Approximate Fall 2015 schedule

Small adjustments to schedule may be made, and additional readings may be suggested, as the course progresses.

 

In 'readings':
B

means

 Bohm Causality and Chance in Modern Physics
C Cushing Philosophical Concepts in Physics
E Einstein Relativity: The Special and General Theory
F Feynman The Character of Physical Law
Ha Hawking A Brief History of Time
K Kuhn The Copernican Revolution
K2 Kuhn The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
R Rohrlich From Paradox to Reality
S Sklar Philosophy of Physics
Sq Squires The Mystery of the Quantum World

 

Dates Topics Readings Milestones
#1
Aug. 25		 Overview; a taste of upcoming surprises R: ch 1-3
S: pp. 1-18
C: ch 1-3		  

Classical Foundations
#2

Aug. 27

 Ptolemy vs Copernicus; how do you decide basic scientific questions?
Simplicity, common sense, hard evidence...		 K: ch 3, pp. 123-144,181-184
F: ch 2
R: ch 4
C: ch 4		 Homework 1 due (Thursday before class)!  We know this is short notice, but it's needed to get you started thinking AHEAD of lectures.
#3
Sep. 1		 Kepler & Galileo; physics & cosmology; the role of mathematics
A new world view		 K: pp. 200-237
C: ch 5,6		  
#4
Sep. 3		 Kepler to Newton
The meaning (& ambiguities) of Newton's laws		 R: ch 5
C: ch 7,8		  
#5
Sep. 8		 Newtonian space & time; symmetries; metaphysical assumptions S: pp. 19-25
C: ch 11,12		 Homework 2 due

Transition to Modern Physics
#6
Sep. 10

Conservation laws & energy
A glance at thermodynamics & arrow of time

 B: pp. 1-10
S: pp. 79-82, 202-204
F: ch 4		  
#7
Sep. 15

Waves, fields; electromagnetism & the ether
Newtonian cosmology
Philosophical pause: the limits of the classical world

 S: pp. 94-117, 121-132, 142-155
B: pp. 10-33
F: ch 5
C: ch 13		  
#8
Sep. 17		 Searches for the luminiferous ether; why is it so elusive? E: ch 1-8 Homework 3 due

Spacetime: Special and General Relativity
#9
Sep. 22		 Einstein's motivation & postulates; spacetime E: ch 9-17
R: pp. 54-72
S: pp. 25-40
K2: Ch X
C: Ch 16		  
#10
Sep 24		 Unification of electricity & magnetism; E = mc2 and speed limits; locality & conservation laws R: pp. 73-88
C: ch 17		 QUIZ 1!
#11
Sep. 29

Invariants
What does "mass" mean?
Causality & the speed limit

    
#12
Oct. 1		 How do you feel gravity?
What does the answer tell you about the structure of the Universe?		  R: ch 7
S: pp. 40-69
C: ch 18
Homework 4 due
#13
Oct. 6		 Topology; GR cosmology S: pp. 69-90
Ha: ch 3		 Term paper consultations
#14
Oct. 8		 More cosmology; philosophical implications
BTW, does the Earth go around the Sun or vice-versa?		   Term paper consultations

Statistics, Quantum Mechanics and Philosophical Responses
#15
Oct. 13		 Classical probability; Thermodynamics,classical anomalies motivate QM;
Light is a particle & electrons are waves (sort of);
R: pp. 49-54, ch. 9;
S: pp. 157-164
C: ch 19		 Term paper consultations
#16
Oct. 15		 De Broglie's hypothesis; probability & uncertainty
Interference, intro to interpretations		 R: ch 10
S: pp. 164-172
F: ch 6
Sq: ch 1.3-2.6 		Homework 5 due
#17
Oct. 20		 EPR thought experiment;Bell's theorem; is local realism dead? S: pp. 172-191; 213-225
Sq: ch 3,5
C: ch 22		 Term paper topic due
#18
Oct. 22		 "measurement" and interpretations; One world or Many? S: pp 202-212
Sq: ch 4, 6
C: ch 21 		Term paper consultations
#19
Oct. 27		 More possible approaches to measurement; reality, entanglement & decoherence R: pp. 180-184
S: pp. 191-202
Sq: ch. 7
C: ch 23,24		 Term paper consultations    QUIZ 2!
#20
Oct. 29		 Quantum summary Term paper outline/ partial draft due

Time, Fields, Cosmology
#21
Nov. 3		 Entropy and the arrow of time, entropy & entanglement Ha. ch 3,9  
#22
Nov. 5		 Other Arrows of time    
#23
Nov. 10

QM+SR: field theory; empty space isn't; problems with GR+QM and with QM-GR
What happens when forces are unified?

  Ha: ch 8 Homework 6 due
#24
Nov. 12

Symmetry breaking; cosmology; inflation?

 

  
#25
Nov. 17		 Why are we here?
String landscapes & the anthropic principle		  First complete draft of term paper due
#26
Nov. 19

Current issues in cosmology

   
none
Nov. 21-28

Thanksgiving Break

    
#27
Dec. 1		 special topics. Godel? black hole firewalls? quantum computation? readings in alleged philosophy of science?    
#28
Dec. 3		 special topics. Godel? black hole firewalls? quantum computation? readings in alleged philosophy of science?
 		 QUIZ 3!  
#29
Dec. 8		 Course summary: we talk about any issues that you want    

Final draft of term paper due midnight Dec. 9. No late papers accepted without prior arrangement.

Final exam: 8-11 am, Wed., Dec. 16,