Michael Wood portrait

Michael Wood

Assistant Professor
Degree
University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
Ph.D. Physics, Minor in Astronomy, 2014
B.S. Physics & Astrophysics, 2009
Office
OWS 165B
Phone
(651)962-5095
Mail
Mail Stop OWS 153
2115 Summit Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55105

Where do the elements in the periodic table come from?  Why are some rarer than others?  Can determining their amounts in an exoplanet help us find life beyond Earth?  These questions can be addressed through laboratory astrophysics, a research area that bridges astronomy and physics.  By measuring the quantity of each element in a large sample of stars, astronomers learn about the distribution of elements in our Galaxy.  Combined with models of their creation, this helps to identify the specific astronomical origin of each element.  However, the accuracy of this information is partially limited by the input atomic data used in these stellar measurements.  By analyzing laboratory plasma sources using a variety of spectroscopic techniques, my research provides data for thousands of atomic transitions to improve the astronomical results and get more refined answers to these fundamental questions.

Summer 2020 Courses

Summer 2020 Courses
Course - Section Title Days Time Location

Fall 2020 Courses

Fall 2020 Courses
Course - Section Title Days Time Location
HONR 480 - 03 HONORS Astrobiology - - - R - - - 0955 - 1135 SCB 328

Days of Week:

- - - R - - -

Time of Day:

0955 - 1135

Location:

SCB 328

Course Registration Number:

45819 (View in ClassFinder)

Credit Hours:

Instructor:

Gaston E. Small, Michael P. Wood

These interdisciplinary seminars are intended to develop integrating insights through an analysis of topics chosen from different disciplines. Often they are taught by two faculty members or by a visiting lecturer who holds one of the endowed chairs at the university.

Schedule Details

Location Time Day(s)
PHYS 211 - 02 Classical Physics I See Details * *

Days of Week:

See Details

Time of Day:

*

Location:

*

Course Registration Number:

45765 (View in ClassFinder)

Credit Hours:

4 Credit Hours

Instructor:

Michael P. Wood

This course and its continuation PHYS 212 serve as a two-semester introduction to classical physics. Applications are chosen that focus on engineering and the physical sciences. Topics include principles of classical mechanics: vectors, kinematics, particle and rigid body rotational dynamics and statics; conservation laws; and thermodynamics. The course meets three times a week for two consecutive periods consisting of integrated lecture, discussion and laboratory. The scheduled class meetings will be a combination of synchronous online and in-person instruction, with some asynchronous online instruction at faculty discretion. Students will be expected to be in-person for the first class period on Monday for tests, quizzes, lab demos. Prerequisite: A minimum grade of C- in MATH 109 or MATH 113. NOTE: Students who receive credit for PHYS 211 may not receive credit for PHYS 109.

Schedule Details

Location Time Day(s)
OWS 1660935-1040M - - - - - -
1055-1200M - - - - - -
0935-1200- - W - F - -
PHYS 211 - 02A Classical Physics I See Details * *

Days of Week:

See Details

Time of Day:

*

Location:

*

Course Registration Number:

48340 (View in ClassFinder)

Credit Hours:

4 Credit Hours

Instructor:

Michael P. Wood

This course and its continuation PHYS 212 serve as a two-semester introduction to classical physics. Applications are chosen that focus on engineering and the physical sciences. Topics include principles of classical mechanics: vectors, kinematics, particle and rigid body rotational dynamics and statics; conservation laws; and thermodynamics. The course meets three times a week for two consecutive periods consisting of integrated lecture, discussion and laboratory. The scheduled class meetings will be a combination of synchronous online and in-person instruction, with some asynchronous online instruction at faculty discretion. Students will be expected to be in-person for the second class period on Monday for tests, quizzes, lab demos. Prerequisite: A minimum grade of C- in MATH 109 or MATH 113. NOTE: Students who receive credit for PHYS 211 may not receive credit for PHYS 109.

