Physics for Poets

Week Reading / Know / Q Homework
1/16 Intro and C1
[Galileo's Two New Sciences (pp 61ff), Computation], Deductive vs inductive reasoning
C1 A,B,C,2,10,11 - due M 1/23
1/23 C2 - C3
[Isaac Newton's Principia], centripetal motion exersize
C2 A,B,D,1 - due W 1/25
C3 A,B,C,4,5 - due W 2/1
1/30 C4-5
Historical timeline of Science 1450-1730
10th Planet news - since then, the IAU has clarified the definition of planet and added dwarf planet (to describe Pluto, Sedna, etc.) - See Resolution 5A of the 2006 IAU Assembly: Definition of Planet
Joule's Experiment Chronology
C4 B,C,3 - due M 2/6
Planet Simulation Lab
C5 A,B,C,5,11 - due R 2/9
2/6 C6 - Experiment with this dipole force field and then try this Hidden charge puzzle
Extra reading: Feynman's Scientific imagination
Chaos demonstrator
C6 A,D,1 - Wed T 2/15
2/13 C7
Wed 2/22 Assign: Go to Physics Simulations - look 1/2 way down the webpage for Wave simulations (Beats, Standing Waves, Interference): Experiment with each of these three simulations and write a brief description of what each demonstrates about waves. This will count as one lab grade. Due no later than Thursday 2/23 at noon.
Earthquake FAQs - see #35
C7 A,F,1*,2*,6 - due T 2/21
2/20 C8 C8 A,B,D - due M 2/27
2/27 C9-10
Read this Excellent discussion of the Twin Paradox
Simulation of Twin Paradox Problem with Minkowski diag & 3clocks
Another Simulation of the Twin Paradox Problem showing return signals
And yet another with adjustable parameters and ability to compare Lorentz to Galilean relativity
C9 A,B,D - due W 3/1
C10 A,B,C,1,9 - due T 3/7
3/6 C11 C11 A,B,C,8 - due W 3/22
R 3/9 Midterm exam on C1-11 Written report due Tue 3/21
rewrite due Fri 4/7
3/20 C12
Excellent, but nontrivial, intro to general relativity
Relativity and GPS
Exotic Stellar Objects
C12 A,B,E,1(Describe the route by naming some key locations crossed),4 (EC=C,D) - due M 3/27
3/27 C13-14
Online Periodic Table
C13 A,C,1,2 - due R 3/30
C14 A,B,1,2 - due W 4/5
4/3 C15 - Photoelectric lab - due W 4/12 C15 A,C,2 - due R 4/13
4/10 C16
Particle scattering off square well ala 1D Schrodinger wave equation - note simulation wraps right=left.
Quantum Physics Double Slit Experiment - What The Bleep Movie
C16 A,C,D,4 - due W 4/19
4/14-4/17 Easter Break
4/18 C17 C17 A,B,D - due T4/25
4/24 C18 wave function lab - due W 4/26
Read The Particle Adventure by Mon 5/1
C18 A,B - due M 5/1
Nuclear Physics Qs - due T 5/9
5/1 Mon-Tue - wrap up Nuclear physics topics Nuclear Chemistry primer & beyond - answer questions C19 A,C,D,1,4,5 - due M 5/8 Second written report - due Fri 5/5
5/7 Final Exam Wk 5/8 - 5/11 Hyperphysics.
Part 1 = selections from C12-19 hw - see solns above
Part 2 = nuclear physics + conceptual + lab - study guide
Mon - wrap up C20
Tue - review C12-19
Wed - Final, part 1
Thur - Final, part 2 (E.C.)