Overview
Most of us take for granted many useful technological products, such as our mobile phone. We rarely stop to ask about their operation, how they came to be the way they are and how they have influenced human interactions and society.
In this course the student will be taken on a behind the scenes guided tour of some useful everyday technological products. The main focus in the lectures will be to examine the major and essential physical principles behind the operation of each technology, and to study quantitatively how those principles constrain the operation, size or capabilities of that product.
The introduction of examples in the lectures will be organized around major domains such as fluid dynamics and electromagnetism. In each domain, a number of useful technologies will be introduced, and some features of their operation explored both qualitatively and quantitatively. Additional examples will be explored in the tutorial questions.
In some cases, a particular technology might cover many domains. For example a discussion of the communication satellite involves the mechanics of placing it in orbit, its power source, its communication capabilities and so on.
In addition, in the reading assignments and the group project, the students will study and debate some important scientific and sociological issues relating to the development and evolution of technologies and their impact on society.
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