Course Syllabus
Video details
Zoom meeting room Links to an external site.
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Welcome
We live in a technological world surrounded by machines of nearly magical ability. For your grandparents knowing where you were to within a mile or two required specialized equipment and training—now you just take out your phone. And if they were injured doctors used radioactive minerals and silver salts to look inside the body instead of an MRI machine. But how do GPS and MRI machines work?
It turns out that relativity and quantum mechanics have become the foundation of much of modern technological life. In this class we will explore how our modern technological world depends on relativity and quantum mechanics, and along the way we will explore the history of quantitative knowledge—how we know what we know.
Embarking on a modern physics class can be intimidating—few things trigger more fear than “a simple introduction to physics.” But to the intrepid and brave, I will make a few promises before we start:
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No math. While the language of relativity and quantum mechanics is written using fairly advanced math, I don’t believe one has to read Japanese before you can appreciate Japanese art. Our journey will focus on the beauty and elegance of the physical world.
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No philosophy. There has been a fascination with the ‘meaning’ of quantum mechanics and relativity, but we’ll leave that discussion for pints down at the pub (someday). Here we will focus on what we see.
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Everything we encounter will be experimentally verified. While some of the results might be surprising, nothing we encounter will be speculative. This is how our world works.
Grading
Grades will based on homework, quizzes, midterms (Feb 2 & Mar 2), class participation, and a final paper (due March 15). There will be no final. As I'm moving this class online, the exact division of points is TBD. In general the early part of each week will concentrate on understanding how the physical world works, with the end of the week looking at how that impacts our lives and the history of quantitative understanding. Homework will be due Saturday night each week, and extra credit on homework will always be available for creativity or extra effort. Reading load will be modest, but much of the reading will be difficult (must be read slowly). Quizzes will be assigned along with the reading assignments.
Office hours
Miguel Morales: TBD, email
Kellie McGuire: Thursdays, 2:30-3:30 pm (zoom Links to an external site.), email
Syllabus
Week 1
M: Introduction; ice breaker; Eratosthenes Links to an external site.; slides Download slides
T: What time is it? Earth rotation, sidereal, analema, solar and stellar elongation Links to an external site.; slides Download slides
Th: Where am I? Lattitude & Longitude; ancient way finding Links to an external site.; slides Download slides
F: The Longitude Problem Links to an external site.; slides Download slides
Reading: History of Clocks
Homework: Sun dials
Week 2
M: Introduction to Waves. Wavelength, amplitude, speed, transverse, compression, restoring force; Links to an external site. slides Download slides
T: Let there be light; Links to an external site. slides Download slides
Th: Moving like a wave and hitting like a particle (no recording); slides Download slides
F: Electromagnetic spectrum & telescopes across the spectrum Links to an external site.; slides Download slides
Reading: Chapter 1
Homework: Double slit
Week 3
M: MLK
T: Speed of light, starting with the Galilean moons, moving to measurements Links to an external site.; slides Download slides
Th: Special Relativity. Concentrate on everyone thinks they’re right. Non-additive speed Links to an external site.; slides Download slides
F: Surveying & Geodimeter Links to an external site.; slides Download slides
Reading:
Homework:
Week 4
M: Particle Melting Pot Links to an external site.; slides Download slides
T: Better clocks. Quartz, atomic, optical. Variation of earth’s spin and redefining time. UTC & atomic time. Links to an external site.; slides Download slides
Th: GPS Links to an external site.; slides Download slides
F: Midterm review Links to an external site.
Last year's midterm Download Last year's midterm
Reading: Chapter 2
Homework: Relativity & Particle Mixing
Week 5
M: Midterm review Links to an external site.
