EDUCATION:
PhD, Physics, Indiana University
M.S., Astronomy, University of Warsaw, Poland
ABOUT ME:
I love physics because it analytically describes most of what we observe: matter, motion, space, and time. I also find physics fascinating because its ideas often lead to new technologies. I enjoy astronomy, thanks to which modern physics has developed. And I like mathematics, which is the language of physics and other natural sciences.
The beauty, simplicity and universality of the fundamental laws describing the physical world have inspired me to share my knowledge and enthusiasm with my students. I am experienced in tutoring multiple topics on physics, astronomy and mathematics to a wide range of students at high-school, college and graduate levels. As a teacher, I aim to provide you with the fundamental understandings on a given subject, as well as critical thinking skills. You will become a stronger problem solver, with the knowledge of how to approach the same issues through different methods. We will learn how to find the simplest and fastest methods to solving problems, so that you will become more secure in your homework and test taking abilities. Ultimately, my goal is to make you confident in what you have learned and how you can apply that knowledge.
As a physicist, I research theory of gravity to solve fundamental questions about the Nature. What is the origin of our expanding Universe? What happens inside black holes? Why does everything except light have mass? And why does time flow in only one direction? (For you science nerds: I hope some of these questions excite you!). To answer them, I study a geometric property of spacetime called torsion, which appears when we combine the physics of the cosmos (theory of relativity) with the physics of elementary particles (quantum theory).
Here is a video demonstration of Nikodem's Tutoring on our Natural Science Blogs page.
TUTOR SUBJECTS:
Physics, Astronomy, Mathematics
SPECIFIC TUTORING SERVICES:
PHYSICS & ASTRONOMY
High School & College Level:
General Physics
Mechanics
Electricity and Magnetism
Thermodynamics
General Astronomy
Graduate Level:
Classical Mechanics
Electrodynamics
Special and General Relativity
Quantum Mechanics
Quantum Field Theory
Celestial Mechanics
Astrophysics
Cosmology
MATHEMATICS
High School & College Level:
Algebra
Geometry
Trigonometry
Analysis
Calculus (Differential and Integral)
Differential Equations
Complex Analysis
SELECTED AWARDS:
2010 — Office of Postdoctoral Affairs Award, IU
2006 — Fellowship, Institute for Pure and Applied Mathematics, UC Los Angeles
2004 — Outstanding Graduate Student in Theoretical Research Award, Department of Physics, IU
SELECTED POPULAR ARTICLES ABOUT MY RESEARCH:
· National Geographic Daily News: Every Black Hole Contains Another Universe?
· Science Now: Does Our Universe Live Inside a Wormhole?
http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2010/04/does-our-universe-live-inside-a-.html
· New Scientist 207 (2770), 9 (2010): Every black hole may hold a hidden universe. Reprinted in Washington Post: Cosmologist's theory about black holes puts a new spin on the universe.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/23/AR2010082303622.html
· Daily Telegraph: A universe could exist 'inside every black hole,' claims scientist.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:
N. J. Poplawski, Matter-antimatter asymmetry and dark matter from torsion. Phys. Rev. D 83, 084033 (2011).
N. J. Poplawski, Cosmological constant from quarks and torsion. Ann. Phys. (Berlin) 523, 291 (2011).
N. J. Poplawski, Cosmology with torsion: An alternative to cosmic inflation. Phys. Lett. B 694, 181 (2010).
N. J. Poplawski, Nonsingular Dirac particles in spacetime with torsion. Phys. Lett. B 690, 73 (2010).
N. J. Poplawski, Torsion as electromagnetism and spin. Int. J. Theor. Phys. 49, 1481 (2010).
N. J. Poplawski, Radial motion into an Einstein-Rosen bridge. Phys. Lett. B 687, 110 (2010).
