AT 15-001_FA21: Course Alias: at15-1-fa@eckerd.edu
Our lives are in constant contact with cyclic phenomena. Rhythm is a cornerstone in music and dance. The seasons, which are the product of the Earth?s tilt and its regular orbit about the sun, carry great cultural significance. Over the course of a day?a cycle governed by our planet?s regular spinning?our attention and mood change in predictable ways. Not all rhythms have such obvious origins, nor are they as predictable. Why do populations of predator and prey, such as foxes and rabbits, vary from year to year? Why does the economy boom and bust? Why does the planet have occasional ice ages? Why is it that the Earth?s orbit can be predicted far into the future but the Earth?s weather cannot be predicted more than seven days into the future? In this course we will learn about the many ways that rhythms arise in both nature and society and we will examine how various rhythmic processes impact our lives.
Our lives are in constant contact with cyclic phenomena. Rhythm is a cornerstone in music and dance. The seasons, which are the product of the Earth?s tilt and its regular orbit about the sun, carry great cultural significance. Over the course of a day?a cycle governed by our planet?s regular spinning?our attention and mood change in predictable ways. Not all rhythms have such obvious origins, nor are they as predictable. Why do populations of predator and prey, such as foxes and rabbits, vary from year to year? Why does the economy boom and bust? Why does the planet have occasional ice ages? Why is it that the Earth?s orbit can be predicted far into the future but the Earth?s weather cannot be predicted more than seven days into the future? In this course we will learn about the many ways that rhythms arise in both nature and society and we will examine how various rhythmic processes impact our lives.
- Teacher: David Mertens