PHYS-010 The Way Things Work

Professor Barbara

This is a conceptual physics course, meaning there will be very few equations in it. The vast majority of natural phenomena, as well as technology, can be understood, as opposed to quantified, by a description in words rather than equations. Given qualitative rather than quantitative discourse as the "language" of the course, the central focus of the course is to see science in everyday life. Most science courses first present the science, and then find applications for it. This course comes at it the other way around, first asking questions about familiar phenomena and devices. Examples are "Why is the sky blue at noon and red at sunset?" and "How does a xerox machine work?". Then the course works from there to the underlying science. This course serves as a core course for completion of the math/science requirement in the College.

Other academic years
There is information about this course number in other academic years:

• 2005-2006 Fall and Spring
• 2006-2007 Fall and Spring
• 2007-2008 Fall and Spring
• 2008-2009 Fall and Spring
• 2009-2010 Fall and Spring
• 2010-2011 Fall and Spring
• 2011-2012 Fall and Spring
• 2012-2013 Fall and Spring
• 2013-2014 Fall and Spring

More information
Look for this course in the schedule of classes.

The academic department web site for this program may provide other details about this course.