The History of Physics, Cultural Connections and Other Issues Michael Bass CREOL, The College of Optics and Photonics University of Central Florida [email protected]

The History of Physics, The History of Physics, Cultural Connections Cultural Connections

and Other Issuesand Other IssuesMichael BassMichael Bass

CREOL, The College of Optics and PhotonicsCREOL, The College of Optics and PhotonicsUniversity of Central FloridaUniversity of Central Florida

[email protected] 2013Spring 2013

Web site: Web site: http://bass.creol.ucf.edu/IDS6938http://bass.creol.ucf.edu/IDS6938

AdministriviaAdministrivia This is a 1 unit course.This is a 1 unit course. Unlike most science courses it is open for Unlike most science courses it is open for

discussion.discussion.– There is no controversy over Newton’s Laws of Motion There is no controversy over Newton’s Laws of Motion

but there might be over Newton.but there might be over Newton. Your participation is critical- take part!!!!!Your participation is critical- take part!!!!!

Additional sessions:Additional sessions:– If there is interest we can meet on Thursdays, same If there is interest we can meet on Thursdays, same

time, for open discussions.time, for open discussions.

ScheduleSchedule Discussion of what is a culture, what is the Culture of Science, Discussion of what is a culture, what is the Culture of Science,

what are scientific ethics, what can go right/wrong – some what are scientific ethics, what can go right/wrong – some comments on fraud and pathological science.comments on fraud and pathological science.

How did science get started?How did science get started? The Copernican Revolution and the Newtonian SynthesisThe Copernican Revolution and the Newtonian Synthesis Scientific ControversiesScientific Controversies Conservation Laws, Thermodynamics and the Arrow of TimeConservation Laws, Thermodynamics and the Arrow of Time Electricity, Magnetism and Electromagnetics – Maxwell, Electricity, Magnetism and Electromagnetics – Maxwell,

Symmetry and UnificationSymmetry and Unification Measurement, Relativity, Einstein and Everything ElseMeasurement, Relativity, Einstein and Everything Else Quantum Mechanics – Part IQuantum Mechanics – Part I Quantum Mechanics – Part IIQuantum Mechanics – Part II Quantum Mechanics – Part IIIQuantum Mechanics – Part III Five Experiments that Define Modern OpticsFive Experiments that Define Modern Optics Time and the Past and Future Histories of the UniverseTime and the Past and Future Histories of the Universe The Miracle of Stars and Why We AreThe Miracle of Stars and Why We Are Patents and Intellectual Property IssuesPatents and Intellectual Property Issues

More StuffMore Stuff

One evening, after we have discussed One evening, after we have discussed Scientific Contorversies, we will view a Scientific Contorversies, we will view a dramatization of the trial in Pennsylvania dramatization of the trial in Pennsylvania over Intelligent Design and Science. over Intelligent Design and Science. – After 1/29 and before 2/09After 1/29 and before 2/09

On another evening, after we have On another evening, after we have considered Bohr’s and Heisenberg’s considered Bohr’s and Heisenberg’s contributions, we will view the play contributions, we will view the play Copenhagen and discuss it.Copenhagen and discuss it.– After 3/19 and before 3/26After 3/19 and before 3/26

A definitionA definition

Science is a method of interrogating Science is a method of interrogating reality, a cumulative process of reality, a cumulative process of testing new and more refined testing new and more refined explanations, not an assertion of dry, explanations, not an assertion of dry, unalterable facts.unalterable facts.

It is a way of asking questions, not of It is a way of asking questions, not of imposing answers.imposing answers.

What is science?What is science? Common beliefsCommon beliefs Common behaviorsCommon behaviors Common attitudesCommon attitudes Common ways of Common ways of

thinking/seeingthinking/seeing Common modes of livingCommon modes of living Common artsCommon arts Common Common

technologies/sciences/views technologies/sciences/views of the world and universeof the world and universe

Some saySome say

Science is the subject of Science is the subject of what can be proven what can be proven wrong.wrong.

You can not disprove You can not disprove belief!!!!belief!!!!

How does science work?How does science work?

The two most important questions in science:The two most important questions in science:– What can I know?What can I know?– How can I know it?How can I know it?

