Modern Science
Semester: III
Sub Code: BSC T 305
Credits: 4
Hours/Wk: 4
Total Hrs: 60
Exam Marks: 50
IA Marks: 50
Exam Duration: 3 Hrs
The aim of the course is to introduce the student to the basic ideas that have shapened our vision of the world that we live in.
The course will consist of two major parts:
— The physical sciences.
— The biological sciences.
The contents of the course will be guided by the major epochs and events in the history of science.
In the physical sciences, these would be constituted by:
1) The discovery of the earth’s place in the universe and the laws governing the motion of planets around the sun. The laws of mechanics.
2) The discovery of electricity and magnetism.
3) The discovery of the laws of thermodynamics.
4) The discovery of the atomistic view of matter.
In the biological sciences the major constituents for the course would be:
1) The recognition of the cell as the basic unit of life.
2) The theory of evolution.
3) Genes.
4) Systems in the human body.
A very brief summary and guidelines follow in the form of outlines.
Chapter 1
The Physical Sciences
1. The discovery of the earth’s place in the universe and the laws governing the motion of planets around the sun.
The importance of understanding the motion of the planets. The evolution of ideas from Copernicus, Tycho Brahe and Kepler and Galileo to Newton form the basis of our understanding of the cosmos. Newton’s contribution changed the nature of our understanding of the world and the tools that he created (the calculus) form the basis of all subsequent analyses. The solar system.
2. The discovery of electricity and magnetism.
Static electricity and magnets. The discoveries of Ampere, Faraday. Maxwell’s synthesis of their ideas. The discovery of electromagnetic waves. Optics.
3. The discovery of the laws of thermodynamics.
The equivalence of heat and work. The first law of thermodynamics. Heat engines.
4. The discovery of the atomistic view of matter.
The early discoveries in Chemistry by Dalton. The kinetic theory of gases. Later developments.
Chapter-2
The Biological Sciences
1. The recognition of the cell as the basic unit of life.
Early ideas of life and its origins. The contribution of Louis Pasteur. Vesalius and Harvey. Schleiden and Schwann as the originators of the idea of a cell.
2.The theory of evolution.
The ideas of Darwin. Understanding the chain of evolution of life on the earth.
3. Genes.Our modern understanding of the basis of life. Mendel and the science of genetics. The discovery of DNA.Systems in the human body.
Respiratory, Circulatory, Nervous, Skeletal, reproductive, endocrine systems.
Chapter-3
On the method of teaching that should be employed
This is a short course and many of the students taking this course will have had very little prior exposure to science apart from what they learn in school.The basic idea of the course is to explain very clearly the foundations of our understanding of science. The strategy adopted should be that of following the history of the ideas as they evolved. The emphasis will not be on formulae and theory, but rather on understanding why we believe these ideas to be the correct ones. Science has experiments as its basis and the observation of nature as its methodology. Each great idea in science has arisen from an attempt to understand the world around us and in turn has given us the means of manipulating the world to our benefit.Experiments should, therefore, form the basis of our understanding of phenomena. Use of a computer for simulating experiments should beencouraged.
Course material
The online encyclopedia called “Wikipedia” provides (usually) material of high quality. It is recommended that that this be used as the primary resource material. This will obviously not be enough and will need to be supplemented by other sources. (This is to be followed up)
REFERENCE BOOKS
Books on physics recommended for the course:
1) An introduction to the meaning and structure of physics Leon Cooper
2) The Feynman lectures on physics Richard Feynman, Volumes I and II
3) Berkeley physics course
Volume I: Mechanics
Volume II: Electricity and Magnetism
Volume III: Waves
4) Physics
Resnick and Halliday, Volumes I and II |
