PHYSICAL SCIENCE 111 -- CLASSICAL PHYSICS & RELATIVITY

Level
Introduction to Concepts and Theories in Physical Sciences by Holton and Brush
Physics for Poets by March
Character of Physical Law by Feynman

Prerequisites
Advanced mathematics (i.e., calculus) is not required for this course. However, quantitative thinking is very much a part of this course, both to appreciate magnitudes of physical quantities, and to comprehend the mathematical fabric which underlies all modern physical theory.

Purpose of Course
To survey the development of physical law through the example of classical mechanics, as traced from the earliest Greek notions up through Galileo, Newton, and Einstein. The role of conservation laws (including energy and momentum) will be stressed. Particular attention will be paid to applications involving gravity:
satellites, planets, galaxies, and black holes.

Syllabus
  1. Classical Mechanics
    1. History of theories of motion
    2. Copernicus and Kepler
    3. Galileo
    4. Newton; momentum conservation
    5. Gravity
  2. Energy and heat; energy conservation
  3. Special relativity; black holes


LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS -- PHYSICAL SCIENCE 111
  1. Kinematics
  2. Circular Motion
  3. Conservation Laws

PHYSICAL SCIENCE 112 -- QUANTUM MECHANICS AND THE STRUCTURE OF MATTER

Level
Physics in Perspective by Hecht (Required)
Character of Physical Law by Feynman
Cosmic Code by Pagels
ABC's of Quantum Mechanics by Rydnik
Physics for Poets by March

Prerequisite
Physical Science 111

Purpose of Course
With the advent of Quantum Mechanics in the early years of this century, physicists were forced to abandon the classical laws of Newton and to adopt a completely new philosophy concerning the laws of physics. In this course we will explore Quantum Mechanics, including such concepts as the quantization of energy, indeterminacy of physical measurements, the concept of fields, etc. We will examine systems where quantum mechanical effects are not subtle, such as the substructure of common matter and high energy particle collisions: We will also spend some time on the methodology of science, some philosophy and even some of the real world environment in which science operates

Syllabus
  1. Preambles
    1. Physics and Mathematics
    2. Philosophical and Sociological Sides of Science
  2. Structure of Matter
    1. Dalton & Faraday
    2. Investigations of Gaseous Discharges
    3. Discovery of the Electron, Thompson Pere
    4. Radioactivity
    5. Rutherford and his laboratory-The Nucleus
    6. Photoelectric Effect and Einstein
    7. Tools of The Times
  3. Breakdown of Classical Physics
    1. Properties of Waves-Light
    2. Spectral lines
    3. Black body radiation
    4. Properties of particles
    5. Electron waves: Thompson Fils
    6. Double Slit Paradox
  4. Quantum Theory
    1. Bohr and Rutherford: The hydrogen atom
    2. Schroedinger, Heisenberg
    3. Indeterminacy, probability and all that
    4. The Astonishing Success of Quantum Theory
  5. Philosophical Pause
    1. Einstein Vs. Bohr
    2. Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen
    3. Schroedinger's Cat and things like that
    4. Hidden variables, Other worlds, Bell's Theorem
  6. Modern Physics
    1. Tools of these times: More on the Socio-Politicals of Science
    2. New Particles
    3. Symmetries and Conservation Laws
    4. Quarks and Leptons
    5. Forces
    6. Particles and Cosmology
    7. Approaches to the Theory of Everything.


LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS -- PHYSICAL SCIENCE 112
  1. Double-Slit Interference
  2. Radioactivity
  3. Photoelectric Effect


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