Religion and science part ways over the first.Religion and science part ways over the first.– Religion thinks it can know why!Religion thinks it can know why!– Science thinks it can know how!Science thinks it can know how!

The answer to the second is what defines The answer to the second is what defines modern science.modern science.– Methodology matters as much as the question itself.Methodology matters as much as the question itself.

Progress in ScienceProgress in Science

Scientists use data to form a model Scientists use data to form a model or paradigm and thenor paradigm and then– Test it and test it again and again.Test it and test it again and again.

Here the methodology mattersHere the methodology matters– The tests are either meaningful or not.The tests are either meaningful or not.– How do you know.How do you know.

– If anomalies are found that do not fit If anomalies are found that do not fit theythey Modify the paradigm, orModify the paradigm, or Replace it.Replace it.

Who is a scientist?Who is a scientist?

All real scientists exist on the frontier.All real scientists exist on the frontier.– They deal with the unknown!They deal with the unknown!– They develop tools to probe the unknown.They develop tools to probe the unknown.– They explore in a disciplined manner.They explore in a disciplined manner.

Scientists do not torture the data to find Scientists do not torture the data to find a result theya result they– torture the experiments to be sure the torture the experiments to be sure the

data is correct and meaningful.data is correct and meaningful.

Properties of scienceProperties of science

Experiments must be reproducible.Experiments must be reproducible.– If A gets a result at her lab then B must If A gets a result at her lab then B must

get the same result in his. get the same result in his. The results must be expandableThe results must be expandable

– One must be able to:One must be able to: Build on it.Build on it. Learn more from it.Learn more from it. Use it as a foundation to build new Use it as a foundation to build new

structures.structures.

Properties of scientistsProperties of scientists

HonestHonest EthicalEthical TrustworthyTrustworthy Not biasedNot biased …… Examples of this gone astray are Examples of this gone astray are

pathological sciencepathological science– PolywaterPolywater– Infinite dilutionInfinite dilution– Cold fusionCold fusion

Other examplesOther examples Scientists whose Scientists whose

bias clouds their bias clouds their science:science:– Creationist Creationist

sciencescience– Intelligent Intelligent

designdesign– PhrenologyPhrenology– Racial Racial

stereotypingstereotyping– Extreme global Extreme global

warmingwarming

What is a CultureWhat is a Culture

Common beliefsCommon beliefs Common behaviorsCommon behaviors Common attitudesCommon attitudes Common ways of thinking/seeingCommon ways of thinking/seeing Common modes of livingCommon modes of living Common artsCommon arts Common Common

technologies/sciences/views of the technologies/sciences/views of the world and universeworld and universe

Science affects cultureScience affects culture

IdeasIdeas InventionsInventions Manners of thinkingManners of thinking Views of our place in the UniverseViews of our place in the Universe LanguageLanguage Everyday lifeEveryday life

Culture affects scienceCulture affects science

What science is conductedWhat science is conducted WhereWhere By whomBy whom Conversion to technologyConversion to technology UtilizationUtilization Diffusion of scientific knowledgeDiffusion of scientific knowledge

An example An example

Science affects cultureScience affects culture– Manhattan project leads to nuclear weaponsManhattan project leads to nuclear weapons– Modifies how nations behave.Modifies how nations behave.– Results in no WW III (yet?)Results in no WW III (yet?)

Culture affects scienceCulture affects science– Huge funding for atomic and nuclear science.Huge funding for atomic and nuclear science.– Scientists are lionized.Scientists are lionized.– Eventually scientists become mad scientistsEventually scientists become mad scientists

Young people can be turned off.Young people can be turned off.

– Social stigmatization in theocratic societies.Social stigmatization in theocratic societies.

RememberRemember

Class on Thursday January 10Class on Thursday January 10 No Class on January 15, 22 and 29No Class on January 15, 22 and 29 Class resumes on Feb. 5Class resumes on Feb. 5 January 22 and 29 classes will be January 22 and 29 classes will be

made up on Feb. 7 and 14.made up on Feb. 7 and 14.

Documents

The History of Physics, Cultural Connections and Other Issues Michael Bass CREOL, The College of Optics and Photonics University of Central Florida [email protected]