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Department Mission Statement
The Curriculum
Academic Program for Majors
Course Descriptions

Department Mission Statement
The Physics Department is committed to providing high-quality scientific training in the context of a liberal arts education. Such an education should provide more than just a narrowly focused set of skills - it should also foster the more general habits of mind and intellectual flexibility that the study of physics develops. Students leaving Wellesley should be critical and analytic thinkers, they should have an appropriate repertoire of quantitative skills, and they should be able to communicate clearly and effectively.

Guided by the above general principle, the Physics Department at Wellesley College has the following goals:

For Majors:

  • To create an academically rigorous and supportive environment for our majors. A dynamic and comprehensive major lies at the heart of our program. Physics is a discipline which requires a high level of training for advanced work, and part of our mission is to offer a curriculum which provides sound preparation for students who wish to pursue careers in physics and related disciplines. We are committed to preparing majors interested in graduate studies with the theoretical and practical backgrounds needed for success in high-quality graduate programs in physics and other related fields
  • Our major in physics is designed to be an attractive option and an effective preparation for students who are interested in a variety of future careers. The critical-thinking and quantitative skills developed during the course of the major provides an excellent foundation for a wide range of post-baccalaureate options. More generally, in the spirit of a liberal arts education, our major in physics prepares students for a lifelong experience in discovering and applying knowledge.

For Non-Majors
As a fundamental science, physics is an essential part of a liberal arts college curriculum. Our department's mission is not only to produce physics majors or train future physicists, but also to enrich the education of other science and non-science majors. In this context we have several main goals:

  • We are committed to providing a solid foundation in physics to students in other scientific disciplines as we believe this is vital for broadening and deepening knowledge in their chosen fields.
  • Our educational efforts go beyond teaching physical laws; we try to train students in the arts of logical analysis, model construction, and problem solving. These skills are important for students in any scientific discipline.
  • In an increasingly science and technology-oriented society, we believe that a basic understanding of the physical world is necessary to be an informed citizen. One of our roles at Wellesley College is to provide an opportunity for the general student population to explore the world from a scientific standpoint as a complement to investigations through literature, politics, etc.

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The Curriculum
In a typical year the Physics Department teaches 13 or 14 different courses. Nine of these courses are required for the physics major. All courses required for our major are taught every year. Two of the other courses offered annually (Physics 104 and 106) constitute the introductory sequence taken primarily by pre-medical students. A significant minority of pre-medical students do however opt to take the more challenging 107/108 sequence. These two "tracks" for the year-long introductory sequence differ in sophistication, although both are calculus-based. Both tracks can be started in either the Fall or Spring semesters. In addition we usually offer two or three courses intended for non-science majors. All of our introductory courses are taught in classes with enrollments no larger than 28. For detailed advice on choosing an introductory physics course, see Choosing an Introductory Physics Course.

We also have in our curriculum two courses intended primarily for physics majors that are not required for the major (Physics 349 - an advanced quantum mechanics / laboratory course and Physics 219 - an electronics course) which are taught in alternate years.

All of our courses (with the exception of courses intended for non-science majors) meet three times a week, typically for 70 minute sessions. Courses with laboratories have an additional three hour laboratory session once a week.

We devote considerable resources to laboratories. Our year-long introductory courses all have weekly laboratory meetings, with average enrollments of about 13 students per section. There are also weekly laboratories in our year-long sophomore sequence, with typical enrollments of about 6 students per section.
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Academic Program for Majors
The Physics major consists of a core sequence of eight explicitly required physics courses, plus additional math requirements. Typically, a first year student takes Physics 107 (mechanics) in the Fall and Physics 108 (electricity & magnetism) in the Spring. The sophomore year includes Physics 202 (thermodynamics and introduction to quantum and atomic physics) and Physics/Math 215 (Math for the Sciences I) in the Fall, and Physics 203 (waves and vibrations and relativity) as well as Physics/Math 216 (Math for the Sciences II) in the Spring. Each of the four physics courses (that is, excluding 215 and 216) has an associated laboratory component. All courses required for the major are taught every year.

There is additional math preparation implicit in the above courses. Physics 107 has a semester of calculus as pre-requisite and Physics 108 has a second semester of calculus as a prerequisite.

