معلومات المساق

Students learn about basic physical principles and methods for analysing and matching data and theoretical models in situations of incomplete knowledge. More specifically, they acquire experience in approaching complex phenomena that can not easily be addressed by straightforward calculations. This will improve their capability to understand and tackle difficult problems qualitatively, using order-of-magnitude estimates, dimensional analysis, and other plausibility checks. Participants in the module course get trained to phrase problems in natural dimensionless form and to formulate scientific hypotheses on this basis, and how to avoid pitfalls in statistics and data interpretation. The  order-of-magnitude approach will be exemplified for phenomena from many fields of physics and beyond. There is emphasis on a playful approach to unconventional, practical problem solving and developing toy-models and hypotheses for unsolved problems.

Inhalte/Contents

- Order-of-Magnitude Estimates for Complex Phenomena

- Dimensional Analysis and Scaling

- Aspects of Turbulence and Disorder

- Self-Similarity and Fractals  

- Elements of Renormalization

- Collective Degrees of Freedom

- Data Analysis and Interpretation

- Statistical Methods and Pitfalls