The Whitman College Physics Department is well equiped with computer equipment. There are three computer labs, one of which is open for general use by physics students. The general lab is in Room XXXX and contains two Macintosh Quadra and two Macintosh Centris computers. It also contains the physics department's main laser printer. Access to the lab is through a combination lock, ask your advisor for the code.
The Advanced Laboratory course has its own lab containing six Power Computing PowerCenter Macintosh Clones. These computers are equipped with National Instruments digital aquisition cards. The computers are used for independant student projects and instruction in the LabView software package.
The new physics lab located in room 230 contains 14 Power Macintosh 7600 computers. Each of these machines has an interface box from Pasco Scientific. This allows students to conduct a wide variety experiments using instruments from geiger counters to motion sensors. In addition, the lab has a video distribution network which allows each of the computers to capture video. Students can then use the VideoPoint software package to use video data in experiments. In addition, there is a Power Macintosh 8500 which can be used by the instructor and can be a video source. In the adjoining room 229, there are two more Power Macintosh 7600 computers, several Power Macintosh 8600 computers owned by the Biology Department, and Gilbert the Printer (the department's other laser printer). There is also an older Macintosh serving a web page about the lab with a live video feed at The Physics WebCam.
In addition, the department owns a PowerBook G3 which is used in labs and for general use by instructors. Each professor also has at least one computer in their office. These computers range from a Power Macintosh G3 to a Silicon Graphics O2.
The department has a wide variety of video equipment housed in room 230, including a laser disk player, a DVD player, and a commercial VCR editing deck as well as several Yamaha audio amplifiers. One of the department's cameras, an industrial video camera, is connected via S-video to the webcam computer. The other video camera is a Sony Hi8 Handycam. Finally, the department owns a Kodak DC120 still digital camera. These cameras and equipment are available for use in student projects. If you need to use this equipment, contact Fred Moore.
The department also owns a wide variety of "standard" physics equipment including multimeters, oscilloscopes, signal generators, lasers, spectroscopy equipment, and an optics table. AND A LOT MORE
The Department of Geology maintains a facility containg a JOEL JSM-T300 scanning electron microscope with EDS microprobe. There is also a PELCO MOdel 3 Sputter Coater for SEM specimen preparation. Lastly, the transmission electron microscope is an AEI Corinth 500 with an LKB Ultramicrotome, Type 8801A. These facilities are available for use by other Departments in the Division contingent on the approval of the Department of Geology. Electron Microscopy Laboratory: The Department of Geology maintains a facility containg a JOEL JSM-T300 scanning electron microscope with EDS microprobe. There is also a PELCO MOdel 3 Sputter Coater for SEM specimen preparation. Lastly, the transmission electron microscope is an AEI Corinth 500 with an LKB Ultramicrotome, Type 8801A. These facilities are available for use by other Departments in the Division contingent on the approval of the Department of Geology.