1. Science, Computing and Society
Computer Science 129
Science, Computing and Society

2. GRE/GMAT WORDS Corroborate – to confirm
Ephemeral – lasting a short time
Laconic – using few words
Mitigate – to make less severe

3. The Scientific Method Wikipedia Definition:
Scientific method is a body of techniques for investigating phenomena and acquiring new knowledge, as well as for correcting and integrating previous knowledge. It is based on gathering observable, empirical, measurable evidence, subject to the principles of reasoning

4. Steps in the Scientific Method
Define the question
Gather information and resources
Form hypothesis
Perform experiment and collect data
Analyze data
Interpret data and draw conclusions that serve as a starting point for new hypotheses
Publish results
Steps 3 – 6 are iterative (repeating)

5. Scientific Method
What are we hoping to get from using the Scientific Method?
INFORMATION!

6. CHAPTER 0 - INTRODUCTION
WHAT IS INFORMATION?
WHAT IS A BIT?
BINARY DIGIT
LIKE BASE TEN HAS 0-9, BINARY DIGITS USE 2 NUMBERS, 0 AND 1
BIT = INFORMATION

7. CHAPTER 0 - INTRODUCTION
ANY CHOICE FROM TWO EQUALLY LIKELY POSSIBILITIES IS A BIT
LIGHT SWITCH
HANDS ON A CLOCK TURNING CLOCKWISE OR COUNTERCLOCKWISE
COIN TOSS
COMPUTERS TRANSLATE THESE INTO 0 OR 1, OR A BIT

8. CHAPTER 0 - INTRODUCTION
INFORMATION IS THE SUBSTANCE FROM WHICH ALL THINGS ARE MADE
QUANTUM PHYSICS HELPS US TO UNDERSTAND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INFORMATION AND EXISTENCE

9. CHAPTER 0 - INTRODUCTION
QUANTUM MECHANICS DEPARTS FROM CLASSICAL PHYSICS

10. CHAPTER 0 - INTRODUCTION
Classical physics is physics based on principles developed before the rise of quantum theory. (In contrast, modern physics refers to the physicist's world view wrought by the revolutionary quantum theory.)
A physical system on the classical level is a physical system in which the laws of classical physics are valid.

11. CHAPTER 0 - INTRODUCTION
Among the branches of theory included in classical physics are:
Classical mechanics
Newton's laws of motion
Object at rest remains at rest unless force applied
Change of momentum is equal to the force applied
For every action there is an equal and opposite action
Classical electrodynamics (Maxwell's Equations)
Classical thermodynamics
1st Conservation of energy
2nd Entropy (chaos)
Special theory of relativity and General theory of relativity (gravity)

12. CHAPTER 0 - INTRODUCTION
QUANTUM PHYSICS IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM CLASSICAL PHYSICS
ATOMS DO NOT OBEY NEWTONS LAWS
MORE LIKE ALICE IN WONDERLAND
ELECTRONS – IN LARGE SCHEME THEY HAVE A DEFINED LOCATION
ELECTRON IN SUBATOMIC WORLD THEY ARE NOT IN ANYPLACE AT ONCE BUT SMEARED

13. CHAPTER 0 - INTRODUCTION
ELECTRONS CAN JUMP THROUGH OBJECTS (BASEBALL THROWN AT WALL BOUNCES – ELECTRON COULD BOUNCE OR SHOW UP ON OTHER SIDE – CALLED TUNNELING – USED IN TRANSISTORS AND ALL ELECTRONICS)

14. CHAPTER 0 - INTRODUCTION
ELECTRONS BEHAVE SOMETIMES LIKE PARTICLES, SOMETIMES LIKE WAVES
LIGHT THOUGHT TO TRAVEL IN WAVES, SOMETIMES SEEMS TO BE A STREAM OF PARTICLES

15. CHAPTER 0 - INTRODUCTION
TO ILLUSTRATE THIS STRANGE BEHAVIOR WE WILL LOOK AT THE DOUBLE SLIT EXPERIMENT.
WATCH THE ABOVE VIDEO – THERE WILL BE QUESTIONS ON THE MIDTERM FROM THIS 5 MINUTE VIDEO

16. CHAPTER 0 - INTRODUCTION
REMEMBER IN MATH THAT IF THE TOP OF TWO WAVES IN THIS EXAMPLE ARE ADDED YOU GET (+1) + (+1) =+2, IF THE TOP OF ONE IS ADDED TO THE BOTTOM THEY CANCEL EACHOTHER OUT (+1) + (-1)=0

17. CHAPTER 0 - INTRODUCTION
MARBLES THROUGH A SINGLE SLIT = SINGLE LINE
MARBLES THROUGH A DOUBLE SLIT = DOUBLE LINE

18. CHAPTER 0 - INTRODUCTION
WAVE THROUGH SINGLE SLIT = MORE INTENSITY IN A SINGLE LINE
WAVE THROUGH DOUBLE SLIT = INTERFERENCE PATTERN OF MANY BANDS

19. CHAPTER 0 - INTRODUCTION
ELECTRONS THROUGH A SINGLE SLIT = SINGLE LINE
ELECTRONS THROUGH A DOUBLE SLIT WITH NO OBSERVER= INTERFERENCE PATTERN
ELECTRONS THROUGH A DOUBLE SLIT WITH AN OBSERVER = DOUBLE LINES (CREEPY!)