Schedule Details

Location Time Day(s)
0935-1040M - - - - - -
OWS 1681055-1200M - - - - - -
0935-1200- - W - F - -
PHYS 211 - 02B Classical Physics I See Details * *

Days of Week:

See Details

Time of Day:

*

Location:

*

Course Registration Number:

48346 (View in ClassFinder)

Credit Hours:

4 Credit Hours

Instructor:

Michael P. Wood

This course and its continuation PHYS 212 serve as a two-semester introduction to classical physics. Applications are chosen that focus on engineering and the physical sciences. Topics include principles of classical mechanics: vectors, kinematics, particle and rigid body rotational dynamics and statics; conservation laws; and thermodynamics. The course meets three times a week for two consecutive periods consisting of integrated lecture, discussion and laboratory. The scheduled class meetings will be a combination of synchronous online and in-person instruction, with some asynchronous online instruction at faculty discretion. Students will be expected to be in-person for the second class period on Monday for tests, quizzes, lab demos. Prerequisite: A minimum grade of C- in MATH 109 or MATH 113. NOTE: Students who receive credit for PHYS 211 may not receive credit for PHYS 109.

Schedule Details

Location Time Day(s)
0935-1040M - - - - - -
OWS 1691055-1200M - - - - - -
0935-1200- - W - F - -
PHYS 211 - 03 Classical Physics I See Details * *

Days of Week:

See Details

Time of Day:

*

Location:

*

Course Registration Number:

45766 (View in ClassFinder)

Credit Hours:

4 Credit Hours

Instructor:

Michael P. Wood

This course and its continuation PHYS 212 serve as a two-semester introduction to classical physics. Applications are chosen that focus on engineering and the physical sciences. Topics include principles of classical mechanics: vectors, kinematics, particle and rigid body rotational dynamics and statics; conservation laws; and thermodynamics. The course meets three times a week for two consecutive periods consisting of integrated lecture, discussion and laboratory. The scheduled class meetings will be a combination of synchronous online and in-person instruction, with some asynchronous online instruction at faculty discretion. Students will be expected to be in-person for the first class period on Monday for tests, quizzes, lab demos. Prerequisite: A minimum grade of C- in MATH 109 or MATH 113. NOTE: Students who receive credit for PHYS 211 may not receive credit for PHYS 109.

Schedule Details

Location Time Day(s)
OWS 1661335-1440M - - - - - -
1441-1600M - - - - - -
1335-1600- - W - F - -
PHYS 211 - 03A Classical Physics I See Details * *

Days of Week:

See Details

Time of Day:

*

Location:

*

Course Registration Number:

47991 (View in ClassFinder)

Credit Hours:

4 Credit Hours

Instructor:

Michael P. Wood

This course and its continuation PHYS 212 serve as a two-semester introduction to classical physics. Applications are chosen that focus on engineering and the physical sciences. Topics include principles of classical mechanics: vectors, kinematics, particle and rigid body rotational dynamics and statics; conservation laws; and thermodynamics. The course meets three times a week for two consecutive periods consisting of integrated lecture, discussion and laboratory. The scheduled class meetings will be a combination of synchronous online and in-person instruction, with some asynchronous online instruction at faculty discretion. Students will be expected to be in-person for the second class period on Monday for tests, quizzes, lab demos. Prerequisite: A minimum grade of C- in MATH 109 or MATH 113. NOTE: Students who receive credit for PHYS 211 may not receive credit for PHYS 109.

Schedule Details

Location Time Day(s)
1335-1454M - - - - - -
OWS 1681455-1600M - - - - - -
1335-1600- - W - F - -
PHYS 211 - 03B Classical Physics I See Details * *

Days of Week:

See Details

Time of Day:

*

Location:

*

Course Registration Number:

47992 (View in ClassFinder)

Credit Hours:

4 Credit Hours

Instructor:

Michael P. Wood

This course and its continuation PHYS 212 serve as a two-semester introduction to classical physics. Applications are chosen that focus on engineering and the physical sciences. Topics include principles of classical mechanics: vectors, kinematics, particle and rigid body rotational dynamics and statics; conservation laws; and thermodynamics. The course meets three times a week for two consecutive periods consisting of integrated lecture, discussion and laboratory. The scheduled class meetings will be a combination of synchronous online and in-person instruction, with some asynchronous online instruction at faculty discretion. Students will be expected to be in-person for the second class period on Monday for tests, quizzes, lab demos. Prerequisite: A minimum grade of C- in MATH 109 or MATH 113. NOTE: Students who receive credit for PHYS 211 may not receive credit for PHYS 109.

Schedule Details

Location Time Day(s)
1335-1454M - - - - - -
OWS 1691455-1600M - - - - - -
1335-1600- - W - F - -

J-Term 2021 Courses

J-Term 2021 Courses
Course - Section Title Days Time Location