Modern Physics Spring 2003
Instructor: Catherine L. Jahncke
Office: 218 Bewkes
Phone: 229-5496
Office Hours: I am always around the department at least 9-5 M-F, but it will be easiest to find me in the mornings. Always check my lab (Bewkes 215) if I am not in my office.
Text: Modern Physics for Scientists and Engineers, Taylor and Zafiratos (Prentice Hall, 1991).
Course overview: This is a two semester course which studies the two major theories of physics developed in the 20th century: quantum mechanics and relativity. The first semester will be devoted to understanding these two theories, while the second semester will look more closely at some applications of these theories.
Course requirements: The requirements for this course will consist of homework assignments, quizzes, in class presentations, three in class exams, a final exam, and laboratory work. Each of you will be required to give presentations in class covering some of the sections in the text. This is described in more detail below.
Homework: In general, homework will be daily and will be collected at the beginning of class two classes later. Therefore, homework assigned on Monday will be due on Friday; homework assigned on Wednesday will be due Monday. Late homework will not be accepted because sometimes we will work the problems on the board in class and solutions to the problems will be handed out or posted after the assignment has been completed. Please do not wait until the last minute to do the homework. You may need some extra help from me or from your peers. Show your work on homework problems! Most of the credit will be given for setting up the problem correctly. I expect to see more than just a correct answer--show your work! I will drop your lowest three homework assignments.
Quizzes I reserve the right to give in class quizzes. If I do, they will be considered part of your homework grade, and they will be daily so you will be aware of them.
Exams: There will be three exams given in class each covering the material completed before the exam. Questions on the exams will be similar to the homework and the material covered in your laboratory class. The final exam will be cumulative.
Laboratory: The laboratory is required and there may be questions on the exam from the information covered in your lab. Failure to pass the lab will result in failure in the course.
Class Presentations: You will be required to do two presentation on a subject related to the course material. I will provide a list of possible subjects. The presentations should draw on material from other sources in addition to your text. The material you present may be covered on the exams. Failure to do your presentation will result in failure in the course.
Class Participation: While participation in class is not a part of your formal grade, you are expected to attend class and your contribution to the class will be considered in determining your final grade.
Grading:
|
In class exams, 3 at 10% |
30% |
|
Homework and Quizzes |
20% |
|
Presentations |
5% |
|
Laboratory |
25% |
|
Final exam |
20% |
|
Date |
Topic |
Text |
|
|
Week 1 |
Jan 20 |
Stationary States; Particle in a Box |
8.1-8.4 |
|
22 |
Sketching Wavefunctions; Probabilities; Free Particle; |
8.5-8.7 |
|
|
24 |
Nonrigid Box; Simple Harmonic Oscillator |
8.8-8.9 |
|
|
Week 2 |
27 |
Partial derivatives and the 3-D Schršedinger equation |
9.1-9.3 |
|
29 |
Separation of variables; the central-force problem and angular momentum |
9.3-9.4 |
|
|
31 |
Spherical coordinates and the 3-D central force problem; the hydrogen atom |
9.5-9.7 |
|
|
Week 3 |
Feb 3 |
The hydrogen atom |
9.7-9.10 |
|
5 |
Electron spin |
10.1-10.3 |
|
|
7 |
Zeeman effect; |
10.4-10.6,10.7* |
|
|
Week 4 |
10 |
Multielectron atoms; approximations and the Pauli principle |
11.1-11.4 |
|
12 |
Electron configurations and properties of the elements |
11.5-11.6 |
|
|
14 |
Periodic table; |
11.7,11.8 |
|
|
Week 5 |
17 |
Review |
8, 9,10,11 |
|
19 |
Exam 1 |
8, 9,10,11 |
|
|
21 |
Properties of the nucleus |
12.1-12.3 |
|
|
Week 6 |
24 |
The nuclear potential |
12.4-12.6 |
|
26 |
Binding energy; |
12.7-12.9 |
|
|
28 |
Nuclear shell model |
12.8 |
|
|
Week 7 |
March 3 |
Radioactive decay |
13.1-13.3 |
|
5 |
Beta and alpha decay |
13.4-13.5 |
|
|
7 |
nuclear reactions and fission, fusion |
13.6-13.7,8 |
|
|
10-14 |
SPRING BREAK |
||
|
Week 8 |
17 |
Elementary Particles |
14.1-14.3 |
|
19 |
Leptons, hadrons and resonances |
14.4-14.6 |
|
|
21 |
the quark model |
14.7-14.10 |
|
|
Week 9 |
24 |
Review |
12, 13, 14 |
|
26 |
Exam 2 |
12, 13, 14 |
|
|
28 |
Statistical physics; Maxwell velocity distribution, equipartition theorem |
Handout on Statistical Physics |
|
|
Week 10 |
31 |
Maxwell speed distribution, classical and quantum statistics |
Statistical Physics |
|
April 2 |
Fermi Dirac Statistics |
Statistical Physics |
|
|
4 |
Bose-Einstein statistics, |
Statistical Physics |
|
|
Week 11 |
7 |
Absorption and emission of photons |
15.1-15.3 |
|
9 |
Spontaneous and stimulated emission |
15.4-15.5 |
|
|
11 |
lifetimes, |
15.6-15.7 |
|
|
Week 12 |
14 |
Laser Topics, The ionic bond |
15.8, 16.1-16.3 |
|
16 |
The covalent bond |
16.4-16.5 |
|
|
18 |
Review |
||
|
Week 13 |
21 |
Exam 3 |
Stat mech, 15, 16 |
|
23 |
Bonding in Solids |
17.1-17.2 |
|
|
25 |
Crystal structure; |
17.3 |
|
|
Week 14 |
28 |
Energy bands; conductivity |
17.4-17.5 |
|
30 |
Semiconductors and phonons |
17.6-17.7 |
|
|
May 2 |
Superconductivity Review |
17.8 |