ECE 49500 - Physics for Future Presidents
Course Details
Lecture Hours: 3 Credits: 3
Counts as:
Experimental Course Offered:
Fall 2009
Catalog Description:
This course will survey a broad range of concepts in physics that are both interesting and important to everyday quality of life, and important to all professionals who wish to be able to use a basic conceptual qualitative and semi-quantitative understanding of a broad range of physics in their professional activities. In a sense this is an advanced mathematics. It is meant for all liberal arts, science and engineering undergraduate students interested in understanding physics at an intuitive and physical level.
Required Text(s):
- Physics for Future Presidents , Richard A. Muller , Princeton University Press , ISBN No. 0390948667
Recommended Text(s):
None.
Learning Outcomes:
A student who successfully fulfills the course requirements will have demonstrated:
- A conceptual understanding of a broad range of physics concepts. [d,f,g,h,I,j]
Lecture Outline:
| Lectures | Lecture Topics |
|---|---|
| 2 | Energy and power |
| 2 | Atoms and heat |
| 1 | Class discussion/homework solutions |
| 2 | Gravity and force |
| 1 | Class discussion/homework solutions |
| 2 | Nuclei and radioactivity |
| 1 | Class discussion/homework solutions |
| 2 | Chain reactions, nuclear reactors, and atomic bombs |
| 1 | Class discussion/homework solutions |
| 2 | Electricity and magnetism |
| 1 | Class discussion/homework solutions |
| 2 | Waves |
| 1 | Class discussion/homework solutions |
| 3 | Visible and Invisible light |
| 1 | Class discussion/homework solutions |
| 2 | Quantum physics |
| 1 | Class discussion/homework solutions |
| 1 | Relativity |
| 1 | The universe |
| 1 | Class discussion/homework solutions |
Engineering Design Content:
- Establishment of Objectives and Criteria
- Synthesis
- Analysis
Engineering Design Consideration(s):
- Economic
- Environmental
- Ethical
- Health/Safety
- Manufacturability
- Political
- Social
- Sustainability
Assessment Method:
Homework and essays. There are no exams. The grading algorithm is 75% essay scores and 25% homework scores.