This course is part of the Question Reality! Science, philosophy, a search for meaning Specialization

Offered By

Question Reality! Science, philosophy, a search for meaning SpecializationDartmouth College

About this Course

In this course, you will walk through a timeline of “the atom” from the Greeks through discoveries in the 1900s and learn how our understanding of matter and the atom affected our views on reality. 
You will be introduced to some of the current understandings of matter and subatomic particles and also take a trip to the Large Hadron Collider at CERN! Finally, you will explore quantum mechanics' interpretation of reality and compare quantum versus classical boundaries. 
This course also addresses questions such as: Where do you draw the line between the quantum and the classical worlds? What do we mean by “knowable” and “unknowable”?

Flexible deadlines

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Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

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Course 2 of 3 in the

Question Reality! Science, philosophy, a search for meaning Specialization

Beginner Level

Approx. 7 hours to complete

English

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Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Course 2 of 3 in the

Question Reality! Science, philosophy, a search for meaning Specialization

Beginner Level

Approx. 7 hours to complete

English

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

Try Coursera for Business

Instructor

Marcelo Gleiser

Professor of Physics and Astronomy

Physics and Astronomy

786 Learners

3 Courses

Offered by

Dartmouth College

Founded in 1769, Dartmouth is a member of the Ivy League and consistently ranks among the world’s greatest academic institutions. Dartmouth has forged a singular identity for combining its deep commitment to outstanding undergraduate liberal arts and graduate education with distinguished research and scholarship in the Arts and Sciences and its four leading graduate schools—the Geisel School of Medicine, the Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business.

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Week1

Week 1

3 hours to complete

Module 1: Matter Part I

3 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 45 min), 5 readings, 1 quiz

7 videos

Course Introduction3mIntrodução do Curso em Português3mWhat Is Matter8mConversation with Margaret Graver: Lucretius and His Time11mHistory of the Atom I: Greeks to Dalton6mHistory of the Atom II: Thompson to Rutherford5mHistory of the Atom III: The Bohr Atom4m

5 readings

Welcome Reading10mModule 1 Reading List20mWhat Is Matter Intro5mAsk Your Community: "What Is Matter? Can You Describe An Atom?"30mBuilding Blocks2m

1 practice exercise

Matter: Part 1 Graded Assessment30m

Week2

Week 2

1 hour to complete

Module 2: Matter Part II

1 hour to complete

4 videos (Total 31 min), 3 readings, 1 quiz

Week3

Week 3

3 hours to complete

Module 3: Matter Part II

3 hours to complete

6 videos (Total 49 min), 7 readings, 2 quizzes

6 videos

Quantum Mechanics I: The Weird New Theory7mWhy Quantum Mechanics is Weird2mQuantum Mechanics II: Interpretation and Reality6mThe Quantum Versus Classical Boundary6mConversation with David Kaiser: Einstein and Quantum Mechanics8mWrap-Up Video18m

7 readings

Module 3 Reading List30mQuantum Mechanics Introduction5mReality Before and After Quantum Mechanics2mQuantum vs. Classical Boundaries Introduction12mAsk Your Community!: Explaining Quantum Mechanics30mQuantum Effects in Our Daily Lives1mDirections: Challenge Questions30m

2 practice exercises

The Quantum Versus Classical Boundary8m Matter: Part 3 Graded Assessment30m

About the Question Reality! Science, philosophy, a search for meaning Specialization

How much can we know of the physical world? Can we know everything? Or are there fundamental limits to how much we can explain? If there are limits, to what extent can we explain the nature of physical reality? RealityX investigates the limits of knowledge and what we can and cannot know of the world and ourselves.

We will trace the evolution of ideas about the nature of reality in philosophy and the natural sciences through the ages. Starting with the philosophers of Ancient Greece and ending with cutting edge theories about the universe, quantum physics, and the nature of consciousness. Join world-renowned physicist and author Marcelo Gleiser and leading experts as we explore how philosophers and physicists from Plato to Einstein and many others have attempted to explain the nature of the world and of reality.

Question Reality! Science, philosophy, a search for meaning

Frequently Asked Questions

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The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
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Question Reality: Matter

About this Course