Undergraduate Academics
Physics
Physics—the study of matter and energy, time and space, and their interactions and interconnections—is often regarded as the most fundamental of the natural sciences. An understanding of physics is essential for an understanding of many aspects of chemistry, which in turn provides a foundation for understanding a variety of biological processes. Physics also plays an important role in environmental science and most branches of engineering; and the field of astronomy, essentially, is physics applied on the largest of scales.
As science has progressed over the last century or so, the boundaries between the different scientific disciplines have become blurred and new interdisciplinary fields—such as chemical physics, biophysics, medical physics, and engineering physics—have arisen. For these reasons, and because of the excellent training in critical thinking and problem solving provided by the study of physics, this subject represents an indispensable gateway to the other natural sciences and a valuable component of a liberal-arts education.
Physics 2025-2026 Courses
-
First-Year Studies—Year | 10 credits
PHYS 1118
Our everyday experiences with the world around us give us an intuitive knowledge of some of the principles of physics; however, many areas of contemporary physics study the unseen—literally! This course will guide students through the core principles needed to understand modern physics and to think like a physicist. As we develop our knowledge of physics, we will study puzzles, thought experiments, and toy models of the real world to uncover the nature of our universe. Unlike traditional introductory physics courses, we will start with the modern formulations of classical mechanics, which lay the groundwork for how physical theories, including quantum mechanics, have been developed over approximately the last 100 years. We will also see how forces, such as the electromagnetic force and gravity, can be understood as field theories acting everywhere in space. As we develop our physics toolbox, we will focus on building a deep and intuitive understanding of the material, including the fundamental mathematics needed to study physics. This course will be mathematically rigorous; and while prior exposure to calculus will be helpful, a deep interest in mathematical reasoning will be essential. This seminar will focus on understanding the real-world physics at play. Work in this course will largely consist of problem sets designed to develop thinking and showcase progress over the course of the year. Biweekly in fall, students will have individual conferences with the instructor to explore a physics topic while developing skills to read and analyze research articles. In alternate weeks, students will meet for group conferences as problem-solving sessions. Occasionally, we will conduct a lab during group conference so students can experience the physics that they are studying. Biweekly in spring, students will meet with the instructor for individual conferences.
Faculty
-
Open, Small Lecture—Fall | 5 credits
PHYS 2302
One of the biggest challenges that humanity currently faces is the need to revamp our energy systems to avoid the most hazardous impacts due to global warming. Unfortunately, our predominately carbon-based energy system—the largest source of greenhouse gases from human activities in the United States—has significantly contributed to climate change. One of our best chances to mitigate environmental impacts is to switch to renewable, and ideally carbon-free, energy systems. Using both theory and experiments, we will explore the physics behind current renewable energy systems—including geothermal, wind, solar, and nuclear fission—as well as investigate the future potential of the hydrogen strategy and nuclear fusion. We will look at both the practical challenges and the potential promises of decarbonizing global energy production to become more informed consumers and citizens in our rapidly changing world. While students are not expected to have taken any physics courses before this course, a basic comfort with algebra is desirable and a natural curiosity to learn is essential.
Faculty
-
Open, Small Lecture—Fall | 5 credits
PHYS 2040
Note: At least one semester of calculus is recommended or concurrent enrollment in Calculus I (MATH 3005). Students are strongly encouraged to take General Physics II (PHYS 2041) in spring.
General physics is a standard course at most institutions; as such, this course will prepare students for more advanced work in physical science, engineering, or the health fields. Lectures will be accessible at all levels; and through group conference, students will have the option of either taking an algebra-based or calculus-based course. This course will cover introductory classical mechanics, including kinematics, dynamics, momentum, energy, and gravity. Emphasis will be placed on scientific skills, including problem solving, development of physical intuition, scientific communication, use of technology, and development and execution of experiments. The best way to develop scientific skills is to practice the scientific process. We will focus on learning physics through discovering, testing, analyzing, and applying fundamental physics concepts in an interactive classroom through problem solving, as well as in weekly lab meetings.
Faculty
-
Intermediate, Seminar—Fall | 5 credits
PHYS 3543
Prerequisite: General Physics I (PHYS 2040) or equivalent and General Physics II (PHYS 2041) or equivalent
Note: Required prerequisite for those interested in pursuing advanced physics courses at Sarah Lawrence and/or applying to the Combined 3-2 Plan in Engineering with Columbia University in Applied Mathematics, Applied Physics, Biomedical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Materials Science and Engineering.