T: Midterm 1 (Feb. 2ns)
Th: History of computation. Abacus, mechanical calculators, looms, people Links to an external site.; slides Download slides
F: Computers, tubes, machine language, modern developments. Theme is computers don’t understand anything, are just clever sets of switches and levers Links to an external site.. slides Download slides
Reading: History of computing reading, Chapter 3
Homework: Midterm #1 correction, History of computation
Week 6
M: World is made of notes Links to an external site.; slides Download slides
T: Particle introverts & extroverts Links to an external site.; slides Download slides
Th: Spectrum allocation and VNA show and tell Links to an external site.; slides Download slides
F: Communicating music. Music notation, player piano, records, CDs, MP3+ Links to an external site.; slides Download slides
Reading: Chapter 3
Homework: Final Paper Proposal
Week 7
M: President’s Day
T: Looking at the sky Links to an external site.; slides Download slides
Th: Hanbury Brown & Twiss Links to an external site.; slides Download slides
F: Interferometers, science & applications Links to an external site.; slides Download slides
Reading: Chapter 4
Week 8
M: Why the Caged Bird Sings (trapped waves) Links to an external site.; slides Download slides
T: Atomic Traps & Quantum dots Links to an external site.; slides Download slides
Th: Cancelled
F: Midterm review Links to an external site.
Reading: Chapter 5
Last year's midterm Download Last year's midterm
Week 9
M: Midterm review Links to an external site.
T: Midterm 2 (March 2nd)
Th: Wearing shades at night Links to an external site.; slides Download slides
F: Quantum Spooks Links to an external site.; slides Download slides
Reading: Chapter 6
Week 10
M: Gravity waves Links to an external site.; slides Download slides
T: Power generation: livestock, water… to superconductors Links to an external site.; slides Download slides
Th: Quantum electronics Links to an external site.; slides Download slides
F: Medical imaging: x-rays to MRI Links to an external site.; slides Download slides
Reading: Last Chapter
Accommodations
Most accommodation requests will be handled through Disability Resources for Students Links to an external site., including special testing requests on the midterms.
Washington state law requires that UW develop a policy for accommodation of student absences or significant hardship due to reasons of faith or conscience, or for organized religious activities. The UW’s policy, including more information about how to request an accommodation, is available at Religious Accommodations Policy (https://registrar.washington.edu/staffandfaculty/religious-accommodations-policy/) Links to an external site.. Accommodations must be requested within the first two weeks of this course using the Religious Accommodations Request form (https://registrar.washington.edu/students/religious-accommodations-request/) Links to an external site..
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|
| Mon Jan 4, 2021 | Calendar Event Liberal Arts Physics | 12:30pm to 1:30pm |
| Tue Jan 5, 2021 | Calendar Event Liberal Arts Physics | 12:30pm to 1:30pm |
| Thu Jan 7, 2021 | Calendar Event Liberal Arts Physics | 12:30pm to 1:30pm |
| Fri Jan 8, 2021 | Calendar Event Liberal Arts Physics | 12:30pm to 1:30pm |
| Assignment History of clocks | due by 11:59pm | |
| Mon Jan 11, 2021 | Calendar Event Liberal Arts Physics | 12:30pm to 1:30pm |
| Tue Jan 12, 2021 | Calendar Event Liberal Arts Physics | 12:30pm to 1:30pm |
| Wed Jan 13, 2021 | Assignment Sun dials, etc. | due by 11:59pm |
