Physics 201

Why the Sky is Blue


Welcome to Cornell's Physics 201, Why the Sky is Blue. Lectures are on Tuesday and Thursday at 2:55 pm in Rockefeller Hall, Schwartz Auditorium. Recitation sections are all on Wednesday at 9:00 (#5), 2:30 (#'s 1 & 2) and 3:35 (#'s 3 & 4).

We will be using an instant response system during lecture. Make sure you have your I-clicker which you can purchase in the bookstore. You will be expected to have it with you at all lectures.

To register your I-clicker, go to : I-clicker registration


Course instructor is Prof. Ahren Sadoff (ajs50@cornell.edu). Phone: 255-4882 (Wilson Lab), 255-7162 (Clark Hall office)

Office hours: Room 111, Clark Hall, 1:30--2:30 Tuesday and Thursday (or by appointment)


Teaching Assistants are:


Note: Calculators will be needed for the final exam

Final exam Review session schedule:


Preliminary Exams and Final Exam schedule

All examinations will be in Schwartz Auditorium during class time unless otherwise noted



Web site for


Homework Assignments and Review of Key Ideas

Homework is due at the beginning of next weeks Wednesday's recitation section after assigned.
Readings are from Prof Sadoff's book notes which will be handed out in class







  • Week 2, Aug. 30 -- Sept.5
  • Week 3, Sept. 6 -- Sept.12

  • Week 4, Sept. 13 -- Sept. 19

  • Week 5, Sept. 20 -- Sept. 26
  • Week 6, Sept. 27 -- Oct.3

    Prelim I on Oct. 4, Fall Break Oct.6 -- 9


  • Week 7, Oct. 11 -- Oct.17

  • Week 9, Oct. 18 -- Oct. 24
  • Week 10, Oct. 25 -- Oct. 31

  • Week 11, Nov.1 -- Nov. 7

    Prelim II on Nov. 15


  • Week 12, Nov. 8 -- Nov. 14
  • Week 13, Nov. 20 ( Happy Thanksgiving )
  • Week 14, Nov. 27 -- Nov. 29 ( last week )





  • Ahren Sadoff <ajs@lns.cornell.edu >
    Last modified: Tue Sep 2 12:02:37 EDT 2008



    General Relativity---- Principle of Equivalence, the bending of light by gravity, Gravitational red shift, Black Holes, clocks run slower the stronger the gravitational field. +