PHYS 20061 - Nuclear Warfare, Spring 2008
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This course provides an overview of a broad range of topics regarding nuclear weapons. Although the emphasis is on nuclear weapons, we will consider other weapons of mass destruction, particularly in the context of the threat due to terrorism and rogue states. The goal is to be informed of the background history and technical issues so as to know how best to deal with them in the future. The course will start with the history and emergence of weapons of mass destruction technologies as a consequence of World War I and World War II, culminating in the development and use of the nuclear bomb. This will be followed by a discussion of the underlying physics principles for a basic understanding of nuclear weapons technology and effects. The effects of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) will be discussed in terms of the atmospheric, biological, and medical effects together with the implications for society. We will include a discussion of the diplomatic, political, and ethical implications of possession and use of nuclear weapons and WMD. We will also take a look at the rise of modern terrorism and the threat posed by the WMD and terrorism now and in the future.
PHYS 20061 - Nuclear Warfare
Professor Grant J. Mathews, Ph.D. Department of Physics Course Structure: 75-minute classes, twice a week. |
Atomic Cloud over Nagasaki, August 9, 1945. Image courtesy of United States Federal Government.
Course Description
Nuclear Warfare (PHYS20061) is offered by the Physics Department as an introductory course for non-science majors. The course provides an overview of a broad range of topics regarding nuclear weapons. Although the emphasis is on nuclear weapons, we will consider other weapons of mass destruction, particularly in the context of the threat due to terrorism and rogue states. The goal is to be informed of the background history and technical issues so as to know how best to deal with them in the future.
The course will start with the history and emergence of weapons of mass destruction technologies as a consequence of World War I and World War II, culminating in the development and use of the nuclear bomb. This will be followed by a discussion of the underlying physics principles for a basic understanding of nuclear weapons technology and effects. The effects of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) will be discussed in terms of the atmospheric, biological, and medical effects together with the implications for society. We will include a discussion of the diplomatic, political, and ethical implications of possession and use of nuclear weapons and WMD. We will also take a look at the rise of modern terrorism and the threat posed by the WMD and terrorism now and in the future. For more detailed outline of course topics, please see Lectures.
Course Contents
PHYS 20061-01 - Syllabus , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061-01 - Calendar , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061-01 - About Professor , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061 - Nagasakibomb , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061-01 - Additional Resources , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061-01 - Lectures , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061-01 - Course Introduction , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061-01 - Lecture 1 , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061-01 - Lecture 2 , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061-01 - Lecture 3 , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061-01 - Lecture 4 , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061-01 - Lecture 5 , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061-01 - Lecture 6 , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061-01 - Lecture 7 , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061-01 - Lecture 8 , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061-01 - Lecture 9 , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061-01 - Lecture 10 , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061-01 - Lecture 11 , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061-01 - Lecture 12 , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061-01 - Lecture 13 , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061-01 - Lecture 14 , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061-01 - Lecture 15 , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061-01 - Lecture 16 , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061-01 - Lecture 17 , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061-01 - Lecture 18 , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061-01 - Lecture 19 , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061 - radioactive decay laws , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061 - 2- first example, Na , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061 - 2- application of radioactive decay laws , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061 - 2 - application of decay law , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061 - 2 - Na answer , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061 - 2 - Na source , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061 - 2- AZ , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061 - 2- particles after source , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061 - 2- radioactive decay law 1 , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061 - 2- radioactive decay law 2 , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061 - 3 - firestorm equation , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061 - 5 - grahams law.jpg , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061 - 5 - neutron capture.jpg , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061 - 14 - firestorm 1.jpg , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061 - 14 - firestorm 2.jpg , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061 - 14 - normalized.jpg , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061 - 14 - scaling altitude.jpg , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061 - 14 - scaling law.jpg , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061 - 14 - shock char.jpg , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061 - 14- distance effect.jpg , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061 - 14- distance effect.jpg , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061 - 14- mechanical shock problem.jpg , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061 - 15 - rad exp.jpg , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061 - 15- rad intensity.jpg , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061 - 18- absorbtion co.jpg , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061 - Grant Mathews, Ph.D. , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061 - machineguncorps2 , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061 - CrashZeppelin.jpg , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061 - trinitytower , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061 - Implosion_Nuclear_weapon.jpg , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061 - gundesign.jpg , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061 - Harry-truman.jpg , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061 - JapaneseSurrender.jpg , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061 - Cold War Map.jpg , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061 - Mike.jpg , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061 - comparative nuclear fireball size.jpg , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061 - Auroral Lights.jpg , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061 - bakerexplosion.jpg , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061 - purpura.jpg , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061 - fallout.jpg , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061 - tambora explosion.jpg , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061 - Grant J. Mathews, Ph.D. , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061 - crashzeppelin2.jpg , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061 - 3 - bindingenergy.jpg , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061 - hitlerparade.jpg , Spring 2008
PHYS 20061 - littleboy.jpg , Spring 2008
