Physics: When The Uncertainty Principle Goes To 11 (or How to Explain Quantum Physics With Heavy Metal) with Professor Philip Moriarty, University of Nottingham

There are deep and fundamental links between quantum physics and heavy metal.

No, there are. Really.

This webinar will cover key principles in quantum physics via the medium of rock music. Quantum mechanics is fundamentally a theory of waves and so there are very close links with the physics of sound and music. Moreover, mathematics and music are in turn intrinsically related. As the German mathematician and polymath Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz (1646 – 1716) so memorably put it, “music is the sound of the human brain counting when it is unaware that it is counting”.

The webinar will be based heavily on topics explored in “When The Uncertainty Principle Goes To 11”: https://www.amazon.co.uk/When-Uncertainty-Principle-Goes-11/dp/1944648526

and will discuss these areas related to A Level Physics :

• Vibrations and waves – frequency, period, wavenumber, amplitude
• Simple harmonic motion
• Resonance and standing waves
• Introductory quantum physics
• Wave-particle duality
• de Broglie relation between wavelength and momentum

Lecturer Biography:  Professor Philip Moriarty

Suitable for: Year 12s and Year 13s studying Physics, Chemistry, Engineering, Maths and/or with a potential interest in applying to study Physics at University.

Preparation/Pre-Reading: As pre-reading/preparation for this webinar, please direct students to these links:

https://muircheartblog.wordpress.com/2013/05/14/when-the-uncertainty-principle-goes-up-to-11/

https://muircheartblog.wordpress.com/2015/08/01/wake-up-and-smell-the-quantum/

https://muircheartblog.wordpress.com/2015/08/25/when-scientists-help-to-sell-pseudoscience-the-many-worlds-of-woo/

The IT Setup: The setup is similar to Skype, using a pc and webcam, although students take part as a group with the image projected on a whiteboard rather than as individuals in front of lots of pcs. Dedicated videoconferencing equipment is also compatible if available to the school/college. We will work with your IT department to ensure everything is set up and working prior to the event. The sessions are generally limited to 3 or 4 schools to maintain the interactive nature of the experience.

Booking a Place: Invitations to this event will be sent to schools and colleges by the University of Nottingham. Following an invitation, if you have a group of students that you think would benefit from taking part in this event, please contact us via email or via the contact form at the top right of this webpage (or at the bottom if you are using a mobile device). Subject to availability we will then book your place. This is free for schools and colleges.