Physics Labs and Equipment

Physics laboratory courses provide students with exceptional opportunities to explore the fundamental laws of nature through hands-on experimentation and to apply physics principles to real-world problems. Through guided and inquiry-based learning, students develop the technical, analytical and problem-solving skills needed to succeed in laboratory and research environments.

Student researchers in the Wright Research Lab use an electro-optical amplitude modulator to explore and control light in precision optics experiments.

A core feature of the curriculum is the project laboratory sequence, where students complete semester-long research projects under faculty guidance. In these courses, students may design their own experiments or engineer new devices and systems. Projects progress from proposal through experimentation and analysis to final presentation, often informed by published scientific literature. Students produce formal, journal-quality reports that reflect professional standards in scientific research.

Inquiry-based laboratory courses further strengthen this experience by encouraging students to design experiments, explore physical concepts through discovery and develop scientific reasoning skills. Across all lab experiences, students build a strong foundation in problem-solving, critical thinking and quantitative analysis that prepares them for careers in science, engineering and technology.

Students are strongly encouraged to participate in faculty-led research projects. Adelphi’s physics faculty are experienced mentors who actively involve students in their research, often beginning in the first year. These experiences frequently lead to presentations at regional and international conferences and, in some cases, co-authored publications, providing valuable preparation for graduate study and professional careers.

Laboratory Facilities

Adelphi’s physics facilities continue to expand and support a wide range of instructional and research experiences, including:

• Quantum and nonlinear optics laboratory
• Laser cooling and trapping atomic physics laboratory
• First-year physics computerized instructional laboratory
• Light instructional laboratory
• Modern physics instructional laboratory
• Electronics instructional laboratory
• Quantum and advanced physics project laboratory
• Observatory
• Student computer lab

Observatory telescope, located in Blodgett Hall on Adelphi University’s Garden City, NY campus.

Physics Equipment and Resources

Students have access to modern instrumentation and specialized tools that support both coursework and research, including:

• Innovation studio with a 3D printer, CNC milling machine, electronics workstations, soldering stations, computer stations and fabrication tools
• Computerized instructional experiment systems
• Demonstration equipment such as Van de Graaff generators, Lorentz force apparatus and a cloud chamber
• A variety of lasers, including argon ion, titanium: sapphire, helium-neon, krypton ion and diode lasers
• Precision optical components and instrumentation
• More than 10 optical tables for advanced experimentation
• Ultra-high vacuum systems used in research applications
• Meade 14-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope for observational astronomy
• Student computer lab supporting computation, simulation and data analysis