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Academic Year 2003/2004

Newton to Einstein: The Trail of Light
PHYS 104 FA

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. 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.

MAJOR READINGS

Albert Einstein, IDEAS AND OPINIONS E.N. da C. Andrade, SIR ISAAC NEWTON T. Pinch and H. Collins, THE GOLEM R. Baierlein, NEWTON TO EINSTEIN

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Weekly homework assignments, three short papers (three pages each), weekly reading quizzes, an hour exam, and a final exam.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

The course is intended for humanities and social science students, specifically and enthusiastically.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture/Discussion

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD    Credit: 1    Gen Ed Area Dept: NSM PHYS    Grading Mode: Graded   

Prerequisites: NONE Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-19-2004

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