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Lecturer(s)
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Blažek Josef, doc. RNDr. CSc.
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Course content
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In each lesson unit the teacher's introductory talk is followed by students' presentations. Final choice of topics will be specified individually after consultations. Some suggestions follow: 1. Concepts of space and time from antiquity to modern times 2. The Aristotelian physics 3. The Copernican Turn' in science 4. Newton: his life, work and philosophy 5. Thermodynamics: entropy, arrow of time 6. Key physics experiments 7. Atoms in the history of human thought 8. Let there be light: The history of theories of light 9. Einstein: his life, work and philosophy 10. Quantum mechanics I - new paradigm in science 11. Quantum mechanics II - contemporary debates about its interpretations 12. Fundamental symmetries in physicals laws 13. Models of the Universe: From Geocentric to Multiverse theories 14. Open problems: dark matter, dark energy, origin and future of the universe, ?
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Learning activities and teaching methods
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Monologic (reading, lecture, briefing), Work with multi-media resources (texts, internet, IT technologies)
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Learning outcomes
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For students interested in the history of science. The lectures, designed without using mathematics and professional terminology, acquaint students with several revolutionary discoveries in physics, their historical backgrounds and philosophical reflections and show how these discoveries and theories have influenced and are still influencing our worldview and culture.
Basic orientation in historical stages of physics, understanding the influence of physics on technical development and culture.
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Prerequisites
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Basic knowledge of English, interest in general questions of physics
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Assessment methods and criteria
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Colloquium
Participation in seminars, presentation in English
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Recommended literature
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(The lecturer will provide texts to discussed topics in printed or electronic form. Numerous sources and videos are available on the web, e.g. https://www.ted.com/topics/physics).
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Arabatzis, T.:. Representing Electrons. A Biographical Approach. The University of Chicago Press, 2006..
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Darrigol, O.:. A History of Optics. Oxford University Press, 2012..
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Harman, P. M.:. Energy, Force and Matter. The Conceptual Development. Cambridge Un. Press, 1982..
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Maudlin, T.:. Philosophy of Physics. Space and Time. Princeton University Press, 2015..
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Park, D.:. The How and the Why. Princeton University Press, 1988..
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Pullman, B.:. The Atom in the History of Human Thought. Oxford University Press, 1998..
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Rickles, D.:. The Philosophy of Physics. Polity Press, 2016..
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Shamos M. H. (ed.): Great Experiments in Physics. Dover 1987. Shamos M. H. (ed.): Great Experiments in Physics. Dover 1987.
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Simonyi, K.:. A Cultural History of Physics. CRC Press, 2012..
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Weinberg, S.:. To Explain the World. Penguin, 2016..
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