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Spring 2001 Natural and Mathematical Sciences (E105)
E105 Physics Odyssey (Hendry)
PHYSICS ODYSSEY is a journey of exploration through the entire universe. We start by trying to understand the
physical world around us, looking at ordinary matter. But that will quickly propel us into the realm of atoms (you
can't explain why the sky is blue without them!) and nuclei. We'll also steer our course beyond the Earth, outwards
into space--or should I say spacetime? Should you complete this journey and be able to warp your way back to Earth,
you will never view the universe the same way again!
Some details: This course is for non-science majors. It is part conceptual, part quantitative. You may find it
hazardous to your health, though the math needed is only at the level of high school algebra…no trig or calculus.
Grades are based on your (repeat…your) performance in weekly homework and four exams. Check out the course website.
It's already posted at... http://physics.indiana.edu/~e105po01/
Join us for this challenging but exciting adventure!
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E105 Hear No 'Evil' (Humes)
Does loud music damage hearing? How loud is "too loud" and potentially dangerous? How do we know? Does it
matter whether it is "hard rock" or classical music? What research has been conducted to attempt to answer
these questions and how can it be evaluated? To answer these and related questions, after reading and acquiring
a basic understanding of human hearing, the student will read 4-5 research articles and write a 5-to-7-page paper
summarizing and supporting his or her position on the topic, with appropriate citation of references.
The course is organized into two major sections as follows:
I. Understanding Human Hearing (7-8 weeks)--provide the necessary background and vocabulary needed for the
hearing-related topics to be presented in the remainder of the course. Topics covered in the first half of the
course include: what is sound?, how does the ear work? what are the effects of loud sound on the auditory system?
Material will be presented in lecture/discussion format. Assessment will consist of short quizzes and a midterm
exam on this material. Demonstrations will be used frequently throughout this portion of the course to illustrate
key concepts in acoustics, anatomy and physiology, and auditory perception.
II. Evaluating Research (7-8 weeks)-In this portion of the course, students will be learn about group research
designs used in the study of the effects of noise on hearing and how to critically evaluate research in this area.
A topic will then be chosen by the student in the general area of "effects of loud music on hearing" and 4-5 articles
will be assigned on the selected topic. Class meeting times will be used to model the critical reading of research in
the field. The format of journal articles will be described. Strong and weak research designs will be identified
from sample articles analyzed in class. The ways in which scientists report, graph and analyze data will be reviewed.
The focus will be placed on becoming intelligent consumers of research.
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E105 Born to be a Genius :
Exploring Theories of Language Acquisition (Connell)
Any viable theory of human mind must come to grips with how language is learned by children. Few areas of research
on human cognition have aroused such controversy among scientists from diverse disciplines who bring their
methodologies to bear on this elemental problem. At stake is the greatest prize of all: determining whether all of
human knowledge is molded by human culture or whether some of it is determined by innate (genetic) structures. Two
distinct traditions have emerged from the battle, but only one of them has influenced mainstream thought. One of
the foundations of modern day intellectual life is the assumption that the human mind is a product of the social
forces of culture brought to bear during the developmental period.
In this course, we will examine the bold attack that has been made against this firmly established position, an
attack that has signaled a revolution in cognitive science. Our examination of the central issues of language
acquisition will question our understanding of the modularity of mind, genetics vs. environment, human uniqueness,
and the relation between language and thought. Students will learn how to evaluate data that are used to support or
refute theoretical positions in discussions and in written assignments, thereby deepening their understanding of the
issues and fostering critical thinking.
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E105 Earthquakes and Volcanoes (Hamburger)
This course, intended primarily for non-science majors, offers an introduction to the most exciting-and
terrifying-manifestations of the dynamic processes that are continually reshaping our planet: earthquakes and
volcanic eruptions. The class will present a general overview of these violent natural catastrophes, examining
their fundamental causes, documentation of earthquake and volcanic phenomena, the wide range of secondary
effects-such as landslides, mudflows, and tsunamis (tidal waves)-that are triggered by quakes and eruptions, and
the societal response to these natural disasters. The class will also focus on aspects of earthquakes and volcanic
activity that are related to critical public policy issues of our time: energy and mineral resources, global climate
change, nuclear arms control, and natural hazard reduction.
