Newton to Einstein: The Trail of Light
PHYS 104
Spring 2011
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01
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The course will follow the trail of light from Newton's corpuscles to Einstein's relativity. The major theoretical landmarks are the wave-particle duality and the special theory of relativity. Along the way, we will examine the properties of light and our perceptions of light, including topics on color, vision, and art. The emphasis will be on principles, not problem solving (although there will be weekly problems). No previous course in physics is presupposed. Of mathematics, only high school algebra and a willingness to apply it are needed. If you have taken a high school physics course and did well in it, then you are overqualified for this course, risk being bored, and should not enroll. |
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Essential Capabilities:
Quantitative Reasoning
quantitative models of our world are developed
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
NSM PHYS |
| Course Format: Lecture / Discussion | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: None |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
R. Baierlein, NEWTON TO EINSTEIN
Plus other readings TBA.
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Examinations and Assignments:
Weekly homework assignments, two short papers (three pages each), a group project, and three in-class exams. |
| Instructor(s): Westling,Lynn Adrea Times: ..T.R.. 10:30AM-11:50AM; Location: SCIE150; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 100 | | SR major: 0 | JR major: 0 | | |
| Seats Available: -17 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 25 | JR non-major: 25 | SO: 25 | FR: 25 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 17 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 4 | 3rd Ranked: 3 | 4th Ranked: 1 | Unranked: 9 |
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