There are four required upper level courses: Physics 302 (quantum mechanics), Physics 306 (advanced mechanics), Physics 305 (statistical mechanics), and Physics 314 (advanced electricity and magnetism). A student might take one of these in each of her final four semesters. For example: 302 and 305 in her junior year and 306 and 314 in her senior year. We advise most students to take 302 in the first semester of the junior year to give them the grounding in quantum mechanics needed to take the optional Physics 349 (applications of quantum mechanics with advanced laboratory) in their second semester, which then serves as good preparation for subsequent independent projects and honors theses. Lately, 349 has been offered in alternate years - this further constrains the sequencing of the upper level courses. Students selected for honors take the year-long 360/370 sequence for their thesis work. A number of students take more than two core 300 level courses during their junior year. This allows them more time for thesis work, additional math or computer courses, or possibly an MIT or Olin advanced or specialty course.

We strongly encourage all students thinking of going on in physics or related fields to take the optional electronics course (Physics 219) and Physics 349 (see above). We also encourage our students to take additional math courses and appropriate MIT and Olin courses.
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Course Descriptions

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PHYS 101 Einstein’s Century: Physics in the Last 100 Years
Stark
In 1905, Albert Einstein published three seminal papers in the history of modern science, introducing the theory of special relativity, launching the field of quantum mechanics, and helping establish the atomic nature of matter. We will use Einstein’s contributions as a springboard for an introductory exploration of the natures of light, matter, space, and time. Physics 101 is designed for the student who may not have a strong science background but would like an introduction to the major themes of physics in the last one hundred years. In addition to lectures and demonstrations we will have readings that draw from the biographical and historical contexts in which these ideas developed. We will make use of basic high school algebra, and some trigonometry, in our work. Not to be counted toward minimum major or to fulfill entrance requirement for medical school.

Prerequisite: Fulfillment of the basic skills component of the Quantitative Reasoning requirement.
Distribution: Mathematical Modeling or Natural and Physical Science
Semester: Fall Unit: 1.0
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PHYS 103 The Physics of Marine Mammals with Laboratory
Sperm whales can dive down thousands of feet, stay submerged for over an hour, and resurface rapidly; no other mammal can do that and survive. Many marine mammals thrive in arctic waters, sense the world around them using sound, and move with phenomenal efficiency. In this course we will learn the physics underlying the remarkable abilities of these aquatic mammals. Marine mammal characteristics and the associated scientific topics include: diving and swimming (ideal gas law, fluids, and forces); metabolism (energy, thermodynamics, and scaling); and senses (waves, acoustics, and optics). This course represents a naturally interdisciplinary approach in connecting biology, chemistry and engineering principles to the physics we will study in pursuit of appreciating the design of the animals. The course also emphasizes the development of modeling and problem-solving techniques. Whale watch.
Not to be counted toward the minimum major or to fulfill entrance requirement for medical school.

Prerequisite: Fulfillment of the basic skills component of the Quantitative Reasoning requirement.
Distribution: Mathematical Modeling or Natural and Physical Science
Semester: N/O Unit: 1.0
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PHYS 104 Fundamentals of Mechanics with Laborator
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. Laboratories introduce experimental approaches to these topics. Students with a strong background in math or previous experience in physics should consider 107. May not be taken in addition to 107. Not to be counted toward the minimum major.

Prerequisite: Fulfillment of the basic skills component of the Quantitative Reasoning requirement. Corequisite: calculus at the level of MATH 115.
Distribution: Mathematical Modeling or Natural and Physical Science
Semester: Fall, Spring Unit: 1.25
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PHYS 106 Fundamentals of Electricity, Magnetism, and Optics with Laboratory
This second semester of classical physics concentrates on the fundamental forces of electricity and magnetism; with the important exception of gravity, all of the forces that we experience in our daily lives are electromagnetic in origin. 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, their inter-relations are explored, leading to an understanding of light as an electromagnetic phenomenon. The course will consider both ray-optics and wave-optics descriptions of light. Laboratory exercises will emphasize electrical circuits, electronic measuring instruments, optics, and optical experiments. 106 does not normally satisfy the prerequisites for 202 or 203 and does not count toward the minimum major. In the Fall semester, this course may be taken as 106 or, with alternative assignments and exams, 108.

