Physics of the Mundane

Weeks I & II (August 30 – September 10)

 

Assigned Readings:

Handout: “Time for the Stars” (Lightman)[1]

Hatton & Plouffe: pp. 1-7 (Sagan), 143-146 (Scudder)[2]. 

Feynman: Chapter 1 (pp. 1-21)

 

Schedule:

 

Monday 

Wednesday

Friday

Week I:
8/30

"Why are you here?"
Fun with bubbles.

Biggest and smallest.

Very big:
Sizing up the solar system

Week II:
9/6

LABOR DAY

Very small:
In search of the atom.

Debriefing and discussion.
The purpose of science.

Response paper due!
(Notebooks due following Monday.)

 

Suggested reading response questions (although you are free to address another issue(s)):

Why should we do science?  What is its purpose?  How does science rank in importance when compared with other pursuits?

 

Lab problem(s):

In addition to the in-class activities recorded and analyzed in your notebook, you should spend some late nights or mornings (at least three) observing the Moon.  (Hint: Start working on this early.)  Sketch what you see (i.e., phase), when you see the Moon, and what part of the sky it is in.  If possible, note the stars that are providing the background for the Moon, and describe how the Moon’s position changes with respect to this background.  Specifically note how the Moon’s position and lighting change in one 24 hour period. (i.e., What differences are there if you see the Moon at 10:00 PM one night to how it looked at 10:00 PM the previous night?)  Note what difficulties you have in completing this assignment.

(In class, we will go over some easy ways to measure angles in the sky that will make your descriptions a little easier.) 

 

 

 

 


 

[1] From Lightman, Alan (1996).  Dance For Two (pp. 107-116). New York: Pantheon Books.  On ereserve.

 

[2] Note: The Scudder essay should be read immediately after the first day, as part of the bubbles assignment.