Explore the beautiful mathematics and physics of waves through both theory and experiment. This course will teach students valuable mathematical methods and basic computational skills that are necessary for more advanced physical-science classes. Lab classtime will include using advanced lab equipment, analyzing data using Jupyter (IPython) notebooks, learning numerical techniques, and reporting the results using LaTeX. For conference work, students are encouraged to choose an American Journal of Physics article to replicate, analyze, then present their findings at the semiannual Sarah Lawrence College Science & Mathematics Poster Session.
Faculty
-
Open, Seminar—Year | 10 credits
PHYS 3118
Our everyday experiences with the world around us give us an intuitive knowledge of some of the principles of physics; however, many areas of contemporary physics study the unseen—literally! This course will guide students through the core principles needed to understand modern physics and to think like a physicist. As we develop our knowledge of physics, we will study puzzles, thought experiments, and toy models of the real world to uncover the nature of our universe. Unlike traditional introductory physics courses, we will start with the modern formulations of classical mechanics, which lay the groundwork for how physical theories, including quantum mechanics, have been developed over approximately the last 100 years. We will also see how forces, such as the electromagnetic force and gravity, can be understood as field theories acting everywhere in space. As we develop our physics toolbox, we will focus on building a deep and intuitive understanding of the material, including the fundamental mathematics needed to study physics. This course will be mathematically rigorous; and while prior exposure to calculus will be helpful, a deep interest in mathematical reasoning will be essential. This seminar will focus on understanding the real-world physics at play. Work in this course will largely consist of problem sets designed to develop thinking and showcase progress over the course of the year.
Faculty
-
Open, Small Lecture—Spring | 5 credits
PHYS 2052
This course will explore the topic of time from a wide variety of viewpoints—from the physical, to the metaphysical, to the practical. We will seek the answers to questions such as: What is time? How do we perceive time? Why does time appear to flow only in one direction? Is time travel possible? How is time relative? We will explore the perception of time across cultures and eras, break down the role of time in fundamental physics, and discuss popular science books and articles, along with science-inspired works of fiction, to make sense of this fascinating topic. Time stops for no one, but let us take some time to appreciate its uniqueness.
Faculty
-
Intermediate, Small Lecture—Spring | 5 credits
PHYS 2041
Prerequisite: General Physics I (PHYS 2040) or equivalent; Calculus II (MATH 3010) or equivalent or concurrent enrollment in Calculus II (MATH 3010) recommended
General physics is a standard course at most institutions; as such, this course will prepare students for more advanced work in physical science, engineering, or the health fields. Lectures will be accessible at all levels; and through group conference, students will have the option of either taking an algebra-based or calculus-based course. This course will cover waves, geometric and wave optics, electrostatics, magnetostatics, and electrodynamics. We will use the exploration of the particle and wave properties of light to bookend discussions and ultimately finish our exploration of classical physics with hints of its incompleteness. Emphasis will be placed on scientific skills, including problem solving, development of physical intuition, scientific communication, use of technology, and development and execution of experiments. The best way to develop scientific skills is to practice the scientific process. We will focus on learning physics through discovering, testing, analyzing, and applying fundamental physics concepts in an interactive classroom through problem solving, as well as in weekly lab meetings.
Faculty
-
Advanced, Seminar—Spring | 5 credits
PHYS 4522
Prerequisite: General Physics I (PHYS 2040) or equivalent; General Physics II (PHYS 2041) or equivalent; Classical and Quantum Waves (PHYS 3543) or an equivalent intermediate physics course; and Multivariable Mathematics: Linear Algebra, Vector Calculus, and Differential Equations (MATH 3516) taken previously or concurrently
We encounter temperature on a daily basis when we check our weather apps and have undoubtedly heard discussions about the greenhouse effect and Earth’s warming climate. But what do scientists mean by warming? How can they model it? And what even is temperature? In this course, we will dig into the fascinating world of thermal physics, which is important for delving into many more advanced topics in physics, geosciences, or chemistry. Topics will include: thermodynamics, including energy, temperature, work, heat, and ideal gases; statistical mechanics, including entropy, partition functions, distributions, chemical potential, nonideal gases, bosonic gas, and fermionic gas; and applications from physics, chemistry, and engineering, such as engines, refrigerators, Bose-Einstein condensates, black holes, and climate models. For conference work, students will be encouraged to model a simple thermal system of their choice, using the mathematical and numerical methods developed throughout the course.
Faculty