At Norwich, the Physics program offers a bachelor’s degree as well as courses that support fields such as engineering, architecture and the biological and earth sciences.
Physics majors follow a curriculum containing a full complement of coursework from classical topics such as mechanics, electromagnetism and thermodynamics, to modern subjects that include atomic, nuclear and quantum physics. There is a course in instrumentation and general interest courses in stellar and galactic astronomy and, occasionally, weather and climate.
Laboratory instruction is an important component of a physics education. Norwich emphasizes lab work with its courses utilizing modern, computer interfaced equipment.
One capstone of a major’s education is a research project, conducted senior year, when a student works under the guidance of a faculty member. Projects have included the aerodynamics of wings and propellers, construction of a radio telescope, acoustic resonance in heated tubes, stellar imaging with digital photography, holography, and construction of a magnetometer.
In recent years, most Norwich physics majors have received military commissions, for which physics is a perfect background.
