History 181B - Copenhagen assignment

History 181B: Modern Physics

Copenhagen

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Background

Michael Frayn's play Copenhagen was a hit on Broadway and won the 2000 Tony Award for Best Play. It restages a conversation between Heisenberg and Bohr in Copenhagen in 1941, a conversation that has been the subject of great speculation ever since. Read the play and skim the postscript (read it more closely if you find it interesting). Note the diagram at the very back of the book.

Assignment

Write a three-page essay on one of the following topics:

Like Bohr and Heisenberg, Frayn makes heavy use of analogies between quantum mechanics and human existence. In what ways do these analogies contribute to the play? Do you find them valid or invalid? Justify your answer.
What do you think Frayn thinks really happened in Copenhagen? Is this a legitimate question to ask? (You must address this second question, too.)

If you want to frame your own question, get my approval first.

Documentation

Use parenthetical citations in the following format: (Frayn, 67). You do not need to document material from lectures. If you bring in material from other readings, follow the citation format in the table of contents in the course reader. A bibliography is not required.

Reminders

The paper is to be typed, double-spaced in normal-sized fonts with reasonable margins. No cover page is necessary, but put your name and the assignment at the top of the first page. Number your pages. Proper writing (grammar, organization, style) definitely counts.

Written assignments may not be submitted by e-mail or in any other electronic form. Papers are due in class, and late papers will be penalized: each day (or fraction thereof, starting at 11:00 a.m.) that a paper is late will reduce its grade by 2/3 of a mark (e.g., A to B+, B- to C).

The essay is due in class on Wednesday, April 16. You need to start reading the play well beforehand, especially since the next writing assignment comes quick on its heels.