Prerequisite: 104 and calculus at the level of MATH 115.
Distribution: Mathematical Modeling or Natural and Physical Science
Semester: Fall, Spring Unit: 1.25
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PHYS 107 Principles and Applications of Mechanics with Laboratory
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. Laboratories focus on hands-on approaches to these topics. May not be taken in addition to 104.

Prerequisite: Fulfillment of the basic skills component of the Quantitative Reasoning requirement. Calculus at the level of MATH 115.
Distribution: Mathematical Modeling or Natural and Physical Science
Semester: Fall, Spring Unit: 1.25
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PHYS 108 Principles and Applications of Electricity, Magnetism, and Optics with Laboratory
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 architectures 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. Geometrical optics and an introduction to interference effects caused by the electromagnetic wave nature of light are covered. Laboratories, a central part of the course, provide students with hands-on experiences with electronics and electronic and optical instruments. In the Fall semester, this course may be taken as 106 or, with alternative assignments and exams, 108.

Prerequisite: 107 (or 104 and permission of instructor), and MATH 116 or 120.
Distribution: Mathematical Modeling or Natural and Physical Science
Semester: Fall, Spring Unit: 1.25
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PHYS 115/CS 115 (Wintersession) Robotic Design Studio
Berg
In this intensive course, students are introduced to engineering principles as they design and assemble robots out of LEGO parts, sensors, motors, and tiny computers. Fundamental robotics skills are learned in the context of studying and modifying a simple robot known as SciBorg. Then, working in small teams, students design and build their own robots for display at a Robot Exhibition. These projects tie together aspects of a surprisingly wide range of disciplines, including computer science, physics, engineering, and art. Students may register for either PHYS 115 or CS 115. Credit will be given in the department in which the student is registered.

Prerequisite: None
Distribution: Natural and Physical Science
Semester: Wintersession Unit: 0.5
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EXTD 160 Introduction to Engineering Science
Introduction to Engineering Science is offered to students who are intrigued by engineering as a philosophy or a career. It is meant to help students get a taste of engineering. The course is project-based and hands-on and will also have a design and prototyping component. Students will explore four concepts central to engineering: effort and flow, which describes how power flows between interacting objects, regardless of their domain; transduction - the bidirectional transformation of effort and flow from one domain to another; state, which is how systems remember the past; and the powerful idea of feedback, which is used in almost all engineered devices to bring about desired behavior despite undesired disturbances.

Prerequisite: PHYS 107 or the equivalent or by permission of the instructors.
Distribution: Natural and Physical Science
Semester: Spring Unit: 1.0
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PHYS 202 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics and Thermodynamics with Laboratory
The development of Quantum Mechanics represented one of the most fundamental revolutions in our understanding of the natural world. Quantum Mechanics forms the basis for our knowledge of atoms, molecules, and solid state systems as well as of nuclei and fundamental particles. Thermodynamics deals with the concepts of heat and temperature and their connection to properties of matter and to processes in natural and constructed systems. This course introduces both of these important branches of physics and looks at how they are linked by investigating such phenomena as atomic and molecular heat capacities, and the statistical basis for black body radiation and the second law of thermodynamics.

Prerequisite: 108, MATH 116 or 120; Corequisite: MATH 215
Distribution: Mathematical Modeling or Natural and Physical Science. Fulfills the Quantitative Reasoning overlay course requirement.
Semester: Fall Unit: 1.25
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PHYS 203 Vibrations, Waves, and Special Relativity with Laboratory
A wide range of physical systems exhibit vibrational and wave motion. Because of this universality, learning about a few fundamental characteristics of waves and vibrations can provide insight into a tremendous number of phenomena such as the motion of strings and springs, molecular spectra, oscillations in solids, liquids and gases, sound, and electromagnetic radiation as well as the behavior of fundamental particles. We will study particular applications that are used in research such as Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Fourier Transform Spectroscopy. The course culminates with an introduction to Einstein’s Theory of Special Relativity, with an emphasis on explaining how this theory radically alters classical notions of space and time.

