The Physics of the Atomic Bomb

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

This is a single semester non-lab based 3 credit hour course that is designed to provide students with a broad understanding of the twentieth century physics that defined our modern world. This course will focus on the revolution of relativistic, quantum and nuclear physics that took place in the 50 years between 1895 and 1945. The course will explore how the early discoveries of the age, in particular Planck’s quantization of energy, Einstein’s theory of relativity, Rutherford’s discovery of the atom’s nucleus, Bohr’s theoretical model of the atomic structure, and Chadwick’s discovery of the neutron provided a prelude to the eventual use of the atom beyond of the laboratories of Europe. The textbook will be the Pulitzer Prize winning book, “Making of the Atomic Bomb”, by Richard Rhodes. There will also be use of other media such as the recent film “Oppenheimer”, directed by Christopher Nolan.