260025 VO Philosophy of Physics (2014W)
Labels
Time slots:
Mo (Oct 06.,20.,27.): 16.00-17.30 IQOQI SR, 2nd Floor, Boltzmanngasse 3, 1090 Vienna
Mo (!) (Oct 13.): 16.00-17.30 Zi55, 1st Floor, Boltzmanngasse 5, 1090 Vienna
Thu (Oct 09.,16.,23.,30.): 10.00-11.30 IQOQI SR, 2nd Floor, Boltzmanngasse 3, 1090 Vienna
Mo (Oct 06.,20.,27.): 16.00-17.30 IQOQI SR, 2nd Floor, Boltzmanngasse 3, 1090 Vienna
Mo (!) (Oct 13.): 16.00-17.30 Zi55, 1st Floor, Boltzmanngasse 5, 1090 Vienna
Thu (Oct 09.,16.,23.,30.): 10.00-11.30 IQOQI SR, 2nd Floor, Boltzmanngasse 3, 1090 Vienna
Details
Language: English
Examination dates
Lecturers
Classes
Vorbesprechung: MO 06.10.2014 14.00-15.00 Ort: Ludwig-Boltzmann-Hörsaal, Boltzmanngasse 5, EG, 1090 Wien
(Block lectures in October 2014):On the following Mondays: October 06th, 20th, 27th
16:00-17:30 hrs.On the following Thursdays: October 09th, 16th, 23th, 30th,
10:00-11:30 hrs.IQOQI, Seminarraum, 2nd Floor, Boltzmanngasse 3, 1090 ViennaOn Monday, October 13th
16:00-17:30 hrs.
Zi55, 1st Floor, Boltzmanngasse 5, 1090 ViennaRegistrierung über Univis von Mo 01.09.14 08:00 Uhr bis Sa 31.01.15 23:00 Uhr.
Information
Aims, contents and method of the course
Noether's (first) theorem, the arrow of time in thermodynamics, Boltzmann's H-theorem, the role of probability in physics, the gravitational red-shift and the meaning of the metric field in general relativity.
Assessment and permitted materials
An examination paper will be set and marked. Students will not be expected to answer questions on all the topics in the course.
Minimum requirements and assessment criteria
This lecture course is designed to cover a number of issues in the conceptual foundations of modern physics, in particular within quantum mechanics, thermal physics, and relativity theory. These issues are connected in different ways with the theme of symmetry principles and their role in physics. The lectures are designed for final year undergraduates and first year graduate students in physics.
Examination topics
The lectures will be organised in such a way as to allow a significant time for questions and discussion on the part of the audience.
Reading list
Sheldon Smith, “Laws and Symmetries in the Light of the Inverse Problem in Lagrangian Mechanics”, Studies in the History and Philosophy of Modern Physics, 39: 325-345, 2008.H.R.B. and Peter Holland, “Dynamical versus variational symmetries: understanding Noether’s first theorem” Molecular Physics, 102, No. 11-12, 1133-1139 (2004); http://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/2194/H.R.B. and Jos Uffink, ‘The origin of time-asymmetry in thermodynamics: the Minus First Law’, Studies in the History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 32, 503-510 (2001). A slightly longer version of this paper is found in E-print: http://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/217/.Robert Marsland III, H.R.B. and Giovanni Valente, ‘Ambiguities in order-theoretic formulations of thermodynamics’; arxiv.org/abs/1407.7727.H.R.B, Wayne Myrvold and Jos Uffink, ‘Boltzmann’s H-theorem, its discontents, and the birth of statistical mechanics’, Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 40, 174–191 (2009). An earlier version of this paper is in arXiv:0809.1304v1.H.R.B.: ‘Curious and sublime: the connection between uncertainty and probability in physics’, Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A (2011) 369, 1–15. doi:10.1098/rsta.2011.0075; http://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/8571/H.R.B.: ‘The role of rods and clocks in general relativity and the meaning of the metric field’, arXiv:0911.4440v1 [gr-qc].A. Schild, American Journal of Physics, 28 (1960), 778-780.J. Hartle, Gravity. An introduction to Einstein’s general relativity (2003), pp. 110-31.
Association in the course directory
ERG 3, MaInt, Dok 4.
Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:40