PHYS 125 - How Physics Sees the World

Introduces students to the powerful toolkit of the physicist, which has opened profound and unexpected vistas on the Universe over several centuries. The practice of physics deploys these tools to understand Nature in seemingly disparate domains, from the structure of atoms to the structure of the cosmos, and phenomena both familiar and far-out. Students consider how physics concepts help make sense of observations of Nature - that is, how physics models the world - with each section applying physics tools and techniques to phenomena from a particular sub-field of the discipline, such as biomechanics, astrophysics, or atomic physics. Students cultivate expertise in physics by reading literature, making and analyzing empirical observations, and solving quantitative problems. This course is required for students majoring in physics or astronomy-physics, and is also excellent preparation for students with interests in astrogeophysics and engineering.

Credits: 1.0
Corequisite:

PHYS 125L

Prerequisites: None
Major/Minor Restrictions: None
Class Restriction: None
Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics
Liberal Arts Practices: Quantitative and Algorithmic Reasoning
Core Component: None

Click here for Course Offerings by term