In this course students will learn advanced techniques for experimental astronomy and planetary science. Students will carry out term-long projects involving acquisition and analysis of data. In some cases these data will be derived from observations performed with telescopes or instruments built by the students themselves. In other cases students will build projects around data from space missions or ground or space-based telescopes. Techniques may include spectroscopy, photometry, multiwavelength astronomy, remote sensing of planetary surfaces, particle astrophysics, and gravitational wave astronomy.

Astrophysics is the application of physics to the study of the Universe. We will use elements of mechanics, thermodynamics, electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, special relativity, and nuclear physics to investigate selected topics such as planetary dynamics, the life stories of stars and galaxies, the interstellar medium, high-energy processes, and large scale structure in the Universe. Our goals will be to develop insight into the physical underpinnings of the natural world and to construct a "universal toolkit" of practical astrophysical techniques that can be applied to the entire celestial menagerie.

Optical and electronic materials, ranging from solar cells to superconductors, are central to our modern lives and will be crucial in solving the technological challenges of our future. For students interested in engineering applications of fundamental physics phenomena, this interdisciplinary course will introduce the science behind the development of modern materials and devices. Through hands-on projects, students will explore the development of optical and electronic materials from their atomic origins, to their implementation in semiconductor devices, and finally their long term environmental impact. This course connects topics often covered in separate physics, chemistry, and engineering courses. Previous experience with concepts from introductory physics is strongly recommended.

For students interested in current best practices in active learning and inclusive teaching, this course provides a unique experience to learn, teach, and change the physics curriculum at Wellesley. Students will read and discuss current literature in physics education, gain practice in supporting inclusive group work, refine their own physics knowledge, and do hands-on projects to improve the studio physics experience at Wellesley College. Students can take the course concurrently while working as Physics Learning Assistants or prior to working in that position.

Through hands-on exploration, students will learn about analog and digital electronics, optical systems, and foundational techniques in the modern physics laboratory. A framework for data analysis will be developed, with a focus on model-data comparison, model selection and statistical inference. This course helps prepare students for independent research and internships in physics and related fields.

In the Spring semesters enrollment in this course is restricted to ASPH and PHYS majors.

Einstein's general theory of relativity conceives of gravity as a manifestation of the geometry of spacetime. In John Archibald Wheeler's summary: "Spacetime tells matter how to move; matter tells spacetime how to curve." Differential geometry supplies the mathematical language for describing curvature. We begin by defining and building up the relevant mathematical ideas: manifolds, tensors, covariant derivatives, geodesics, and the Riemann tensor. We then apply these ideas to the physics, developing the Einstein field equation and some of its consequences, including the Schwarzschild solution and black holes, cosmology, and gravitational waves.   

This course is the entry point for students interested in exploring physics as a possible major or as a foundation for other sciences. It presents, at an introductory level, two fundamental developments at the heart of contemporary physics: quantum physics and Einstein’s theories of relativity. Relativity profoundly alters our understanding of the nature of space and time; quantum physics revolutionizes our knowledge of the world at the smallest scales. We will introduce and develop the core principles of these two theories, and explore their implications and practical consequences. No prior experience with physics is required.

Many of the grand challenges facing the modern world have an underlying scientific and technological component. What basic physics should all future leaders know? And what science should all citizens understand? Stressing conceptual understanding and critical reasoning, this course aims to give students the physics background and habits of mind that will help them make informed decisions and cogent arguments on matters of public concern. Topics include: the physics of energy, climate change, the threat of nuclear materials and weapons, space exploration, and driverless cars and other emerging technologies. We will make use of basic high school level mathematics in our work. Not to be counted toward the major or to fulfill the entrance requirement for medical school.

This course is a systematic introduction to Newtonian mechanics, which governs the motion of objects ranging from biological cells to galaxies. Primary concepts such as mass, force, energy, and momentum are introduced and discussed in depth. We will place emphasis on the conceptual framework and on using fundamental principles to analyze the everyday world. Topics include: Newton's Laws, conservation of energy, conservation of momentum, rotations, waves, and fluids. Concepts from calculus will be developed and used as needed. This course is taught in studio-style, which blends lecture with group problem solving and hands-on experimental activities. Students with a strong background in mathematics or previous experience in physics should consider PHYS 107.

This course has a required co-requisite laboratory - PHYS 104L.

This continuation of classical physics concentrates on the fundamental forces of electricity and magnetism. The electric and magnetic forces are entirely responsible for the structures and interactions of atoms and molecules, the properties of all solids, and the structure and function of biological material. Our technological society is largely dependent on the myriad applications of the physics of electricity and magnetism, e.g., motors and generators, communications systems, and the architecture of computers. After developing quantitative descriptions of electricity and magnetism, we explore the relations between them, leading us to an understanding of light as an electromagnetic phenomenon. The course will consider both ray-optics and wave-optics descriptions of light. This course is taught in studio-style, which blends lecture with group problem solving and hands-on experimental activities.

This course has a required co-requisite laboratory - PHYS 106.

This is a required co-requisite laboratory for PHYS 106.

