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The Ten Greatest Experiments in Physics
w illi a m m aloney
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Elsbach-Richards Professor in Surgery and Chair of Orthopaedic Surgery, Stanford
Neurosurgery g a ry s t e i n b e rg
Lacroute-Hearst Professor and Chair of Neurosurgery, Stanford
Urological Surgery eila skinner
Professor and Chair of Urology, Stanford
Anesthesia ro n a l d p e a r l
Richard K. and Erika N. Richards Professor and Chair of Anesthesia, Stanford
Reconstructive Plastic Surgery ja m es ch a ng
Chief, Division of Plastic Surgery; Professor of Surgery (Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery) at the Palo Alto Veterans Administration Health Care System and, by courtesy, of Orthopaedic Surgery, Stanford
Cosmetic Surgery sa m most
Professor of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford ro b e rt k . j ac k l e r , c o u r s e d i r e c t o r
Edward C. and Amy H. Sewall Professor in Otorhinolaryngology and Professor, by courtesy, of Neurosurgery and Surgery, Stanford
Robert K. Jackler’s area of expertise includes both microsurgery of the ear and innovative approaches to inaccessible intracranial tumors through the cranial base. He is the author of more than 200 publications and three books, including a surgical atlas containing more than 1,000 original color drawings. He leads the Stanford Initiative to Cure Hearing Loss, an interdisciplinary effort to restore the damaged inner ear through regenerative means. Jackler received an MD from Boston University. M ED 1 1 4
Mondays, 7:00 – 8:50 pm 10 weeks, April 1 – June 10 2 units, $365 (No class on May 27)
hat are the ten most beautiful, elegant, moving, historically significant, paradigm-shifting experiments in physics? In this course, we will find out together. We will begin with Aristotle, who famously proved that we live on a giant sphere and laid the groundwork for Erathosthenes to actually measure the size of our globe. This is often considered the single greatest observation in the history of humankind. Next, we will move fifteen centuries forward to when an unknown monk measured raindrops in the 12th or 13th century, and then to Torricelli, who invented the barometer and produced the first vacuum. Of course, we will encounter Galileo, who, using Torricelli’s results, revised Aristotle and rewrote the laws of mechanics. We will spend time with Isaac Newton, who, as a fifteen-year-old, made a simple set of measurements that fundamentally revised our understanding of light. Another highlight will be the positively brilliant experiment performed by a Mr. Benjamin Franklin in 1765. Finally, we will conclude with two sets of experiments that confirmed Albert Einstein’s two theories of relativity. During this lecture-based course, the instructor will conduct some of these great experiments right in the classroom.
e nrcuel e S ir d eelbi ga iro u n so srtuuldei/ebso tstcoim
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Orthopaedic Surgery
gerald fisher
Consulting Professor of Physics, Stanford; Professor of Physics, Emeritus, San Francisco State
Gerald Fisher received a PhD in nuclear physics from Stanford in 1970 and has taught regularly at Stanford ever since. He is the former chair of the Physics Department at San Francisco State, author of Good Ones, and co-author of Strategic Entrepreneurism. PH Y 35
Wednesdays, 7:00 – 8:50 pm 5 weeks, April 3 – May 1 1 unit, $200
R e g i s t r at i o n f o r a l l c o u r s e s b e g i n s o n M o n d ay, F e b r u a r y 2 5 at 8 : 3 0 a m . R e g i s t e r o n l i n e at c o n t i n u i n g s t u d i e s . s ta n f o r d . e d u .
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