November 18, 2022

Available Course for WI23 Quarter

PHYS107 — Quantum Mechanics, Relativity, and the Foundations of Our Modern Technological World

We live in a world filled with near magical machines. From MRIs that can gently image your insides to cellphones that can pinpoint your location on the Earth, the machines that pervade our daily lives increasingly rely on Quantum Mechanics and Relativity for their basic operation. Using no math, this course charts the history of modern technology and the key Quantum Mechanics and Relativity behind the current and near future machines that shape our lives. From gravity waves to quantum dots, this class provides insights to today’s most exciting science advances that is accessible to all students. 

Professor Morales has a passion for teaching advanced physics to everyone, and has won multiple teaching awards. The free textbook he wrote for this class attracted more than three quarters of a million readers when it was serialized at arstechnica.com. While advanced in its concepts, this course uses no math and is designed for any UW student with an interest in understanding the physical foundations of our technological world.