PHYS 180 - FS: First-year Seminar

Credits: 4

Prerequisite: First-year class standing. Additional course fee required, for which the student is responsible after Friday of the 7th week of winter term. A seminar for first-year students.

Winter 2018, PHYS 180-01: FS: Re-creating Great Experiments in Physics (3). First-year seminar. Prerequisite: First-year standing. When thinking about the principles and equations of physics, we often wonder, “How did they come up with that?” Follow in the footsteps of Galileo, Newton, and Einstein as you re-create some of the greatest experiments in the history of physics and explore physics’ biggest ideas by examining the lives and philosophical impact of its most illustrious pioneers. Students read about and discuss the historical context and philosophical implications of these experiments, re-create and iteratively improve upon their ground-breaking discoveries, and demonstrate their proficiency in critical and quantitative analysis through short, weekly writing assignments and a research paper. No background in physics or mathematics beyond high school algebra is required. Laboratory course. (SL) McClain.

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