1. Background of Greek Science.

1. Greek ideas in physics.

1. Matter (Thales, Anaxagoras, Atomism, Aristotle).

2. Motion.

3. Forces of electricity (amber) and magnetism (lodestone).

2. The crucial discoveries in astronomy.

1. Eudoxus, Aristotle, Aristarchus, Hipparchus.

3. Archimedes.

1. The beginning of mathematical physics

4. Ptolemy.

1. Theory of the solar system.

2. Optics.

2. Copernican Astronomy.

1. The heliocentric theory of the solar system.

2. Evidence for the theory.

3. Problems with the Copernican theory.

3. Triumph of the Heliocentric Astronomy and the Birth of Physics.

1. Kepler’s physical astronomy

1. The sun exerts a force on the planets!

2. Discovery of the laws of planetary motion

2. Galileo’s physics

1. The pendulum

2. Law of free fall

3. Principle of inertia

4. Analysis of motion into components (parabolic trajectories)

3. Galileo’s discoveries with the telescope.

4. Newton’s Discovery of Universal Laws.

1. Steps leading to the idea of universal gravitation

1. Circular motion; force and acceleration

2. The sun’s force on the planets

3. The falling apple and the acceleration of the moon

2. The idea of “mass” and the three laws of motion

3. How Newton completed and proved the law of gravitation

1. The evidence: the orbits of planets, comets, and the moon; free fall; the ocean tides; the shape and spin of the Earth

4. Other related discoveries

1. The distances from the sun to the planets.

2. Determining the gravitational constant.

5. Optics and the New Experimental Method

1. Snell discovers the law of refraction

2. Newton’s prism experiments and his theory of colors

3. Applications of the theory of colors

1. The reflecting telescope

2. The explanation of rainbows

4. Newton’s rings and the wave nature of light

5. Discovery of the speed of light

6. Early Discoveries about Gases

1. Torricelli’s discovery and measurement of air pressure

2. Boyle’s law of gases

3. Fahrenheit’s invention of the mercury thermometer

4. Charles’ law of gases

5. Some applications

1. The invention of steam engines

2. Explanation of the trade winds

 

1. Electricity and Magnetism

1. Early History.

1. Discovery of amber and lodestone.

2. Invention of the magnetic compass.

3. Differences between electricity and magnetism.

4. Gilbert discovers the Earth’s magnetism.

2. Static Electricity.

1. Hauksbee invents an electric charge generator.

2. Gray discovers electrical conduction.

3. DuFay discovers two kinds of electric charge.

4. Von Kleist invents the Leyden jar.

5. Research of Benjamin Franklin.

1. Fluid theory of electricity.

2. Principle of charge conservation.

3. Lightning is an electrical discharge.

6. Coulomb’s law of electrical force.

3. Light

1. Infrared and ultraviolet.

2. Young’s wave theory.

3. Polarization.

4. Electric Current

1. Galvani discovers electric current in frogs.

2. Volta generates electric current without the frogs.

3. Invention of the electric battery.

4. Voltage, resistance, and Ohm’s law.

5. Electromagnetism.

1. Oersted’s discovery.

1. Currents exert forces on magnets, and vice versa!

2. Ampere’s law.

1. Currents cause circular magnetic forces around them.

2. How to figure out the direction of the forces.

3. A current through a coil of wire acts like a magnet!

4. Applications: electric motors, TVs, etc.

3. Faraday’s law.

1. A moving magnet causes a current in a loop of wire!

2. Direction of the induced current.

3. Applications: electric generators, telephones, etc.

4. Magnets can rotate polarized light.

4. Maxwell completes the mathematical theory.

1. Discovery of the missing term.

2. Proof that light is an electromagnetic wave!

3. Other kinds of electromagnetic waves.

4. Applications: radio, microwave ovens, satellite TV.

5. More on atmospheric electricity and thunderstorms.

2. Part 2: Atomic Theory of Matter.

1. Background of Early Chemistry.

1. Discoveries about metals and dyes.

2. Alchemy.

3. Chemistry becomes a science.

2. Evidence from Chemistry.

1. Proust’s law of constant proportions.

2. Dalton’s law of multiple proportions.

3. Dalton’s atomic theory.

4. Gay-Lussac’s law of combining gas volumes.

5. Avogadro’s hypothesis.

6. Discovery of allotropes and isomers.

7. Faraday’s laws of electrolysis.

3. Evidence from Physics.

1. Dulong-Petit law of heat capacities.

2. Rumford and Joule convert kinetic energy into heat.

3. Waterston derives the basic law of gases.

4. Final pieces of the Proof.

1. Chemistry.

1. The idea of “valence.”

2. Molecular models.

3. Cannizzaro’s atomic weights.

4. Mendeleev’s periodic table of elements.

2. Physics.

1. The idea of “mean free path.”

2. Diffusion, heat conduction and viscosity.

3. Maxwell’s strange prediction.

4. Loschmidt calculates the size of atoms.

5. Structure of Atoms.

1. The electron.

1. Thomson’s experiments on “cathode rays.”

2. Millikan measures the charge of the electron.

2. Radioactivity.

3. The nucleus.

1. Rutherford’s experiments.

2. Chadwick’s discovery of the neutron.

4. Technology based on atomic and nuclear physics.