Department ofPhysics and Astronomy
Physics
Department Website:
https://www.haverford.edu/physics
Physics is the basis for our understanding of the universe, from the tiniest sub-atomic particles, to the way our bodies work, to the structure of the cosmos. It is essential for applications that permeate our lives, such as efficient industrial processes, cell phones, magnetic resonance imaging, and the internet. It drives the innovations that will shape our future, including quantum computing, exotic materials, and artificial intelligence.
We have structured our programs to be sufficiently flexible that they accommodate students wishing to study abroad, or to combine physics with other fields of study, such as medicine and interdisciplinary programs in astrophysics, biophysics, chemical physics, computing, and engineering.
Learning Goals
We expect that physics students should be able to solve problems independently, not only by applying equations to solve standard problems, but also by translating their knowledge into solutions of novel physical scenarios. Students are expected to acquire content knowledge, both conceptual and quantitative, as well as skills (e.g., the use of mathematical tools such as Fourier analysis, and computer methods for solving equations) appropriate for each course. Our laboratories, for instance, require substantial independent hands-on experimental work, teamwork, data analysis and reporting (in the form of a journal article in our advanced laboratories), and oral reporting, to allow the instructor to assess the level of understanding and performance of each student.
Haverford’s Institutional Learning Goals are available on the President’s website, at http://hav.to/learninggoals.
Curriculum
The department offers a unified coherent curriculum through the first two years, covering mechanics, thermal physics, waves, optics, electricity and magnetism, fluid mechanics, quantum mechanics and special relativity. We provide several different paths to enter the study of physics to accommodate differing levels of preparation and other academic interests. After the second year, we encourage students to select among course options according to their interests, so the actual content of the program can be different for different students. All students receive advanced training in at least three of the foundational areas of physics (including mechanics, electricity and magnetism, thermal and statistical physics and quantum mechanics). We also provide opportunities to participate in original research with faculty members early in the curriculum; all majors must pursue a senior thesis research project.
We advise prospective majors in all of the science disciplines to study some physics in their first or second year at Haverford, given that all contemporary sciences rely heavily on basic physical principles. There are three different introductory options:
- PHYS H101 and PHYS H102 constitute a year-long, self-contained treatment of all of physics, with particular attention to applications in the life sciences.
- PHYS H105 and PHYS H106 use calculus somewhat more intensively and are designed for students who expect to continue their study of physics in other courses, in the physics, astronomy, or chemistry departments.
- PHYS H115 (followed by PHYS H106) provides a third option, designed for students with advanced preparation. Advice on course selection is provided on the department’s web site.
A typical course sequence introducing both the physics major and minor consists of
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHYS H105 | Fundamental Physics I | 1.0 |
| or PHYS H115 | ||
| PHYS H106 | Fundamental Physics II | 1.0 |
| PHYS H213 & PHYS H211 | Waves and Optics and Laboratory in Electronics, Waves and Optics | 1.5 |
| PHYS H214 & PHYS H301 | Introductory Quantum Mechanics and Quantum Physics Laboratory | 1.5 |
However, students beginning their study in PHYS H101 and H102 may continue with PHYS H213 and join the major or minor as well.
PHYS H105 (or H115), H106, H213, and H214 are also prerequisites for the astronomy and astrophysics majors.
PHYS H213 and H214 and their associated laboratories (PHYS H211 and H301) serve as an introduction to waves, electronics, optics, mathematical methods in physics and quantum physics. We also offer a set of 300-level lecture courses covering core areas of physics as well as advanced topics courses that vary from year to year on topics including solid state physics, biological physics, computational physics, particle physics and general relativity. Departmental astrophysics course offerings are described in the catalog under Astronomy and Astrophysics.
In addition to concentrated study in core areas of physics, the department emphasizes student participation in research with faculty members. Currently, we have active research programs in soft condensed matter and granular physics, astroparticle and early Universe physics, extragalactic astronomy, gravity wave physics, biological physics, and nanoscience. Courses numbered PHYS H411 to H415 and ASTR H404 provide majors with opportunities to participate in these research efforts for academic credit during their senior year. Paid summer research positions are often available.
Advanced students interested in teaching may participate in the instructional program by registering for PHYS H459 or PHYS H460. (Students interested in physics or science education at the secondary level should also consult the teaching certification information in the section on Education and Educational Studies.)
Major Requirements
Physics offers a major and a minor. Students who wish to apply credits from outside the Quaker Consortium toward the major or minor requirements must consult with the department chair before taking such courses.
Physics Major Requirements
- PHYS H105 (or PHYS H101), and PHYS H106 (or PHYS H102).
- PHYS H213 and PHYS H214 (our sophomore lecture course sequence) and PHYS H211 (sophomore-level laboratory course).
- MATH H121 (or MATH H216) and MATH H215 (or one of: MATH H222, MATH B203 [the Bryn Mawr equivalent of MATH H215], or another 200-level mathematics course with permission).
- Three 300-level physics lecture courses, two of which must be drawn from these core courses: PHYS H302, PHYS H303, PHYS H308, and PHYS H309 (or their Bryn Mawr equivalents).
- An upper-level laboratory course in the natural or applied sciences, such as PHYS H301, PHYS H326, ASTR H341, BIOL H300 or BIOL H301, or CHEM H301 or CHEM H302. (Alternately, the student can request the substitution of an advanced laboratory course in another area of science or applied science.)