Prerequisite: 108, MATH 215
Distribution: Mathematical Modeling or Natural and Physical Science
Semester: Spring Unit: 1.25
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MATH 215 Mathematics for the Sciences I
This course is the first in a two-course sequence tailored to the needs and preparations of students considering majors in the sciences. It presents techniques of applied mathematics relevant to a broad range of scientific studies, from the life sciences to physics and astronomy. The topics of study include complex numbers, ordinary differential equations, an introduction to partial differential equations, linear algebra (matrices, systems of linear equations, vector spaces, eigenvalue problems), and Fourier series. The course emphasizes mathematical techniques and presents applications from all the sciences. Some familiarity with vectors (e.g., dot products) is assumed.

Prerequisite: MATH 116, 116Z, or 120 or the equivalent course.
Distribution: Mathematical Modeling
Semester: Fall Unit: 1.0
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PHYS 216 Mathematics for the Sciences II
When laws of nature are written in advanced mathematical forms, gradient, divergence, and curl are frequently encountered. In this course, we study these mathematical operations in the broader context of differential and integral vector calculus, with an emphasis on their physical meanings. Fourier transform and partial differential equations, which are used throughout the physical sciences, are also discussed. The course ends with an introduction to numerical methods, which is widely used in most modern scientific and engineering fields when analytical solutions to algebraic or differential equations do not exist. We use MATLAB, a popular high-level programming language. Part of the course is similar to MATH 205, but topics closely related to physics ­ Gauss’ and Stokes’ theorems, spherical and cylindrical coordinates ­ is discussed in depth.

Prerequisite: MATH 215
Distribution: Mathematical Modeling
Semester: Spring Unit: 1.0
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PHYS 219 The Art of Electronics
We are increasingly surrounded in our lives by boxes filled with electronics, but for most people (including many scientists) the inner workings of these boxes remain obscure and mysterious. The Art of Electronics is intended to remove much of this mystery. The approach is practical, aimed at allowing experimental scientists to understand the electronics encountered in their research. The emphasis is on designing and building your own circuits. Topics include diodes, transistor amplifiers, op amps, and digital electronics including microprocessors and microcontrollers. Applications to robotics will be explored. Two laboratories per week and no formal lectures.

Prerequisite: 106 or 108 or permission of instructor.
Distribution: Mathematical Modeling or Natural and Physical Science
Semester: N/O Unit: 1.25
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PHYS 222 Medical Physics
Ducas
This course covers applications of physics to two important areas of medical science: the mechanisms of the human body and the design of modern diagnostic and treatment techniques. We will use principles of physics from mechanics, fluids, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, acoustics and optics to model aspects of human structural design and performance such as respiration, circulation, muscle and nerve operation, heat regulation, hearing and vision. We will also study the principles underlying modern medical technology such as ultrasound imaging, computer aided tomography (CT scans), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET scans) and applications of lasers in diagnosis and surgery.


Prerequisite: 104/107 in addition to BISC213/NEUR213 or 106/108, Mathematics at the level of MATH 115 or higher, or by permission of the instructor.
Distribution: Mathematical Modeling or Natural and Physical Science
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PHYSICS 250, 250H Individual Study
Prerequisite: Open by permission to students who have taken 107.
Distribution: None
Semester: Fall, SpringUnit:1.0, 0.5
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PHYS 265 Thinking Physics: Developing A Physicist's Habits of Mind
This seminar will emphasize the development of a repertoire of critical skills and knowledge necessary for understanding and doing physics. These skills include conceptual problem-solving, making connections across fields, testing mathematical models, asking and answering analytical questions and making effective presentations of results.

Corequisite: 202
Distribution: Mathematical Modeling or Natural and Physical Science
Semester: N/O Unit: 1.0
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PHYS 302 Quantum Mechanics
This course provides a comprehensive development of the principles of non-relativistic 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.

Prerequisite: 202, 203, and 216
Distribution: Mathematical Modeling or Natural and Physical Science
Semester: Fall Unit: 1.0
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PHYS 305 Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics
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.

