When we observe a natural phenomenon, we can ask why it happens. An initial answer usually opens further questions as we continue to ask, 'Why?' This type of inquiry leads to consideration of the fundamental principles central to the discipline of physics. This course is about several such principles, each directly relevant to a topic of current societal interest: global warming, weather prediction, global positioning systems (GPS), computers, electric motors, medical imaging. Topics explored through readings and activities may include entropy and energy, fluid mechanics, and chaos, relativity, quantum mechanics, and electromagnetism. No physics/math background required.
Department of Physics