On Time - An Exploration of Time Keeping

Time is at once familiar and confounding. After eighteen years (568 million seconds) of existence, you know it intimately. But what is time, really? The truth is, we don’t know; the fundamental laws of physics are essentially indifferent to the arrow of time. In this course we will use lectures, discussions, homework exercises, papers, and presentations to explore the history of time keeping, from astronomical observations to atomic clocks, learning how data collection and analysis spur advancements in science. Along the way we will explore Einstein’s theory of relativity, where pure logic and deductive reasoning lead to perplexing conclusions about time.(Not open to students who have already completed FYSE 1035 or FYSE 1112.)