PHYS 110 / Winter 2009
R. J. Wilkes
Last
updated:
Readings key: G=Greene, H=Hawking, K=Krauss, L=Lightman
Some readings are keyed to lecture topic, others follow the author's sequence of topics.
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Date |
Day |
Session # |
Topic |
Readings |
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1/5/09 |
Mon |
1 |
Course introduction, structure, goals. Clicker registration info. |
Course web page |
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1/6/09 |
Tues |
2 |
Overview of the Universe, from tiny to huge: 1. From human scale downward: molecules, atoms, particles |
G: Ch 1; H: Ch. 1, K: Ch. 1 |
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1/7/09 |
Weds |
3 |
Overview of the Universe, from tiny to huge: 2. From human scale upward: Earth-moon, Solar System, Galaxy, Universe" |
L: pp 7-11 |
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1/8/09 |
Thurs |
4 |
Finish overview of the Universe; language and methods of science: Special use of words |
H: Ch. 2 |
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1/9/09 |
Fri |
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1/10/09 |
Sat |
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1/11/09 |
Sun |
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1/12/09 |
Mon |
5 |
Logic: induction and deduction; mathematics as language; how to use your clickers (practice pop quiz – results will not count); |
G: Ch. 2; K: Ch. 2; L: pp 167-173 |
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1/13/09 |
Tues |
6 |
Breaking things down for analysis, and building up from models to theories; The “Scientific Method” |
H: Ch. 3 |
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1/14/09 |
Weds |
7 |
How do we know that? Case studies in physics: motion of apples and planets 1 - “The appearances”: what ancients could see |
H: Ch. 4 |
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1/15/09 |
Thurs |
8 |
Film: James Burke, "Science Revises the Heavens pt. 1"; discussion and quiz |
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1/16/09 |
Fri |
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1/17/09 |
Sat |
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1/18/09 |
Sun |
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1/19/09 |
Mon |
8 |
Holiday: NO CLASS |
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1/20/09 |
Tues |
9 |
2 - Ptolemy to Kepler to Newton |
G: Ch. 3; K: Ch 3 (Review H: Ch. 2) |
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1/21/09 |
Weds |
10 |
3 - Observations of the heavens: methods and coordinates |
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1/22/09 |
Thurs |
11 |
Film: James Burke, "Science Revises the Heavens, pt. 2"; discussion and quiz |
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1/23/09 |
Fri |
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1/24/09 |
Sat |
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1/25/09 |
Sun |
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1/26/09 |
Mon |
12 |
Newton: apples and planets |
G: Ch. 4 |
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1/27/09 |
Tues |
13 |
Gravity: falling and orbits |
Review H: Ch. 4 |
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1/28/09 |
Weds |
14 |
Digression about data: How do we describe measurements? What are error bars? |
(Notes) |
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1/29/09 |
Thurs |
15 |
EXAM 1 (material covered in Sessions 1-11) |
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1/30/09 |
Fri |
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1/31/09 |
Sat |
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2/1/09 |
Sun |
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2/2/09 |
Mon |
16 |
Probability and statistics: facts and fallacies, why is that bell-shaped curve so important? |
G: Ch 5; L: pp 64-82 (you can skip sections on pp 68-71 and 77-81 if you wish) |
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2/3/09 |
Tues |
17 |
Motion on a tiny scale: Particles vs waves; Newton to Young to Einstein: how do we know light is wavelike? |
H: pp 26-31; L: pp 181-188; |
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2/4/09 |
Weds |
18 |
Electricity and magnetism: Faraday and Maxwell |
K: Ch. 4; L: pp 117-129; |
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2/5/09 |
Thurs |
19 |
Film: James Burke, "Newton Revised" (part 1); discussion and quiz |
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2/6/09 |
Fri |
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2/7/09 |
Sat |
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2/8/09 |
Sun |
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2/9/09 |
Mon |
20 |
Work and energy; lightning, batteries, and light bulbs |
G: Ch. 6; H: pp. 32-end of Ch. 5; L: pp 130-156; |
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2/10/09 |
Tues |
21 |
Magnetic fields; transformers; EM waves, blackbody spectra |
L: pp 157-168 |
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2/11/09 |
Weds |
22 |
Relativity: fast vs slow. Paradoxes: why do we need this? How does relativity make more sense? |
H: pp 56-58, 86-89; L: pp 188-200 |
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2/12/09 |
Thurs |
23 |
Film: Brian Greene, Elegant Universe; discussion and quiz |
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2/13/09 |
Fri |
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2/14/09 |
Sat |
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2/15/09 |
Sun |
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2/16/09 |
Mon |
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Holiday: NO CLASS |
G: Ch. 7 |
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2/17/09 |
Tues |
24 |
Relativity: fast vs slow. Paradoxes: why do we need this? |
L: pp 201-209 |
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2/18/09 |
Weds |
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How does relativity make more sense?
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Review K: Ch. 3; L: pp 210-232 (skip the math) |
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2/19/09 |
Thurs |
2 |
relativity continued... |
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2/20/09 |
Fri |
26 |
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2/21/09 |
Sat |
26 |
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2/22/09 |
Sun |
26 |
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2/23/09 |
Mon |
26 |
Time dilation; Twin paradox and simultaneity. |
G: Ch. 8; L: pp 232-240 |
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2/24/09 |
Tues |
27 |
Quanta: tiny vs large; why do we need this? |
(Review L: 192-194) |
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2/25/09 |
Weds |
28 |
blackbody and atomic line spectra. |
K: Ch. 5; |
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2/26/09 |
Thurs |
29 |
EXAM 2 (material covered in Sessions 15-26) |
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2/27/09 |
Fri |
30 |
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2/28/09 |
Sat |
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3/1/09 |
Sun |
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3/2/09 |
Mon |
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Particle or wave? Uncertainty and randomness in quantum theory; knowable and unknowable |
G: Ch. 9; H: Ch. 7 |
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3/3/09 |
Tues |
31 |
Cosmic rays and neutrinos: how can we detect them? |
H: Ch. 8 |
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3/4/09 |
Weds |
32 |
gamma rays and gravity waves: how can we detect them? |
H: Ch. 9 |
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3/5/09 |
Thurs |
33 |
film: Elegant Universe (Brian Greene) |
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3/6/09 |
Fri |
34 |
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3/7/09 |
Sat |
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3/8/09 |
Sun |
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3/9/09 |
Mon |
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The Standard Model of particle physics: what we know so far |
G: Ch. 10 |
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3/10/09 |
Tues |
35 |
Dark Matter and dark energy: who ordered this? |
H: Ch. 11; K: Ch. 6 |
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3/11/09 |
Weds |
36 |
Are we there yet? Currently open questions |
G: Ch 15; H: Ch. 12 |
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3/12/09 |
Thurs |
37 |
Course wrapup TERM PAPER #2 DUE by 5pm: click here to submit file AND bring printed copy to class (or turn in at Physics Dept office reception desk, C-121 PAB) |
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