B.S. 1958, M.S. 1961, Ph.D. 1965, University of Minnesota. Richard E. Pontinen, professor. To introduce non-science students to the conceptual development and philosophical implications of some aspects of physics with a minimum amount of mathematics. We consider both theory and practical applications in the laboratory. Open to anyone interested in the science of sound and light and their relation to music and art.
Physics encompasses a large body of knowledge that unifies our understanding of nature.
The goal of this course is to develop and refine abilities to explore, experimentally and theoretically, the basic laws of physics. Similar to General Physics, but modified to cover fewer topics in greater detail. Emphasis is calculus-based, but with a focus on experiential learning. Theories are developed to explain interference diffraction and polarization and are used as a basis for measurements in the laboratory. To understand the static and dynamic behavior of mechanical systems.