Physics and Astronomy

Warren Wilson College

Faculty: Donald F. Collins, PhD

Use of Hands-on activities:

All physics and related courses make extensive use of hands-on activities - laboratories which enhance the learning through concepts



A student launches a ball while moving photographed with a video camera and analyzed with computer	Sunspots are imaged with a telescope. Students measure the rotation period of the sun.

Other hands-on activities:


Student web pages	Planetary photography
Color Photometry of stars	Deep sky photography - webcam
Transistor circuits	Deep Sky Photography - Digital Camera
Video spectroscopy	Lunar photography
Lunar Eclipse - May 2003	Physlets - computer simulations and animations


Physics Courses: Physics I PHY 251 Physics II PHY 252 Student lab reports on-line	General Courses: Contemporary Astronomy PHY 118 (every year) Principles of Physical Science PHY 111 (Alternate year - Spring, 2002)
Pre Engineering Students can attend Warren Wilson for 3 years, then enroll in the dual degree program at Washington University in St. Louis and complete a combined degree: Liberal Arts from WWC and BS in Engineering from Washington U.
Physics Minor
A minor in Physics consists of 20 credit hours, which include Physics I and II, plus physics department courses at the 200 level and above which may include Thermodynamics: Physical Chemistry I, Quantum Chemistry, Special Topics, Independent Studies and/or Natural Science Seminar Research. In addition, the Natural Science Seminar requirement must be met. See Science (SCI) listing for further information.

Research projects


1999 expedition to total solar eclipse
This is the "diamond ring" phenomenon photographed by Sky Stephens (class of 2001) in Bucharest Romania, August, 1999.


Construction of Instrument to measure water turbidity
An infrared laser diode shines through river water. The amount of light is detected by the a phototransistor. Increased turbidity in the sample relates to less light detected. Designed by Alex Cady, 1999.


CCD Astronomy
An ongoing project uses a small telescope and an electronic camera to measure eclipse times of the Galilean satellites of Jupiter to a high degree of precision. The plot on the left shows the relative brightness of Io (one of Jupiter's satellites) as it goes into Jupiter's shadow and becomes invisible in a matter of 3 sec.