This link goes to information about Dr. Robert Roeder

This link takes you to The Solar Ultraviolet Data and the Sunburn Table.
 

The Nature of Physics
 
Physics is concerned with understanding the behavior of the universe through systematic observation, the construction of theoretical models, and experimentation, all based on the belief that nature is fundamentally knowable. Observations and experiments take place over a wide range of distance scales encompassing subatomic particles, atoms and molecules, baseballs and people and airplanes, oceans and continents and atmospheres, solar systems and galaxies, and clusters of clusters of galaxies.

Fundamental understanding of the nature and behavior of matter and energy has always given intellectual and philosophical satisfaction to people by making the physical contexts of their lives more comprehensible, thus making them feel more at home in the universe in which they find themselves. Furthermore, this understanding of physical principles has led recently to the development of an extraordinary range of technological applications such as the computer at your fingertips and global network to which it is connected.

Our Students
 
 

	Physics students measure the magnetic field of the earth.
Our Observatory
	A large research-quality reflecting telescope was recently donated to the Physics Department by Max Allen, a local engineer and builder who was also an amateur astronomer. This Meade LX-200 with Schmidt-Cassegrain optics and a 16" primary mirror has a digital CCD camera for taking digital images that can be viewed and processed on a computer. This instrument is used by faculty and students for research, and programs of general interest to the public are conducted each month.  Follow this link to the Fountainwood Observatory Page.
Our Program

The Physics Department offers courses leading to a major (or minor) in physics from Southwestern and also offers a three-year sequence of courses for the 3/2 Engineering Program (a dual-degree program).

Fundamental to all these degree options (and fundamental also to the Bachelor of Science degree in other subjects and to the pre-professional programs such as the Premedical Program) is the two-semester sequence of courses Physics 154 and Physics 164, taught each year. Other courses deal with more advanced concepts of physics.
 

Our Faculty

The department is comprised of Dr. Bill O'Brien, Dr. Steve Alexander and Dr. Mark Bottorff. Current departmental research in the following areas may be of interest to students for Capstone or other research projects:

	Rob Roeder-- SUMPAS, the Solar Ultraviolet Monitoring Program At Southwestern, atmospheric physics,
	Bill O'Brien-- geophysics

Mark Bottorff investigates super-massive black holes in quasars and other active galaxies (agn's).

In the Fall Semester 2002 the department also has a visiting assistant professor, Dr. James Friedrichsen, teaching Electronics.

We encourage students interested in the subject of physics or in these courses in particular to read HOW TO STUDY PHYSICS for helpful hints on organizing your study of physics at the university level.

 Check out the following sites that present some slices of physics that may be of interest to you.