Syllabus
Info
| Title | Modern Physics |
| Term | Spring 2015 |
| Credits | 4 |
| Time | Mon, Wed 9.30-10.30 |
| Place | Brown Science/Sci 117A |
| Level | Introductory |
| Faculty | Sara Salimbeni |
| Tutor | to be announced |
Textbook
Modern Physics 3rd by Krane
Other Useful Books
Physics for Scientist and Engineers by Randall D. Knight - volume 5 (Reserve)
Quantum Physics: A Fundamental Approach to Modern Physics by John Townsend (Reserve)
Course Policies & Grading
Attendance
Attendance is mandatory and is part of your grade (15% of your final grade). Please, let me know ahead of time if, and why, you will miss a class.
Readings
You are expected to come to class prepared to discuss the material and ask questions. Reading the material is critical for having a productive class time, failing to prepare will affect the learning of you and your classmates.
Homework
Homework will be assigned weekly (35% of your final grade). Homework is an essential tool to learn and to receive feedback. For this reason it is important that you hand in your assignments on time. Students are encouraged to work together on the homework assignments. However, your final write-up of the assigment must represent your own understanding; copying another person's work is plagiarism and will result in no credit for that assignment.
Take-Home tests
In addition to the weekly assignments, there will be two take-home tests (30% of your grade) and a final (20% of your final grade). You are not allowed to collaborate while you are working on the take-home tests or on the final (unless I assign group work).
Late Police for assignments and Mid-term
This is how late work will affect your grades:
days of delay percentage of the actual grade
--------------- -----------------------------------------
1 to 3 90%
3 to 7 80%
8 to 15 60%
15 to 30 40%
over 30 it will not be accepted
Special arrangements for late work can be obtained under very special circumstances. Late work will not be accepted without prior discussion with me.
No late work will be accepted for the Final assignment.
Plagiarism
Academic Honesty is expected of all scientists, and also of all students. Cheating on homework or the final exam will result in no credit.
If you are not sure on how to use a source, please check this
link on the library webpage.
Grading
|
|
| 35% | Weekly homework |
| 15% | Class attendance & participation |
| 30% | Take home tests |
| 20% | Final exams |
Grade Letters
| Highest | Lowest | Letter |
| 100.00 | 93.00 | A |
| 92.99 | 90.00 | A- |
| 89.99 | 87.00 | B+ |
| 86.99 | 83.00 | B |
| 82.99 | 80.00 | B- |
| 79.99 | 77.00 | C+ |
| 76.99 | 73.00 | C |
| 72.99 | 70.00 | C- |
| 69.99 | 67.00 | D+ |
| 66.99 | 60.00 | D |
| 59.99 | 0.00 | F |
Tentative Schedule
Day Topics
------ -----
Jan 26 The Failures of Classical Physics
Jan 28 The Failures of Classical Physics
Feb 2 The Special Theory of Relativity
Feb 4 The Special Theory of Relativity
Feb 9 The Special Theory of Relativity
Feb 11 The Special Theory of Relativity
Feb 16 The Particlelike Properties of Electromagnetic Radiation
Feb 18 The Particlelike Properties of Electromagnetic Radiation
Feb 23 The Wavelike Properties of Particle
Feb 25 The Wavelike Properties of Particle
Mar 2 The Schrodinger Equation
Mar 4 The Schrodinger Equation
Mar 9 The Rutherford-Bohr Model
Mar 11 The Rutherford-Bohr Model
Mar 30 The Hydrogen Atom in Wave Mechanics
Apr 1 The Hydrogen Atom in Wave Mechanics
Apr 6 Many Electron Atoms
Apr 8 Many Electron Atoms
Apr 13 Molecular Structure
Apr 15 Molecular Structure
Apr 20 Statistical Physics
Apr 22 Statistical Physics
Apr 27 Solid-State Physics
Apr 29 Solid-State Physics
May 4 Review
May 6 Review
