PERCEIVED SCIENTIFIC PARADOXES

Rob Louw, physics lecturer, U3A science groups, United Kingdom

Thursday 29–Friday 30 January 9.15 am COURSE FEES R230; Staff and students R115

A paradox is a statement that leads to a circular and self-contradictory argument or describes a situation that logically is impossible. A true logical paradox is a paradox constructed in such a way that there really is no way out of the loop. This course will discuss perceived scientific paradoxes which can be resolved with a bit of fundamental scientific knowledge. Five enigmas will be discussed.

Lecture titles

  1. Achilles and the tortoise; Maxwell’s Demon
  2. The pole in the barn and the twin paradoxes; Schrödinger’s cat

Recommended reading

Al-Khalili, J. 2012. Paradox. London: Transworld Publishers.

TO BOOK: https://www.webtickets.co.za/performance.aspx?itemid=1575456978