Modern Physics (NSC688)
Credits: 4
Level: Intermediate
Faculty: Jim Mahoney
When: Mon/Thu 1:30-2:50pm
Where: Sci 117 (the physics lab)
An introduction to the physics theories developed in the early 1900s : special relativity and quantum mechanics. Topics include space-time, wave-particle duality, the Schrodinger equation which describes the structure of atoms and molecules, and possibly more depending on time. This is typically a sophomore level course, taken after mechanics and electrogmetism have been seen in a General Physics course.
Krane's Modern Physics, 3rd edition (amazon)
Expect this to be adjusted as needed as we go along.
week dates chapter topic
---- ---------- ------ -----------------------------
1 Jan 22, 25 1 Failure of Classical Physics
2 29, 1 2 Special Relativity
3 Feb 5, 8 2 Special Relativity - continued
4 12, 15 3 Particles
5 19, 22 4 Waves
6 26, 1 5 Schrodinger Equation
7 Mar 5, 8 5 Schrodinger Equation - continued
8 12, 15 6 Rutherford-Bohr model
spring break
9 26, 29 7 The Hydrogen Atom
10 Apr 2, 5 7 The Hydrogen Atom - continued
11 9, 12 8 Atoms
12 16, 19 9 Molecules
13 23, 26 10 Statistical Physics
14 30
There will be three letter grades for the term:
Each weekly assignment will get a numeric score based on evidence of effort with 1.0 meaning full credit. Your semester homework grade will be based on the sum of those numeric scores
Your final grade will be an equally weighted average of all those, along with an additional class participation fudge factor as I see fit.