The course has no prerequisites and requires no previous background in earth sciences. It consists of two 50-minute
lectures and one 2-hour laboratory per week. The laboratory exercises have purposefully been designed with an eye
toward variety and include several "in-class" written problems, one or more computer exercises, a two-hour field trip
to local rock outcrops, and two "experimental" exercises in which students collect and analyze their own experimental
data. The laboratory portion of the course finishes with a two-week volcanic and seismic hazards assessment of one or
more population centers in the Pacific northwest. Grading in the course will be based on a midterm and final
examination (50%), problem sets (10%), laboratory exercises (30%), and a laboratory final (10%).
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E105 Meteorites and Planets (Basu)
Rocks from the moon, Mars, asteroids, and possibly also from comets have a common ancestry that is also the Earth's.
What is our common origin? Is life exclusive to the Earth? Have the planets evolved differently? How do the
interiors of planetary bodies, big and small, look? How do we find answers to such questions? Samples on loan from
NASA and the Smithsonian for sole use of this class give students a hands-on experience of contemporary research
practices in extraterrestrial materials. Taught by Professor Basu, Principal Investigator for NASA for nearly 20
years, the course is designed to make current research material and the results of space-research accessible to
freshman students who are not science majors. The basic tenet of the course is that common sense and simple laws of
physics and chemistry are enough to enjoy and understand a seemingly remote topic.
Two 50-minute lectures, and one 50-minute laboratory per week. Three quizzes, two mid-terms, one comprehensive final,
and weekly laboratory reports are required. Old tests are on file in the Geology Library.
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E105 Native Amazonians and the Stewardship of Nature
(Moran)
This course combines an introduction to the native cultures found in the Amazon Basin of South America with an
examination of conceptions about the stewardship of Nature, the ethical dimensions of the uses of Nature,
considerations of what a conservation ethic implies, and the challenges of using and conserving our natural resources.
The course will survey regional differences in conceptions of Nature, and the diversity of ways in which native
Amazonians treat their flora and fauna. This topic provides a rich window through which to introduce to students basic
theoretical topics in general anthropology such as social organization, territoriality, warfare, world view, ritual,
cosmology, ecology, and adaptation-as well as philosophical examination of the ethics of conservation, and the contested
nature of our obligation to future generations. The Amazon has been a particularly contested area in Anthropology
because there is such a diversity of ways of knowing found in this area, and such extreme ecological differences.
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E105 Where do I come from? (Bonner)
In this course, we will examine ourselves, and where we come from. We will look at our embryological origins, and
try to understand how we came to be, based on what is known now about developmental biology. It will be interesting
to compare these thoughts to those of earlier scientists or philosophers who, though they knew a great deal, simply
did not have some key pieces of information at their disposal.
Similarly, we will examine our own genetic heritage, looking at the nature of inheritance from the level of pure,
naked DNA to the level of the traits we carry. We will extend these thoughts to the question of genetic change,
mutation, and the ways that our histories have been shaped by these events. Once we begin to see what current
molecular biology tells us, it will be enlightening to compare our conclusions to those of our ancestors who did
not have access to the kind of detailed knowledge that is available to us now. The course grades will be based on
4 short papers, bi-weekly problem sets, and a variety of in-class assignments (such as essay quizzes and minute
papers).
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E105 The Dark Side of Rationality
(Savion)
"I'll pay you $5. if you wash my car", your father promises your kid sister. An hour later she's running around the
house, happily waving a five dollar bill. Do you conclude that she has washed the car? Most people do, in explicit
violation of logical rules. Human superiority over other animals is normally summarized in one word: rationality.
Our great achievements are attributed to this unique capacity: language, arts, sciences, social order, legal systems
and survival skills. Yet, the same species that finds cure for cancer, sends people to the moon and maintains
sophisticated social organizations also engages in pointless wars, racism, gambling, cults, biased decision making
and by and large demonstrates consistent and predictable failure to follow simple rules of logic.
In investigating the complicated relations between logical rules and human actual reasoning we'll cover some principle
of logical theory, uncover major human inferential failures, examine critically major theories of rationality and
explore the reasons behind the apparent human irrationality. Students are expected to take two tests and a final
exam, write 3-4 short papers, offer one group presentation based on independent research, and develop a lively
intellectual curiosity about the ways our minds work.
