Einsteins Universe and Quantum Weirdness

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Einsteins Universe and Quantum Weirdness
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Why Should I Take This Course?

• I want learn about the two great theories of 20th
  century physics, without having to major in this
  area
• I have read A Brief History of Time, but couldnt
  make much sense of it
• I need to fulfill my General Education / Breadth
  requirement
• There is no exam!

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What Would I Gain at the End of the Course?

• I would be able to intelligently discuss modern
  physics with others
• I would be able to keep up with future
  discoveries and technologies, from magazines
  such as Scientific American
• I would be able to appreciate how mysterious and
  wonderful Nature is!

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General Education

• Information and Knowledge Content (IKC) module
• Relativity and quantum physics have occupied a
  major place in the intellectual and cultural
  history of the 20th century
• Stretch your minds beyond the limits of everyday
  experience (and your major)

GEM website
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Module Codes

• GEK1508
• For students taking as a GEM (200)
• PC1325
• For students taking as a UE or Breadth module
  (100)
• For Science students taking as part of their
  faculty requirements (100)
• Note Science students taking this module as
  PC1325 do not have S/U option

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Course Outline

• Special and General Relativity
• Space and time, the nature of light, Emc2,
  matter and anti-matter, curved space-time, the
  big bang, black holes and wormholes, uses of
  relativity in the modern world
• Quantum Physics
• Wave-particle duality, the uncertainty principle,
  probability waves, atoms and nuclei,
  technological applications, unification of forces

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Reference Texts(available from Science Library
RBR and Co-op)

• Einsteins Mirror T. Hey and P. Walters(38.70)
• The Quantum Universe T. Hey and P.
  Walters(38.80)

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Other Recommended Reading (for term paper)

• Mr. Tompkins in Paperback G. Gamov
• The New World of Mr. TompkinsG. Gamov and R.
  Stannard(24.10)
• Alice in Quantumland R. Gilmore
• From Quarks to Black HolesR.T. Hammond

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Module Structure(Workload 2-1-0-3-4)
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Assessment

• Term paper 40
• 2 Term tests 40
• Tutorials 20
• No final exam

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Term Paper

• Form up to groups of three
• Write a short story based on a theme in modern
  physics
• in the spirit of Mr. Tompkins or Alice in
  Quantumland
• Dateline 12 November 2004

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Term Tests

• Test 1 30 September 2004 (Thursday)Test 2 8
  November 2004 (Monday)
• Duration 1 hour (1015 1115 a.m.)
• 30 multiple choice questions
• Open book

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Lecture Times

• Monday and Thursday
• 1000 - 1130 a.m.
• LT 32
• Note Clashes with other modules are not allowed

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Expectations

• Please be punctual for lectures, as missing even
  a small portion might make it harder to follow
  at a later stage
• Attendance is very important, as slides will
  deliberately be kept brief, and only elaborated
  upon in the lectures
• Students should take the initiative to read up
  further on the lecture material to enhance their
  understanding

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Taking Notes

• No need to copy down everything
• Just jot down key points, or something that
  strikes you
• Slides will be made available on the web a few
  days before each lecture (which you may want to
  print outbeforehand)

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Learn Actively During Lectures

• Try to understand the key concepts during the
  lecture itself, as details can be filled in after
  that
• If things are not clear to you, please do not
  hesitate to ask me (during the lecture or
  afterwards). You may also approach the Teaching
  Assistant
• Quizzes (and prizes!) to encourage your
  participation

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Tutorial Arrangements

• Total of five tutorials, once a fortnight
• Sign up online at https//neon.science.nus.edu.sg/
  intranet/student/registration/tutreg/
• C.A. weightage for homework assignments is 10
  and for tutorial attendance / participation is
  10
• Venue Physics Lab Instruction Room (S11 03-5)

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Course Home Page

• http//www.physics.nus.edu.sg/einstein/
• http//ivle.nus.edu.sg/ (search for GEK1508 or
  PC1325)
• contains some value-added services such as
  announcements, discussion forum, lesson plan,
  module faq, etc. Otherwise should be identical
• Please familiarise yourselves with the
  information there, especially with respect to the
  tutorials and term paper
• You should also check announcements on ILVE
  regularly

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Contact Information

• Dr. Edward Teo(Lecturer)
• Tel [phone]
• Email eteo_at_nus.edu.sg
• Office S13 03-10
• Consultation hours
• 12 - 2 p.m. Thursdays
• 2 - 4 p.m. Fridays

• Mr. Kenneth Hong (Teaching Assistant)
• Tel [phone]
• Email phyhcmk_at_nus.edu.sg
• Office S13 04-03