Foundations of Physics

The course presents the fundamental physical principles and concepts in a manner intended to show the interrelatedness of the various basic courses given in the undergraduate curriculum; classical and quantum mechanics, electromagnetic theory, phenomenological and statistical thermodynamics, and the principle of special relativity. The treatment provides historical and philosophical perspective. Some of the topics discussed are: the nature of space and time, concepts of force, mass, and inertia, action-at-a-distance and field theories, indeterminateness, the role of probability, the unidirectional character of time, the foundations of special and general relativity, symmetry principles and conservation theorems, the dimensionless number, and cosmological considerations. The unsettled character of all topics discussed is emphasized.

Fall, Spring