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E105 Agricultural Biotechnology (Innes)
The term "biotechnology" refers to various methods of manipulating life forms in order to provide desirable products
for human use. Agricultural biotechnology has profoundly affected the way food is produced. However, the
ramifications of this technology extend far beyond its agronomic intentions. As a result, agricultural biotechnology
has become a highly controversial subject. There are several goals of this course. The first is to understand the
scientific basis of agricultural biotechnology, with emphasis on genetic engineering. The second is to identify the
impact of biotechnology on agriculture, society and the environment. The third is to identify and evaluate the risks
and benefits of biotechnology. The fourth is to develop the skills for retrieving and evaluating information about a
controversial technological issue. The fifth is to synthesize information into a comprehensive and balanced paper on
a controversial technological issue. Information will be presented in a lecture/ discussion format and will be
instructor and student led. There will be several guest lecturers. Student performance will be based on quizzes,
an oral presentation, a paper and class participation. Students will work individually and in groups.
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E105 How does it Work? The Physics of Medical
Imaging (Ogren)
The main goals of the course are to present the underlying physics of the modern techniques used for medical diagnostic
imaging. This will be done by focusing on the following imaging techniques: Ultrasound, X-rays, CAT scans- Computed
Axial Tomography, PET- positron Emission Tomography, and MRI-Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
The course will be arranged so that the medical imaging topics will be focus points of a discussion of Modern Physics.
The physics topics that will be covered are: Waves, Electricity and Magnetism, Atomic and Nuclear Physics.
The goal is to present a clear and understandable explanation of medical imaging techniques. I will present an overview
that should interest a prospective medical student or a curious non-science student. A secondary goal is to discuss the
application of modern physics to the technology that surrounds us. Medical imaging is developing at such a rapid pace
due to the influence of superconducting magnet technology, semiconductor research, and high speed computing. The
relevance of present day scientific research to our every day lives in not always apparent and is not appreciated by the
news media and politicians.
This course will be taught as a lecture course. However, there will be some aspects of a discussion section since the
students will have small group interactions. Part of the small group interaction will involve planning and carrying out
lecture demonstrations. Students will keep written journals, which will be stored as WWW documents. These will evaluate
the student demonstrations, documents the planning of their demonstration, record questions and comments on the lectures,
and discuss a weekly new item on medical imaging that accessed from WWW or commercial publications. Because of the nature
of this course I hope to bring in local experts to discuss certain aspects of medical imaging.
One year of high school algebra and trigonometry is recommended. In general I would expect the requirements to be
approximately equivalent to a P201 course. The course will be taught in a way that requires less mathematical background
that P201, however. Students will be required to keep written journals, which will be organized and accessed via WWW.
Students will be expected to learn the computer skills to navigate the World Wide Web and collect documents of their
journals. Theses will contain evaluations of the student demonstrations, and discussions of current news items on a
particular aspect of imaging. There will also be reading assignments at the level of Scientific American Articles. The
journals will be reviewed weekly. There will also be weekly homework and quizzes, consisting of quantitative calculation.
There will be three examinations during the semester. On the exams the students will be required to express themselves
both in essay questions and with simple calculations.
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E105 Rational Decision Making (Koertge)
One of the secrets to a good life is making good decisions. But how is that to be done? Sometimes we seem able to
weigh up the pros and cons of the various options open to us. Other times we procrastinate and dither and may even
end up tossing a coin or consulting Tarot cards. In this course we look at two types of basic research on decision
making. We begin with a field of study called Rational Choice Theory that attempts to describe the procedures which
people should use in making decisions. Philosophers and economists working in this area raise some very interesting
issues concerning the proper role of values, including moral values, and the best ways to deal with uncertainty and
risk. Next we look at results coming from a field called Behavioral Decision Theory which describes the guidelines
and heuristics that ordinary people actually use when they make decisions. Cognitive psychologists and researchers
interested in policy studies and marketing are especially interested in trying to analyze and explain the differences
between the decision strategies that in theory appear to be most rational and the strategies that we tend to adopt in
practice. There will be short assignments that are due each week at the time of the discussion section. Often you
will need to submit answers to sets of problems posted on the web that are designed to illustrate the concepts
introduced in lecture. There will also be a few assignments that ask you to analyze an actual case study in a one or
two page essay. The grade will be based on four exams and an average of the weekly assignments. Regular attendance is
required. This course most likely does not overlap much with material that you had in high school and since it is
multi-disciplinary in approach, you are likely to find at least some parts of it pretty interesting. It should be easy
for most students and not require huge amounts of time if one comes to class regularly and does the problem sets each
week. The study habits required are those appropriate for a science course or a course in foreign language.
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