Introduction to Chaos and Fractals

Schedule of Readings and Activities

This will change, especially toward the second half of the course. When in doubt, check the online version.

This document was last modified on .

All readings are from James Gleick, Chaos: Making a New Science, unless otherwise noted.


Class Date Reading Comments
W e e k    O n e
1 Monday, March 29
  • No reading

    • 2 Thursday, April 1
  • The Butterfly Effect, pp. 9-31. Do not read the prologue.
    		• Prepare several written questions and/or comments about the reading. Get these questions to me (in my mailbox on paper or via email) by 9pm the day before class.

    		Friday, April 2 HW 1 Due
    W e e k    T w o
    3 Monday, April 5
  • Revolution, pp. 33-56.


    • 4 Thursday, April 8
  • Short reading on Butterfuly Effect History


    		•

    		Friday, April 9 HW2 Due
    W e e k    T h r e e

    		Monday, April 12 First Paper Due
    5 Monday, April 12
  • TBA

    		•
    6 Thursday, April 15
  • No new reading
    		•  Do computer exercise (HW3) before class.

    		Friday, April 16 HW 4 Due
    W e e k    F o u r
    7 Monday, April 19 Read "Life's Ups and Downs
    8 Wednesday!, April 21 Read "A Geometry of Nature"

    		Friday, April 23 HW 5 Due
    W e e k    F i v e
    9 Monday, April 26 Read "The Best Possible Time to be Alive" (handout) John Anderson to visit class
    10 Thursday, April 29 Read "Strange Attractors"
    W e e k    S i x

    		Monday, May 3 Second Paper Due
    11 Monday, May 3 No new reading
    12 Thursday, May 7 Read "Universality" Fractal Show and Tell

    		Friday, May 8 HW 6 Due
    W e e k    S e v e n

    		Monday, May 3 Second Paper Due
    13 Monday, May 3 Read "The Experimenter"
    14 Thursday, May 10 Read "Images of Chaos"

    		Friday, May 13 HW 6 Due
    W e e k    E i g h t
    15 Monday, May 17 Read "The Dynamical Systems Collective"
    16 Thursday, May 24 Read last two chapters in Gleick Bring Julia set to class
    W e e k    N i n e

    		Monday, May 24 Third Paper Due
    17 Monday, May 24 Read J.L., Borges, "Library of Babel". In class we'll discuss the Borges story and the last two chapters of Gleick.
    18 Thursday, May 27 Read Crutchfield, "What Lies between Order and Chaos?"

    		Friday, May 29 HW 8 Due
    W e e k    T e n
    19 Monday, May 31 No new reading
    20 Thursday, June 3 Final Presentations


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