Modern Physics, Fall 2008
 

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PHYSICS 320:  MODERN PHYSICS

SYLLABUS FALL 2008

 

INSTRUCTOR:       Gerald L. Crawford

OFFICE:                  605 BH

COURSE TEXT:     Modern Physics for Scientists & Engineers, 2nd Ed. by Taylor, Zafiratos, Dubson

FORMAT:     Lecture - Discussion - Problem Solving - MWF 9:05-10:00

 

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:

 

Be sure to study the sections listed for each week.  Come to class prepared for reading quizzes and to ask questions about the material covered.

 

Week

Date

Day

#

Reading

Topics

Homework

1

9/1

M

1

-

Greetings, Information, Classical Relativity

 

 

9/3

W

2

1.1 - 1.9

Postulates and Kinetics in Special Relativity

Example 1.34

 

9/5

F

3

1.10 - 1.14

Lorentz Transformations

Ch. 1: 12,16,26,32

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

9/8

M

4

2.1 - 2.6

Mass, Momentum, and Energy

 

 

9/10

W

5

2.7 - 2.11

Force, Massless Particles, General Relativity

 

 

9/12

F

6

 

Catch-up and review for Exam 1

Ch.1: 40,48,50 Ch. 2: 3,8,20,24,34,38,42

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

9/15

M

7

3.1 - 3.9

Exam 1

 

 

9/17

W

8

3.10 - 4.1

Atoms and Kinetic Theory

Example 4.4

 

9/19

F

9

4.2 - 4.7

Quantization of Light

Ch. 3: 6,12,16,24,28,33,40,50

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

9/22

M

10

5.1 -5.10

Quantization of Atomic Energy Levels

Ch. 4: 8,14,18,20,22,30

 

9/24

W

11

 

Quantization of Atomic Energy Levels

 

 

9/26

F

12

 

Catch-up and review for Exam 2

Ch 5: 4,8,12,20,24

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5

9/29

M

13

6.1 - 6.7

Exam 2

 

 

10/1

W

14

6.8 - 7.2

Matter Waves

Example 7.29,33

 

10/3

F

15

7.3 - 7.7

Schrodinger Equation and some applications

Ch. 6: 2,10,14,22,32,42,46

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6

10/6

M

16

7.8 - 7.11

More applications

Example 7.40

 

10/8

W

17

8.1 - 8.6

Three Dimensional Shrodinger Equation

Ch. 7: 2,12,20,30,34,42,52,

54

 

10/10

F

18

8.7 - 8.10

Hydrogen and Hydrogen-like Atoms

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7

10/13

M

19

 

Catch-up and review for Exam 3

Ch. 8: 4,10,22,24,30,38,42, 48,51

 

10/15

W

20

9.1 - 9.8

Exam 3

 

 

10/17

F

21

10.1 - 10.6

Electron Spin and Applications

Ch. 9: 2,6,12,16,18,20,22, 24

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8

10/20

M

22

10.7 - 11.4

Multi-electron Atoms

 

 

10/22

W

23

11.5 - 11.10

Atomic Transitions and Radiation

Ch. 10: 6,10,12,14,18,26, 32,38

 

10/24

F

24

 

Selection Rules and Lasers

Ch. 11: 8,16,18,22,28,32

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9

10/27

M

25

13.1 - 13.6

Exam 4

 

 

10/29

W

26

13.7 - 13.12

Theories of Solids

 

 

10/31

F

27

14.1 - 14.6

Applications of Solids

Ch. 13: 2,8,20,26,34,38,44, 50,52,58

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10

11/3

M

28

14.7 - 15.4

Solids and Intro to Statistical Mechanics

 

 

11/5

W

29

15.5 - 15.9

Statistical Mechanics and Applications

Ch. 14: 8,12,18,22,28,30, 36,44,50

 

11/7

F

30

 

Catch-up and Review for Exam 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11

11/10

M

31

16.1 - 16.6

Exam 5

Ch. 15: 6,14,20,24,30,34, 38,44,54,58

 

11/12

W

32

16.7 - 17.2

Atomic Nuclei

 

 

11/14

F

33

17.3 - 17.6

Radioactivity

Ch. 16: 10,26,30,40,54,60

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12

11/17

M

34

17.7 - 17.13

Nuclear Reactions and Applications

 

 

11/19

W

35

 

Catch-up and Review for Exam 6

Ch. 17: 14,22,34,42,48,54, 56,64,66,70

 

11/21

F

36

 

Exam 6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/24

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/26

 

 

 

Thanksgiving Break!

 

 

11/28

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13

12/1

M

37

18.1 - 18.6

Elementary Particles

 

 

12/3

W

38

18.7 - 18.11

Quarks, QCD, and Interactions

 

 

12/5

F

39

 

Catch-up and Review for the Final

Ch. 18: 4,6,10,12,16,22,26, 34,36,46,56

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14

12/8

M

40

 

Catch-up and Review for the Final

 

 

12/10

W

41

 

Catch-up and Review for the Final

 

 

12/12

F

42

 

Catch-up and Review for the Final

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12/15

M

 

 

 

 

 

12/16

T

43

7:30-9:30

Final Exam

 

 

NOTE: Homework exercises and problems will be collected and graded, and will account for 36% of

 the total grade.  It is very important to work the exercises and problems assigned in each chapter to gain

 the skills necessary to pass the exams.

 

EXAM POLICY: Students are expected to take all exams at the scheduled times.

 

Students with disabilities have equal access and equal opportunity in this course.  If you require reasonable accommodations to fully participate in course activities or meet course requirements, you must register with Disability Services, 280 Noble Hall, 247-7459.  If you qualify for services, bring your letter of accommodation to me as soon as possible.

INTENDED COURSE OUTCOMES (ABET Criteria/outcomes):

It is intended that students who successfully complete this course will have improved their abilities in the following areas:

a1        Ability to apply knowledge of mathematics

a2        Ability to apply knowledge of physical science

i           Ability to continue learning scientific or technical material throughout my life

j           Knowledge of current scientific or technical issues

m         Ability to think critically

More syllabus information is available at:

http://faculty.fortlewis.edu/tyler_c/home/phys-engr_syllabus.htm