- Senior Seminar (PHYS H399F and PHYS H399I) and the associated senior talk and thesis.
For students considering graduate study in physics, it’s helpful to take all of the core theory courses: PHYS H302, H303, H308, and H309 (or their Bryn Mawr equivalents; note that the Bryn Mawr version of 308 has much less emphasis on fluids). For students interested in graduate study in experimental physics, it is helpful to also take H326. For students interested in graduate study in theoretical/computational, it is helpful to also take a course relating to scientific computing, such as PHYS H304 or MATH H222. Any student interested in graduate study in any field should consult with their advisor for the courses that make the most sense for their particular case.
Senior Project
The senior research program demonstrates achievement in depth in a particular subfield of physics or astrophysics. Students participate in PHYS H399, a year-long, ½ credit per semester senior seminar. We assess students by their performance on a short talk during the fall semester, a comprehensive talk or poster presentation in the spring semester and a senior thesis written in the form of a scientific paper.
In addition, as part of the year-long senior seminar, senior physics majors study topics in scientific integrity in two student-led meetings, using readings and role-playing scenarios to learn best practices in the ethical conduct of research. They also receive training in life after Haverford, including how to choose and apply to graduate schools, and what careers are available outside science for physics majors.
Students are expected to place their senior research work in the context of the scientific literature in their field of study, and to present their results to an audience of professionals (for their thesis) and their peers (for the talk or poster). They are given training in searching and reading the scientific literature by each research supervisor, as well as specific materials through the senior seminar course.
Most students also take a senior research course for credit (though this is not required). Their work in this course also assesses their research accomplishments.
Senior Project Learning Goals
We expect senior research in physics to demonstrate:
- a clear understanding of the scientific context of the research (including a review of the relevant scientific literature).
- mastery of the content and findings of the research.
- independent problem solving and ability to synthesize material.
- an understanding of the forward looking implications of the research findings.
- clarity in the public presentation of the research.
Senior Project Assessment
The evaluation of students’ overall work in the senior seminar includes both their content knowledge in their research area, and their ability to communicate this work. In the fall semester, students write up the introduction and background sections of their senior thesis while getting training in researching and reading the scientific literature and properly referencing their bibliographic sources. They receive formative assessment from their senior thesis advisor on the fall paper, including suggestions for improvements on the final thesis. For the senior thesis, there are multiple rounds of assessment, since students get ongoing feedback from their research supervisors while writing their thesis, and they submit two distinct formal drafts which are read carefully by two faculty members who give extensive feedback. After each round, students must respond to this feedback while preparing their final thesis.
Similarly, each student gives a first short (10 minute) research talk in the fall and is given department-wide comments about how to improve this talk before they prepare and give their final senior presentation. Typically, each student practices each presentation several times, receiving detailed feedback from a supervisor in between to ensure they present their work at a level comparable with that of poster presentations and short talks at the American Physical Society or other comparable annual meetings.
The thesis research itself is evaluated for
- a demonstrated understanding of the context and content of the research (including a review of the relevant scientific literature),
- independent problem solving and synthesis, and
- success in understanding the forward looking implications of the research.
The written and oral presentations of the research are evaluated for
- a clear and appropriate writing style and
- well-curated visual displays of the research.
A further confirmation of quality is the number of senior research projects that lead to publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.
Requirements for Honors
The departmental awards for honors in physics are based on the quality of performance in course work and the senior colloquium and paper. High honors carries the additional requirement of demonstrated originality in senior research.
Minor Requirements
- PHYS H105 (or PHYS H101 or PHYS H115) and PHYS H106 (or PHYS H102); PHYS H213, PHYS H214, and PHYS H211 lab (or Bryn Mawr equivalents).
- MATH H121 (or MATH H216) and MATH H215 (or one of: MATH H222, MATH B203 [the Bryn Mawr equivalent of MATH H215], or another 200-level mathematics course with permission).
- One of the four “core” 300-level lecture courses in physics at Haverford or Bryn Mawr: PHYS H302, PHYS H303, PHYS H308, or PHYS H309.
Concentrations and Interdisciplinary Minors
Physics majors can pursue a concentration in scientific computing.
Physics majors with biological interests may also qualify for the biophysics concentration.
Physics majors may also take an area of concentration in education.
Each of these concentrations is described in its relevant section of the Catalog.
Affiliated Programs
Physics majors should also consider study in our astronomy and astrophysics program. Students may pursue combined study by majoring in astrophysics, or by combining a physics major with either a major or minor in astronomy.
Students interested in engineering can complete an individualized major program in preparation for graduate work in engineering or the Accelerated Master's Engineering Program with the University of Pennsylvania or the 3/2 Program with Caltech; for details see the Engineering section.
Students interested in materials science should also consult the related offerings in materials chemistry through Haverford’s Department of Chemistry.
Study Abroad
Physics majors can and do pursue studies abroad. There are a number of programs, mostly in English-speaking countries, that allow physics majors to continue and broaden their studies in the field while abroad. Majors may count courses taken abroad toward the major with advanced permission; typically two to three courses may be granted credit in this way. Students interested in studying abroad should discuss this point with their major/pre-major advisor in advance.
Facilities
See the departmental web page for a description of laboratories, equipment and other special facilities for this program.