Newtonian mechanics governs the motion of objects ranging from biological cells to galaxies. The fundamental principles of mechanics allow us to begin to analyze and understand the physical world. In this introductory calculus-based course, we will systematically study the laws underlying how and why objects move, and develop analysis techniques for applying these laws to everyday situations. Broadly applicable problem-solving skills will be developed and stressed. Topics include forces, energy, momentum, rotations, gravity, and waves, and a wide range of applications. This course is taught in studio-style, which blends lecture with group problem solving and hands-on experimental activities.

The electromagnetic force, one of the fundamental interactions in nature, is responsible for a remarkably wide range of phenomena and technologies, from the structures of atoms and molecules to the transmission of nerve impulses and the characteristics of integrated circuits. This introductory course begins with the study of Coulomb's law of electrostatics and progresses through investigations of electric fields, electric potential energy, magnetic fields, and Faraday's law of magnetic induction. The course culminates in the study of light, where the deep connections between electricity and magnetism are highlighted. Interference effects caused by the electromagnetic wave nature of light are introduced.

When studying macroscopic systems consisting of enormous number of individual particles, new physics concepts, such as temperature, pressure, heat, and entropy, become essential. In this course, we will explore these concepts in the context of the first and second laws of thermodynamics, at both macroscopic and microscopic levels. These topics will be paired with computational modeling, including the introduction of basic numerical methods used across the sciences. No prior programming experience is required.

This course has a required co-requisite laboratory - PHYS 205L.

Newtonian mechanics is revisited using more sophisticated mathematical tools such as differential equations, linear algebra, and Fourier analysis. Topics include driven and coupled oscillators, central forces, and conservation laws. Particular attention is paid to wave phenomena and how the mathematics that describes mechanical waves can be extended to the realms of electromagnetism and quantum mechanics.

This course builds on the foundations of electricity and magnetism developed in PHYS 108. After a review of the basics of electrostatics and magnetostatics, a more mathematically rich description of electromagnetic phenomena is developed. The vector operators div, grad, and curl are used to re-express the integral formulations of PHYS 108 (e.g., Gauss’ Law, Ampere’s Law, Faraday’s Law); the necessary mathematics is presented in parallel with the physics. This treatment culminates in the differential forms of Maxwell’s equations, which then lead to the electromagnetic wave equation. Properties of electromagnetic waves, including polarization and energy and momentum transport, are introduced.

This course provides a comprehensive development of the principles of nonrelativistic quantum mechanics, the fundamental theory of electrons, atoms, and molecules. Quantum mechanics governs the building blocks of all matter, and yet fundamentally challenges our physical intuition, which is based on the behavior of everyday macroscopic objects. Topics include the postulates of quantum mechanics, the Schrödinger equation, operator theory, the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, the hydrogen atom, and spin.

Modern statistical mechanics builds from the quantum nature of individual particles to describe the behavior of large and small systems of such particles. In this course, we will derive the fundamental laws of thermodynamics using basic principles of statistics and investigate applications to such systems as ideal and real atomic and molecular gases, radiating bodies, magnetic spins, and solids. We will study Bose-Einstein and Fermi-Dirac statistics and learn about exciting new developments, such as Bose-Einstein condensation and ultra-cold Fermi gases. We will cover additional applications of statistical mechanics in the fields of biology, chemistry, and astrophysics. This course is strongly recommended for students planning to attend graduate school in physics.

This course continues, from PHYS 208, the study of the classical theory of electromagnetic fields and waves as developed by Maxwell. Topics include electric and magnetic fields in matter, boundary value problems, electromagnetic radiation, and the connection between electrodynamics and special relativity. This course is strongly recommended for students planning to attend graduate school in physics.

PHYS 308 will be taught in Fall 2026 and Spring 2028 and will be offered only in Spring semesters thereafter.

Modern experimental physics draws on a wide range of laboratory skills, design strategies, and analysis techniques. The experimentalist approaches each measurement with an array of tools, from the effective use of sophisticated instrumentation and the construction of home-built equipment to the evaluation of experimental uncertainties. This course offers a comprehensive introduction to experimental physics as it is carried out in research settings. The experiments illustrate the use of electronic, mechanical, and optical instruments to investigate fundamental physical phenomena in nuclear, atomic, molecular, and condensed matter systems. Scientific writing skills and oral presentation skills receive focused attention. An emphasis on independent work is gradually developed throughout the semester. This course is strongly recommended for students planning to attend graduate school in physics.

PHYS 310 will be offered in Spring 2027 but thereafter will transition to be offered in Fall semesters only.

This course explores aspects of relativistic quantum mechanics. Beginning with a review of special relativity and the foundations of quantum mechanics, two of the most fundamental equations in particle physics will be introduced: the Klein-Gordon equation and the Dirac equation. Students will also learn intrinsic properties of fundamental particles and how to represent these ideas through Feynman diagrams with the focus being on quantum electrodynamics and weak interactions. From there, a variety of topics will be explored, including Lagrangians, symmetry breaking, and the Higgs mechanism, as well as neutrinos and their current role in particle physics research. If time permits, concepts of field theory will be introduced.

The first course in a two-semester investigation (355/365) of a significant research problem, culminating in the preparation of a thesis. This route does not lead to departmental honors.

The first course in a two-semester investigation (360/370) of a significant research problem, culminating in the preparation of a thesis and defense (oral examination) of that thesis before a committee of faculty from the Department of Physics and Astronomy. Required for honors in the major.

The second course in the 355/365 sequence.

The second course of the 360/370 sequence.