This introductory course emphasizes three major areas of modern physics and astrophysics: special relativity, cosmology, and quantum theory. Students will explore the counterintuitive consequences of special relativity for our notions of absolute time; the birth, expansion, and fate of the universe; and the nature of the sub-atomic quantum world, where our notions of absolutes such as position or speed of a particle are replaced by probabilities, so that a particle can exist in many states at once. The course focuses on how scientists ask and answer questions about such topics, including the development of the mathematical tools necessary to understand the physical world in depth. This course is suitable for non-majors, and also serves as the entry point to majoring or minoring in astronomy, astrophysics, or physics. Includes five afternoon labs and one evening telescope observing session. No prerequisites.
Natural sciences and engineering practicum.
1 credit.
Fall semester. Jensen and Brown.
Above is the description that can be found in the 2006-07 course catalog.
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