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Physics, the fundamental science which explores matter, energy, and its interactions, is the keystone in the development of new technology. During recent wars, the overwhelming technological edge provided by weapon systems such as GPS, IR guided missiles, laser guided bombs, mobile satellite communications, unmanned aerial vehicle imagery, and unattended ground sensors have enabled today’s warfighter to strike with unprecedented speed, accuracy, and effect. The development of systems such as these requires a deep and creative understanding of mechanics, electromagnetics, fluid dynamics, sound and vibrations, thermodynamics, solid-state physics, and other basic disciplines of physics.
At the Naval Postgraduate School, the Combat Systems Science and Technology curriculum is the primary customer of the Physics Department. This curriculum, sponsored by the Naval Sea Systems Command, produces officers who can apply broad technical, scientific and engineering principles to combat systems operation, evaluation, design and development. Throughout the course of their career and beyond, their education in the fundamental principles of physics prepares them for many opportunities to decrease cost, increase quality, and speed development of important projects. |
