Physics

Students in this course explore some of the important conceptual and philosophical questions underlying physics and finance, like: How are assumptions about randomness compatible with observed forms of determinism? How is it possible to seek truth using statistical theories? What does it mean to be an atom? How does the quantum world differ from the everyday world? What explains why physical models have unexpected applications in finance? To what extent do such applications help to underpin how the prices of financial instruments are set? This course will proceed at a conceptual level that is suitable for students of all backgrounds: no background in physics is needed, and there is no advantage to having one.

The course introduces the scientific study of stars, the physical properties of stars, the measurements of these properties, and the relevant laws of physics. The course includes the relationship among stellar physical properties as a step towards understanding star formation and stellar evolution. Students learn advanced topics, including variable stars, supernovae, and black holes. The course requires students to take prerequisites.

In this course, students study in detail the origin and nature of the fundamental interactions generated by invariance of the Lagrangian under local gauge transformations.

This course studies and discusses different aspects of modern science using some of the magical short stories of the Argentinian writer Jorge Luis Borges. It uses Borges' work as a vehicle for discussing how our views of the world have been affected by the advances made by science in the last 100 years. In particular, the course focuses on the foundations of disciplines such as cosmology, quantum theory, statistical physics, neuroscience, and computing, as well as mathematical concepts such as combinatorics and the idea of infinity, and other notions such as the concept of time.

The course consists of two modules. Module 1, an introduction to gender science and its application to physics is worth 4.5 credits and reviews different theories within gender research. Fields like the learning of physics, the history of physics, knowledge production, and the culture of physics are analyzed from a gender perspective. Both statistical, quantitative, and qualitative analyses from socio-psychological, anthropological, and sociological studies are presented to describe sex segregation, balance of power, culture, and knowledge in physics. Module 2, a project on a gender perspective on physics is worth 3 credits. Projects include a gender analysis of one's activities in physics or an example from the department they study in or a literature study or similar in relevant fields for the course.

This course is intended for students without any or little background in physics and calculus. Important concepts in physics such as force, momentum, energy, angular momentum, and laws of conservation are introduced through Newtonian mechanics. In addition, these concepts are described in the language of mathematical equations, specifically through calculus. 

The course aims to teach Newton's laws of motion, momentum, and energy, and angular momentum as well as their conservation properties. In addition, students will be expected to be able to draw a free-body diagram, derive an equation of motion, and solve it using simple vector algebra and calculus. 

This course is intended for students who wish to acquire a deep understanding of systems of many particles. The course considers the fundamentals of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics and is a prerequisite to advanced statistical mechanics. It covers topics including: the laws of thermodynamics, thermodynamic functions, ideal gases, and heat engines; microcanonical ensemble, canonical ensemble, Boltzmann distribution, and partition function; and an introduction to quantum gases.

The course comprises basic parts from rigid body mechanics as well as deformable body mechanics and strength of materials. In rigid body mechanics, both static and dynamic problems are treated. In statics, the equations of equilibrium are formulated from free body diagrams, and problems with concentrated as well as distributed forces are handled. The distributed forces come from applications in hydrostatics and the computation of centroids. The dynamics part of the course is based on the laws of Newton. Particle motion is described in linear and curvilinear coordinates and the equations of motion of the particle are established. Equivalent formulations based on the principles of preservation of energy and momentum are also treated. Examples of applications are taken both from daily life experiences such as climbing ladders, moving furniture, riding a bike or a rollercoaster, and technical applications from robotics and ballistics. In deformable body mechanics, the tensorial concepts of stress and strain are first defined. The relations between stress and strain, i.e. constitutive laws, for different materials are established and applications from the dimensioning of different simple construction elements (lines, rods, beams, and trusses) are treated. Important phenomena such as fatigue and fracture are also discussed.

This course offers a study of the physics and psycho-acoustics of music. Topics include: the physics of sound; generation of sound-- instruments; rhythm; pitch and intervals; musical scales; chord progressions; audio illusions and effects; room acoustics; neuromusicology.