FARMINGDALE STATE COLLEGE

 

Physics 123 Course Outline

The Theory of Everything – The Unification of Physical Law

Dr. Lloyd Makarowitz

The four fundamental forces in nature, gravity, electromagnetism, and the strong and weak nuclear forces, appear to be very distinct phenomena.  Early attempts to unify them into a single theory of the universe were met with failure, and even such great physicists as Albert Einstein were often derided for such futile efforts.  With the advent of recent strides in string theory, supersymmetry, M-theory, and hyperspace, most physicists believe that man is within reach of such fundamental knowledge.

It is the purpose of this course to place this same understanding of unification within the student’s grasp.  Without resorting to any complex calculations, the course will survey Newton’s classical mechanics, Maxwell’s theory of electricity and magnetism, Einstein’s relativity theories, quantum mechanics, particle physics, and the new particle physics of strings.  The student will contemplate the possibility of a universe which may be fully explained by a single physical theory.

Required texts:

“Einstein’s Cosmos” by Michio Kaku (Atlas Books, W. W. Norton, 2004, )

“Beyond Einstein” by Michio Kaku (Anchor Books, 1998, 0-385-47781-9)

“Hyperspace” by Michio Kaku (Anchor Books, 1995, 0-385-47705-8)

“Visions” by Michio Kaku (Anchor Books, 1998, 0-385-48499-2)

 

Grading Policy:

There is no prerequisite or co requisite for this course.  It is descriptive and non-mathematical.

Grades in PHY 123 will be based on three large examinations (each worth 20 percent of the course, with no exams dropped) and a comprehensive final examination (worth 40 percent of the course). All exams (including the final exam) are multiple-choice exams based on the four texts listed above. Students must work independently on examinations, without the use of sheets, texts, notes, or other aids.

 

Please note: All cell phones and pagers must be turned off completely prior to entering the classroom.

A tentative schedule of topics follows.

 

  1. The Marvel of Classical Physics – Mechanics and Electromagnetism. ( 1 week)
  2. An Introduction to Einstein’s Cosmos – Special Relativity. (1 week)
  3. General Relativity. (1 week)
  4. The Photoelectric Effect. (1 week)
  5. Early Cosmology. (1 week)
  6. Beyond Einstein – Superstrings. (1 week)
  7. An Introduction to Higher Dimensions. (1 week)
  8. Hyperspace – Beyond Space and Time. (2 weeks)
  9. A Theory of Everything in Ten Dimensions. (2 weeks)
  10. Another Look at Cosmology. (1 week)
  11. The First of Three Great Visions - The Computer Revolution. (1 week)
  12. The Second of Three Great Visions – The Biomolecular Revolution. (1 week)
  13. The Third of Three Great Visions – The Quantum Revolution. (1 week)

E-mail Dr. Makarowitz at Lloyd.makarowitz@farmingdale.edu