Course goals for Physics 9HC

Every good course should have a lasting impact. It should change the way
you see the world and change the way you think.

You must be prepared to think and to learn to think in new ways. This
requires work, time, and practice. The material is new to you; expect to
be confused a lot of the time. Confusion is good. If you are not
confused some of the time, you probably are not thinking enough. Then
with more thinking, understanding improves.

The goals for the course include learning some specific physics topics:
mainly waves and quantum mechanics. The common theme here is the way
that amplitudes add via the superposition principle. In the context of
classical waves, this is an addition of the amplitudes of real physical
waves in ordinary space. This leads to many fascinating phenomena
including interference, diffraction, and beats. In the case of quantum
mechanics, it is more abstract. Although the amplitudes are used to
describe physics, they are not themselves directly physical in the same
way that the amplitude of a water wave is, and they do not necessarily
exist in ordinary space. In learning about these topics, you will get a
deeper understanding of how the physical world works.

But there are also more general goals for this course that transcend the
particular subjects covered.

Develop improved problem solving skills: 
Translate a verbal or written statement of a problem into a mathematical
representation. Select appropriate tools to use. Follow through with an
argument or calculation.

Improve written communication skill: 
Learn to make a clear, complete, and logical presentation.

Learn that facts are only the raw material of learning.  Improved
understanding and higher levels of thinking are the larger goals. These
do not come from memorization.

Improve thinking skills:
	Problem solving. 
	Analytical ability. 
	Critical thinking: is an argument that is presented correct? 
	Synthesis: combine ideas to solve a problem. 
	Independent thinking: Figure out how to solve a problem and develop an
		 understanding of it yourself rather than copying methods you are told.
	Creativity: Figure out your own unique way to solve a problem.