20th Century Physics This class will venture to the extremes of the universe, beyond the scope of human experience, to explore physical phenomena that many people may never have thought possible. Starting with Quantum Mechanics, we will explore the land of the tiny, where a particle may be everywhere and nowhere at once. We will then travel to the land of the fast, where the speed of light is king, and where Relativity suggests that a meter and a second are actually the same thing. We shall then confront a central problem in modern physics: the incompatibility of Quantum Mechanics and Relativity. And from there, we will dive into the abyss of cutting‑edge physics and try to answer questions such as: why are there only three spatial dimensions? What would it mean if there were two time dimensions? Why does time appear to flow? And when and how will it switch direction? And finally, what are the implications of modern physics for free will and religion?
Advanced Chemical Applications
SCIENCE
CSW’s Science Department introduces students to best practices of scientific study through hands-on experiences in laboratory-based classes, with regular opportunities for in-depth research projects. After completing required coursework in the 9th and 10th grade years, students are afforded curricular choice seen only at the college level, with program tracks in physics, biology, and chemistry that cover a diverse array of topics and material.
In this course students will examine the key role that chemical principles play in their daily lives. We will expose the students to a variety of problems and examples that affect all of us so that they can understand the key role that science plays in our world and the interaction of science and society. For example: What is the chemistry behind climate change and what are some potential solutions? What makes recycling plastics so complicated and how do you do a life cycle analysis of materials? What are the possible mechanisms for analyzing and purifying water? What is going on with the newest in “impossible” meats? What is the chemistry behind a variety of energy sources including solar energy, biofuels, and nuclear energy? Students will learn basic chemical principles, work collaboratively in the lab, and have the opportunity to choose some topics of specific interest to them. This course awards credit toward the social justice requirement.
Anatomy and Physiology This upper-level biology class explores the complexity of human physiology. Students will be asked to use visual arts and graphic design skills to document many aspects of the mystery and wonder of the human body systems. The course will involve independent research on the systems of students’ choosing, using visual and creative ways to present the information they find. Students will research one of the body systems in its entirety or in detail. The systems to be considered are the nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory, skeletal, endocrine, and muscle, or the digestive, reproductive, and lymphatic systems. Students are required to think independently and devise a final project of their own design that incorporates very clear scientific understanding of the body systems and their form and function. This course awards credit toward the social justice requirement.
EXPERIENCES
The Cambridge School of Weston
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