Advice for URI undergraduates taking introductory physics courses.
| At Hypothetical University the instructor wrote on the chalkboard "All
odd numbers are prime. Discuss"
The math major was the first to address the class, saying "One is a special case, let's come back to it if we have to. Three is a prime, five is a prime, seven is a prime, nine is NOT a prime. We have found a counterexample, so the premise is false." Then the math major smiled and sat down. The physics major addressed the class next, saying "One is a prime, three is a prime, five is a prime, seven is a prime, nine is not a prime, eleven is a prime, thirteen is a prime, fifteen is not a prime, seventeen is a prime, nineteen is a prime. We have eight primes out of the first ten odds, so if we throw out the two exceptions we can conclude that the premise is true." Then the physics major smiled and sat down. The engineering major next addressed the class, saying "One is a prime, three is a prime, five is a prime, seven is a prime, nine is not a prime... it must not be odd. Yes, the premise is true." Then the engineering major smiled and sat down. The computer science major was the last to address the class, saying "One is a prime, three is a prime, five is a prime, seven is a prime, nine is not a prime, nine is not a prime, nine is not a prime, nine is not a prime..." |
The ABCs of Physics (by A. Schaefer, A. Gershenson and M. Allersma)
The ABCs of Astronomy (by Sally)
A fictitious physics course catalog (author unknown)
"Think Like a Physicist or, Why do Physicists Waste So Much Time Talking About Math?" by Kenny Felder. An excellent article!
I have been working with URI's Dr. Nunes on a thermocontrol system for his research on magnetic nanoparticles.
I have a short group theory page (under construction).