Prerequisite: 202 and 216
Distribution: Mathematical Modeling or Natural and Physical Science
Semester: Spring Unit: 1.0
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PHYS 306 Mechanics
The basic laws of Newtonian mechanics are revisited in this course using advanced mathematical tools like differential equations and linear algebra. Special attention is paid to central forces, planetary orbits, oscillations, and rigid body dynamics. In addition, Hamilton-Lagrange mechanics, an alternative to Newtonian mechanics, non-linear dynamics, and chaos are introduced.

Prerequisite: 203 and 216
Distribution: Mathematical Modeling or Natural and Physical Science
Semester: Fall Unit: 1.0
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PHYS 314 Electromagnetic Theory
Richard Feynman once said, “From a long view of the history of mankind – seen from, say, ten thousand years from now – there can be little doubt that the most significant event of the 19th century will be judged as Maxwell’s discovery of the laws of electrodynamics. The American Civil War will pale into provincial insignificance in comparison with this important scientific event of the same decade.” In this course we will study the classical theory of electromagnetic fields and waves as developed by Maxwell. Topics include boundary value problems, electromagnetic radiation and its interaction with matter, and the connection between electrodynamics and relativity.

Prerequisite: 108, 306, and 216
Distribution: Mathematical Modeling or Natural and Physical Science
Semester: Spring Unit: 1.0
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PHYS 349 Applications of Quantum Mechanics
Quantum mechanical techniques such as perturbation theory and the numerical solutions to the Schrödinger equation will be developed. Applications to problems in atomic, molecular, and condensed matter physics will be studied both theoretically and experimentally. Two lectures and one laboratory per week.

Prerequisite: 302 or CHEM 333
Distribution: Mathematical Modeling or Natural and Physical Science
Semester: Spring Unit: 1.25
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PHYS 350, 350H Research or Individual Study
Prerequisite: Open by permission to juniors and seniors.
Distribution: None
Semester: Fall, Spring Unit: 1.0, 0.5
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PHYS 360 Senior Thesis Research
Prerequisite: By permission of department. See Academic Distinctions.
Distribution: None
Semester: Fall, Spring Unit: 1.0
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PHYS 370 Senior Thesis
Prerequisite: 360
Distribution: None
Semester: Fall, Spring Unit: 1.0
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Directions for Election

A major in physics should ordinarily include: 107, 108, 202, 203, 302, 305, 306 and 314. MATH 215 and PHYS 216 are additional requirements. 219 and 349 are strongly
recommended. One unit of another laboratory science is recommended.


A minor in physics (6 units) should ordinarily include: 104 or 107, 108, 202, 203, 302
and one other unit at the 300 level. MATH 215 and PHYS 216 are also required. 350
cannot be counted as a 300 level unit.


All students who wish to consider a major in physics or a related field are urged to
complete the introductory sequence (107 and 108) as soon as possible, preferably in
the first year. A strong mathematics background is necessary for advanced courses.
It is suggested that students complete MATH 115 and 116 or 120 in their first
year and MATH 215 as soon as possible. Mathematics 116Z is particularly
appropriate for students interested in majoring in physics.


All students majoring in physics are urged to develop proficiency in the use of one
or more computer languages.
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Engineering

Students interested in engineering should consult the course listings in Extradepartmental and enroll in EXTD 160. In this course, students explore basic engineering concepts that are central to all engineering fields through hands-on projects. This course is meant to help students get a taste of engineering.

Olin certificates in engineering are awarded to Wellesley students who complete a selected number of Olin and Wellesley courses with a concentration in engineering design, materials engineering, mechanical engineering, bioengineering, electrical and computer engineering, or engineering systems.
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Honors

The only route to honors in the major is writing a thesis and passing an oral examination. To be admitted to the thesis program, a student must have a grade point average of at least 3.5 in all work in the major field above the 100-level; the department may petition on her behalf if her GPA in the major is between 3.0 and 3.5. See Academic Distinctions.
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Teacher Certification

Students interested in obtaining certification to teach physics in the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts should consult the Chairs of the Education and Physics
Departments.
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Exemption Examinations

Examinations for exemption from Physics 107 and Physics 108 are offered. Sample examinations are available from the Department. The Department does not accept
AP credit for exemption from Physics 107 and Physics 108.
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