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Step into the World of Atoms this fall
By Deanna Lytle
Apr 18, 2005, 14:47:00

In celebration of the World Year of Physics 2005, the physics and astronomy department is offering a special version of PHYS 1050 titled World of Atoms during fall semester 2005.

The World Year of Physics recognizes the 100th anniversary of Albert Einstein's Miracle Year 1905, a year in which he published three landmark papers in the field of physics on light quanta, Brownian motion and the special theory of relativity.

The PHYS 1050 course has no prerequisites and can be applied toward a UT core requirement and a College of Arts and Sciences requirement in natural sciences. It is worth three credit hours and meets Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 1 to 1:50 p.m. in McMaster Hall Room 2002.

According to Dr. Larry Curtis, Distinguished University Professor of Physics and Astronomy, class materials will include Einstein's original papers, as well as newspaper articles and work of later scientists.

What many people don't realize is that Einstein's work is very easy to read people have added in more math than the original papers contain, Curtis explained. There is no math intimidation in this course as the material is conceptual in nature.

Two areas that Curtis will stress in the course include atomic structure and the demystification of physics phenomena.

I want to convey the behavior of atoms and how they go together to form things, he said. I especially want to get across that certain physics occurrences do not violate intuition. Often, things in physics are presented as if there is some mystery or magic involved. But these apparent paradoxes are actually functioning the right way. I want to make some of the phenomena seem more friendly and clear.

Curtis said people from all academic disciplines are welcome in the course. In a sense, this class can be treated as a one-room schoolhouse. If there are some people who are well-versed in math, I can speak to them. And if there are others who don't have as much experience in math, I can address them.

For more information on the course, contact Curtis at ljc@physics.utoledo.edu or call 419.530.2341.



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