News from The University of Toledo
Features 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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