Effective:

Fall, 2002

Course Number: *	PHYSCS 150
Course Title:	From Einstein to Star Trek

 

15 Character Abbreviation:	EINSTEINSTARTRK
25 Character Abbreviation:	From Einstein to Star Trek

 

Sponsor:		Ken Menningen		E-mail Address:	menningk
Department:		Physics		College:	Letters and Sciences
Co-sponsor:				E-mail Address:
Department:				College:
	* You MUST verify course numbers with Registrar's Office prior to submitting (x1211)

Other Programs Affected:

None

Check if course is to meet any of the following requirements:
__ None	__ Writing	__ Computer	__ Diversity	_X General Ed and Area	Natural Sciences

Credit/Contact Hours: (per semester)
Total lab hours:	0		Total lecture hours:	48
Number of credits:	3		Total contact hours:	48

Check if course is repeatable:		X  No	_ Yes		(if yes, answer the following questions)
No of times in major				No of credits in major
No of times in degree				No of credits in degree

Enter the appropriate titles if the course is required in any of the following:

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Course justification:

With the increasing dependence of out society on science and technological developments, there is a growing need for general science courses. In addition, the elimination of GENED 150 Science and Technology in Society (STS) creates a need for courses to expose students to scientific methodology. This course will provide students with some of the general concepts they may have been exposed to in STS, from the scientific method to pseudo-science, but with the focus on modern physics. This course will introduce modern physics to students who want to learn about it with only very basic mathematics. It provides UWW students with an exciting and meaningful option for completing their general education natural science (GM) coursework.

Relationship to program assessment objectives:

This course will help the physics program generate excitement in interest about science and especially physics. It is possible the course will serve as an effective recruitment tool to encourage students to become physics majors. Thus in terms of assessment it will serve both to enhance the department’s service to general education and to increase participation in the physics major.

As a General Education Option:

By preparing students to evaluate science fiction in the light of a solid conceptual understanding of quantum mechanics and relativity, this course will encourage students "to think critically and analytically, integrate and synthesize knowledge, and draw conclusions from complex information."
(Goal 1)  As quantum mechanics and relativity represent man's best understanding of how space, time, and matter behave in the universe, and as a historical perspective will be given of how the theories began and were tested, the course will help students "Acquire a base of knowledge common to educated persons, the capacity to expand that base over their lifetime by understanding the way that knowledge is generated, organized, tested, and modified, while recognizing the past and current limits to the understanding." (Goal 4)  As both written and simple mathematical assignments will be given, students will be required to "Communicate effectively in written, oral, and symbolic form with an appreciation of aesthetic and logical considerations in conveying ideas." (Goal 5)  Learning the principles of quantum mechanics and relativity and their histories will help students "Understand the natural and physical world, the process by which scientific concepts are developed, tested, and modified, and the reliability and limitations of scientific knowledge." (Goal 6)  The emphasis of the course will be conceptual but simple algebra will be used throughout to convey the principles and numerical questions will be asked, helping the students "Develop the mathematical and quantitative skills necessary for calculation, analysis, and problem solving and the ability to use a computer when appropriate." (Goal 8)
 

Budgetary impact:

When the course is first introduced as a single section it represents 0.25 FTE. The proposed physics staffing level for Fall 2002 will be able to accommodate this. If the course becomes very popular it will require more resources.

Course description:

This introductory survey course will focus on areas of modern physics that are frequently discussed but often misunderstood. The theories of Einstein and other physicists will be used to examine science fiction devices such as time machines, warp drives, and mass transporters. Integrated throughout will be a discussion of what are science, science fiction, and pseudo-science. Not applicable toward any physics major or minor. Three hours of lecture a week.

Course requisites: Corequisite = Math 760-140 or Math 760-141 or waiver.

Course objectives and tentative course syllabus:

Subject matter:

1. A knowledge base in a variety of topics in modern physics, including special and general relativity, quantum mechanics, and other topics as they are presented in the media during the time of the course. Special topics in astronomy will be interwoven as appropriate.
2. An understanding of major concepts in physics, including conservation of energy and Newton’s laws, including an understanding of when they do or do not apply.

1. An ability to think critically and solve problems
2. An ability to think critically about certain topics related to modern physics such as time travel and worm holes.
3. An ability to apply the scientific method to modern physics

Bibliography: (Key or essential references only. Normally the bibliography should be no more than one or two pages in length. Indicate current library holdings by placing an asterisk [*])

*Marmet, Paul, Einstein's theory of relativity versus classical mechanics, (Gloucester, ON, Canada : Newton Physics Books, c1997)

*Stachel, John, ed., Einstein's miraculous year : five papers that changed the face of physics, (Princeton, NJ : Princeton University Press, c1998)

*Krane, Kenneth S., Modern physics, (New York : Wiley, c1996)

*Serway, Raymond A. Physics, (Austin, TX : Holt, Rinehart and Winston : Harcourt Brace & Co., c1999)

*Thorne, Kip S., Black holes and time warps : Einstein's outrageous legacy (New York : W.W. Norton, c1994.)

*McEvoy, J. P., Introducing quantum theory (New York, NY : Totem Books, c1996)

Moring, Gary F., The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Einstein’s Universe, (Indianapolis, IN: Alpha Books, c2000)

Aczel, Amir D., God’s Equation: Einstein, Relativity, and the Expanding Universe (New York : Four Walls Eight Windows, c1999)

Al-Khalili, J., Black Holes, Wormholes & Time Machines (Bristol, UK: Institute of Physics Publishing, c1999).

Kirkpatrick, Larry D. and Wheeler, Gerald F., Physics: A World View, (Orlando, FL: Harcourt College, c2001)

Styer, Daniel F., The Strange World of Quantum Mechanics (New York: Cambridge University Press, c2000)