Einstein's Relativity (NS 200)

2018 Spring
Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences
Natural Sciences(NS)
3
6/5 ECTS (for students admitted in the 2013-14 Academic Year or following years)
Cihan Kemal Saçlıoğlu saclioglu@sabanciuniv.edu,
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English
Undergraduate
--
Formal lecture
Interactive,Learner centered,Other
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CONTENT

Galilean Relativity and its incompatibility with electrodynamics. Einstein's reformulation of The Relativity Principle and its consequences such as frame-dependent simultaneity of events, dilation of time intervals and contraction of lengths, Lorentz transformations. The interchangeability of mass and energy. The equivalence of accelerating frames and gravitational fields, aspects of General relativity and Cosmology. The treatment emphasizes physical ideas rather than mathematics, in particular, no knowledge of Calculus is needed. A popular-level book from 1916 by Einstein will be the main text.

OBJECTIVE

The main objective of the course is to introduce famous concepts introduced by Albert Einstein and and show how they are in action in our every day life.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

  • At the end of the course, the learner is expected to: Learn basic concepts of relative motion of objects moving at arbitrary speeds. Develop deeper understanding of the special theory of relativity and its limitations.
  • Understand the equivalence of principle. Learn the basics of general theory of relativity. Acquire the current knowledge on the fate of the universe.

PROGRAMME OUTCOMES


1. Understand the world, their country, their society, as well as themselves and have awareness of ethical problems, social rights, values and responsibility to the self and to others. 1

2. Understand different disciplines from natural and social sciences to mathematics and art, and develop interdisciplinary approaches in thinking and practice. 2

3. Think critically, follow innovations and developments in science and technology, demonstrate personal and organizational entrepreneurship and engage in life-long learning in various subjects; have the ability to continue to educate him/herself. 2

4. Communicate effectively in Turkish and English by oral, written, graphical and technological means. 1

5. Take individual and team responsibility, function effectively and respectively as an individual and a member or a leader of a team; and have the skills to work effectively in multi-disciplinary teams. 1


1. Possess sufficient knowledge of mathematics, science and program-specific engineering topics; use theoretical and applied knowledge of these areas in complex engineering problems. 3

2. Identify, define, formulate and solve complex engineering problems; choose and apply suitable analysis and modeling methods for this purpose. 3

3. Develop, choose and use modern techniques and tools that are needed for analysis and solution of complex problems faced in engineering applications; possess knowledge of standards used in engineering applications; use information technologies effectively. 3

4. Have the ability to design a complex system, process, instrument or a product under realistic constraints and conditions, with the goal of fulfilling specified needs; apply modern design techniques for this purpose. 3

5. Design and conduct experiments, collect data, analyze and interpret the results to investigate complex engineering problems or program-specific research areas. 3

6. Possess knowledge of business practices such as project management, risk management and change management; awareness on innovation; knowledge of sustainable development. 3

7. Possess knowledge of impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, health and societal context; knowledge of contemporary issues; awareness on legal outcomes of engineering solutions; knowledge of behavior according to ethical principles, understanding of professional and ethical responsibility. 3

8. Have the ability to write effective reports and comprehend written reports, prepare design and production reports, make effective presentations, and give and receive clear and intelligible instructions. 3


1. Comprehend key concepts in biology and physiology, with emphasis on molecular genetics, biochemistry and molecular and cell biology as well as advanced mathematics and statistics. 1

2. Develop conceptual background for interfacing of biology with engineering for a professional awareness of contemporary biological research questions and the experimental and theoretical methods used to address them. 1


1. Applying fundamental and advanced knowledge of natural sciences as well as engineering principles to develop and design new materials and establish the relation between internal structure and physical properties using experimental, computational and theoretical tools. 1

2. Merging the existing knowledge on physical properties, design limits and fabrication methods in materials selection for a particular application or to resolve material performance related problems. 1

3. Predicting and understanding the behavior of a material under use in a specific environment knowing the internal structure or vice versa. 1

ASSESSMENT METHODS and CRITERIA

  Percentage (%)
Final 50
Midterm 50

RECOMENDED or REQUIRED READINGS

Readings

Relativity by A. Einstein