John Ross Buschert

General Physics I and II – PHYS 203-204

A calculus and vector treatment of basic physics including mechanics, sound, electricity, magnetism and light. Required of physics majors and recommended for majors in the physical sciences. Lectures and laboratory. Syllabus Part 1 2019,   Syllabus Part 2 2020

Electronics – PHYS 304

Introduction to analog and digital electronics and robotics. The focus is on design and construction of practical circuitry which can be used to build useful devices. After the analog and digital groundwork is laid, students learn to program microcontrollers to interface with a variety of sensors and outputs on mobile robotic platforms. Weekly laboratories culminate in individual projects presented in the biannual electronics show. Lectures and laboratory. Electronics Syllabus 2019

 Optics and Holography – PHYS 305

Electromagnetic theory, geometrical optics, interference and diffraction, and other principles provide the framework for understanding a variety of optical instruments and experiments. Laboratories include various types of interferometry, laser beam filtering and profiling, several types of holography and culminate in individual projects. Lectures and laboratory. Syllabus

Modern Physics – PHYS 210

An introduction to the basis of modern physics. Special relativity, experimental origins of the quantum theory, elementary particle physics, and cosmology. Syllabus

Physics of Music – PHYS 240

A study of the physics of a variety of musical instruments including the voice, the physical origins of musical scales and temperaments, perception effects in the ear and brain and room acoustics. Many class sessions will be laboratory experiences and each student will do a major project. Syllabus

Engineering Statics – PHYS 220

A basic engineering course studying static equilibrium. Vector algebra, free-body diagrams and static equilibrium of moments and forces are used to solve problems in two and three dimensions. Topics include methods of solving frames, trusses and machines, distributed forces, determination of centroids, fluid statics and applications of friction.  Syllabus 2021

Mechanics of Materials – PHYS 222

A study of stress and strain analysis in engineering materials. Topics will include axial, torsional, bending and shear loads, stress and strain transformations, design and deflection of beams and shafts, buckling and energy methods.  Syllabus 2017

Research Seminar – PHYS 105

An introduction to the department and to physics and engineering as careers. Presentations by faculty and students of research, introduction to the scientific literature and scientific writing, individual research on a chosen topic.

Descriptive Astronomy – PHYS 154

An introduction to astronomy including the study of the solar system, stars and stellar development, galaxies and cosmology. Laboratory experience will include astronomical observation and measurement. Syllabus

X-ray Crystallography

Computational Physics

College Physics

X-ray Diffraction.  My dissertation dealt with Laser annealing of silicon crystals studied by time resolved x-ray diffraction.  Beginning at Goshen College I continued the Turner Laboratory research using x-ray diffraction to study thin film semiconductor hetero-structures.

Acoustics.  I have been studying the vibration patterns of handbells using an electronic holography system.  My focus has been on the behavior and possible control of degenerate modes which can be problematic in the manufacture of handbells.

Electronic Music.  I have long been interested in electronic music and in particular in ways that computer interfaces can make musical instruments much easier to play.  I have built a system that allows novices to improvise music together without any particular training.  A computer constrains what notes are possible so that the user is free to experiment within the computer’s limits so whatever the user plays will fit the music.

Mennonite Singing on Zoom.  During the Pandemic my congregation, Benton Mennonite, had our services entirely on Zoom.  Since our church loves four-part singing I wanted a way to do something similar on Zoom.  I came up with something I called Singing Ourselves Together

My wife, Lyn, and I would record a starting version of a hymn and send it out to many people in our church. They listen to that in headphones while recording themselves singing along with it. Then they send back their recordings and I would mix them all together into the final version. Since everyone was listening to the same starting version, it stays synchronized. Then when we play these during our worship service, everyone can sing along and it feels more like our usual congregational singing since we recognize the voices. Over the course of the pandemic, we have built up an library of over 100 hymns and songs.  We put them on a You-Tube channel Benton Mennonite Hymns for others to use as well.