STS.042J - Einstein, Oppenheimer, Feynman: Physics in the 20th Century
STS.042J - Einstein, Oppenheimer, Feynman: Physics in the 20th Century (Fall 2020, MIT OCW). Instructor: Prof. David Kaiser. This class explores the changing roles of physics and physicists during the 20th century. Topics range from relativity theory and quantum mechanics to high-energy physics and cosmology. We examine the development of modern physics and the role of physicists within shifting institutional, cultural, and political contexts, such as Imperial Britain, Nazi Germany, and the US during World War II, and the Cold War.
(from ocw.mit.edu)
Lecture 08 - Rethinking Light
Prof. Kaiser discusses old vs. new quantum theory, blackbody radiation, the photoelectric effect, and Compton scattering.