Great Ideas in Physics

Part 1 The conservation of energy: conservation laws gravitational energy kinetic energy units length, mass, weight and energy conservation laws and human freedom heat energy the conservation of energy and the limited lifetime of the world reactions to possible violations of the conservation of energy. Part 2 The second law of thermodynamics (increase of disorder in the world): reversible and irreversible phenomena states of a system and probability of configurations mechanical energy and heat the irreversible flow of heat doing work with heat entropy and order resistance to the implications of the Second Law the Second Law applied to human society the Second Law used to refute the theory of evolution. Part 3 The relativity of time: relativity in brief science leading to the theory of relativity - abolition of absolute space and time Einstein's approach to science the influence of the theory of relativity on literature relativity and sculpture. Part 4 The wave-particle duality of nature (quantum theory): waves the photoelectric effect the double-slit experiment the role of the observer and the nature of reality quantum physics and language the Heisenberg uncertainty principle and the demise of determinism in science determinism, causality, and choice in the quantum world. Appendices: a review of some basic mathematics the Second Law of thermodynamics and the behaviour of systems with large numbers of molecules.