Instructor: Edward M. Nadgorny
Lecture:
Tuesday,
Short Description: General methods and approaches of physicists including dimensional analysis, scaling, modeling, numerical estimation, etc. as applied to the development, understanding, and solution of physics problems. Better preparation of our Physics Majors to deal with new situations will be emphasized. Discussion on Physics Logic, Philosophy, and Laws. Help with passing successfully GRE and Major Physics Test.
Course Rationale: Physicist often must address new problems in areas for which they have little or no prior experience. This course allows physics majors to examine some of the common threads between different areas of physics and apply them to thinking about, setting up, and solving physics problems using their coursework at Michigan Tech.
Class
|
Topic
for Discussion
|
|
09/02 |
About
the course. (1) Physicist’s
simple tools; (2) Application to GRE problems; (3) Modern Physics
philosophical implications. Today: “Units
and Dimensional Analysis”. |
|
09/09 |
Discussion:
The Logic of Modern Physics. For class reading: BridgmanI. More
on Units. |
|
09/16 |
Discussion: A Physicist's General Philosophy. For
class reading: BridgmanII. Limiting Cases. |
|
09/23 |
Discussion: Models, Theories and Laws in Physics. For class reading: “Models
in Physics” from Internet. Dimensional Analysis.
|
|
09/30 |
Scaling and how to use
it. For class reading:
http://www.e-drexler.com/d/06/00/Nanosystems/ch2/chapter2_1.html Assignment 1 due |
|
10/07 |
Dynamical Analogies - solving one problem with
another. For class reading: |
|
10/14 |
The importance of Symmetries - from general laws
to problem solving |
|
10/21 |
More on Symmetries. For class reading: “Symmetry in Physical Laws” by R.
Feynman |
|
10/28 |
Small Parameter, Scaling and Self-Similarity; For class reading: Barenblatt |
|
11/04 |
“Non-Linear Problems and Phase Transitions” For class reading:
“Introduction to Superconductivity”
by Slichter from http://www.aip.org/history/mod/superconductivity/ Assignment 2 due |
|
11/11 |
Analysis of Problem
Solutions I: GRE-like problems, solving without solving or lengthy
calculations |
|
11/18 |
Analysis of Problem
Solutions II: GRE-like problems, student selected |
|
11/25 |
Thanksgiving Recess
|
|
12/02 |
GRE-like Sample Test What is “hot” today in Physics? For class reading: “Energy08”
|
|
12/09 |
Review of problem areas from previous weeks. |
12/16 |
Major Field Physics Test (from Educational Testing
Service) |
Requirement: Must take Major Field Physics Test.
Grading. Home Assignments: 60%;
Class Quizzes: 25%; Class activity: 15%