professor)
  • Space Telescope Science Institute (astronomer)

CONTINUE STUDYING

Our alumni continue their studies:

  • University of Hawai'i (astrophysics)
  • University of Oregon (experimental quantum optics)
  • Emory University (biophysics)
  • University of Washington (physics)
  • UC Irvine (astrophysics)
  • Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego (physical oceanography)
  • University of Arizona (biomedical engineering)

FACILITIES

Professor Tanaka and students in the observatory
OBSERVATORY

On clear nights, Physics students may find themselves in our rooftop observatory getting a firsthand look at the stars.

physics lab spaces
LAB SPACES

Students experience hands-on learning through a variety of physics labs.

Foucault's Pendulum in Harned Hall
FOUCAULT PENDULUM

The Foucault Pendulum in Harned Hall's spiral staircase demonstrates the rotation of the earth and Newton's laws of motion.