| Thu Jan 14, 2021 | Calendar Event Liberal Arts Physics | 12:30pm to 1:30pm |
| Fri Jan 15, 2021 | Calendar Event Liberal Arts Physics | 12:30pm to 1:30pm |
| Sun Jan 17, 2021 | Assignment Chapter 1 | due by 11:59pm |
| Mon Jan 18, 2021 | Calendar Event Liberal Arts Physics | 12:30pm to 1:30pm |
| Tue Jan 19, 2021 | Calendar Event Liberal Arts Physics | 12:30pm to 1:30pm |
| Assignment Double slit | due by 11:59pm | |
| Thu Jan 21, 2021 | Calendar Event Liberal Arts Physics | 12:30pm to 1:30pm |
| Fri Jan 22, 2021 | Calendar Event Liberal Arts Physics | 12:30pm to 1:30pm |
| Mon Jan 25, 2021 | Calendar Event Liberal Arts Physics | 12:30pm to 1:30pm |
| Tue Jan 26, 2021 | Calendar Event Liberal Arts Physics | 12:30pm to 1:30pm |
| Thu Jan 28, 2021 | Calendar Event Liberal Arts Physics | 12:30pm to 1:30pm |
| Assignment Chapter 2 | due by 11:59pm | |
| Fri Jan 29, 2021 | Calendar Event Liberal Arts Physics | 12:30pm to 1:30pm |
| Mon Feb 1, 2021 | Calendar Event Liberal Arts Physics | 12:30pm to 1:30pm |
| Assignment Relativity & Particle Mixing | due by 11:59pm | |
| Tue Feb 2, 2021 | Calendar Event Liberal Arts Physics | 12:30pm to 1:30pm |
| Thu Feb 4, 2021 | Calendar Event Liberal Arts Physics | 12:30pm to 1:30pm |
| Fri Feb 5, 2021 | Calendar Event Liberal Arts Physics | 12:30pm to 1:30pm |
| Mon Feb 8, 2021 | Calendar Event Liberal Arts Physics | 12:30pm to 1:30pm |
| Tue Feb 9, 2021 | Calendar Event Liberal Arts Physics | 12:30pm to 1:30pm |
| Assignment Midterm #1 correction | due by 11:59pm | |
| Wed Feb 10, 2021 | Assignment History of computation | due by 11:59pm |
| Thu Feb 11, 2021 | Calendar Event Liberal Arts Physics | 12:30pm to 1:30pm |
| Assignment Chapter 3 | due by 11:59pm | |
| Fri Feb 12, 2021 | Calendar Event Liberal Arts Physics | 12:30pm to 1:30pm |
| Mon Feb 15, 2021 | Calendar Event Liberal Arts Physics | 12:30pm to 1:30pm |
| Tue Feb 16, 2021 | Calendar Event Liberal Arts Physics | 12:30pm to 1:30pm |
| Thu Feb 18, 2021 | Calendar Event Liberal Arts Physics | 12:30pm to 1:30pm |
| Assignment Chapter 4 | due by 11:59pm | |
| Assignment Final Paper Proposal | due by 11:59pm | |
| Fri Feb 19, 2021 | Calendar Event Liberal Arts Physics | 12:30pm to 1:30pm |
| Mon Feb 22, 2021 | Calendar Event Liberal Arts Physics | 12:30pm to 1:30pm |
| Tue Feb 23, 2021 | Calendar Event Liberal Arts Physics | 12:30pm to 1:30pm |
| Thu Feb 25, 2021 | Calendar Event Liberal Arts Physics | 12:30pm to 1:30pm |
| Assignment Chapter 5 | due by 11:59pm | |
| Fri Feb 26, 2021 | Calendar Event Liberal Arts Physics | 12:30pm to 1:30pm |
| Mon Mar 1, 2021 | Calendar Event Liberal Arts Physics | 12:30pm to 1:30pm |
| Tue Mar 2, 2021 | Calendar Event Liberal Arts Physics | 12:30pm to 1:30pm |
| Wed Mar 3, 2021 | Quiz Midterm #2 | due by 11:59pm |
| Thu Mar 4, 2021 | Calendar Event Liberal Arts Physics | 12:30pm to 1:30pm |
| Fri Mar 5, 2021 | Calendar Event Liberal Arts Physics | 12:30pm to 1:30pm |
| Mon Mar 8, 2021 | Calendar Event Liberal Arts Physics | 12:30pm to 1:30pm |
| Tue Mar 9, 2021 | Calendar Event Liberal Arts Physics | 12:30pm to 1:30pm |
| Assignment Chapter 6 | due by 11:59pm | |
| Wed Mar 10, 2021 | Assignment Last Chapter | due by 11:59pm |
| Assignment Midterm #2 Corrections | due by 11:59pm | |
| Thu Mar 11, 2021 | Calendar Event Liberal Arts Physics | 12:30pm to 1:30pm |
| Fri Mar 12, 2021 | Calendar Event Liberal Arts Physics | 12:30pm to 1:30pm |
| Mon Mar 15, 2021 | Assignment Final Paper | due by 11:59pm |
| Assignment History of computing reading | ||
| Quiz Midterm #1 |