INTRODUCTION TO MODERN PHYSICS (PHYS 300)
Spring 2010
Class meetings:
Natural Sciences Building, room 128
Tuesday and Thursday: 11:00 - 12:15 a.m.
Instructor: Dr. Sergio B. Mendes, Associate Professor
Dept. of Physics and Astronomy
Contact info: sbmend01@louisville.edu, (502) 852-0908
Office hours: Tuesday 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. and Thursday 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. at the
Belknap Research Building (BRB), room 240. If you need an extraappointment, please email or call in advance for confirmation.
Goals: Introduction to quantum theory and special relativity with
applications to atomic, nuclear, and solid state physics.
Textbook: Quantum Physics of Atoms, Molecules, Solids, Nuclei, and
Particles by Eisberg and Resnick, 2nd Edition, 1985, John Wiley & Sons.
Some chapters and sections of the book will be omitted due to time
constraints.
Instructor web site: http://www.physics.louisville.edu/sbmendes/
You will find classnotes, homeworks & solutions, exams & solutions, quizzes &
solutions, additional literature, etc.
Educational web site: http://phet.colorado.edu/simulations/index.php, from
University of Colorado at Boulder. Many simulations including blackbody
radiation, photoelectric effect, Rutherford scattering, Davisson-Germer
experiment, Stern-Gerlach experiment, etc.
Evaluation:
- 3 exams (2 mid-term exams and 1 final comprehensive exam) equal
weight for each: 75%
- Homework (approximately 6-8 assignments): 25%
- Quiz (extra-credit): 10%
Grading:
-
A = 100% - 85%
B = 84% - 75%
C = 74% - 65%
D = 64% - 55%
F = below 54%
The instructor reserves the right to lower the grade limit.
Preliminary (Tentative) Schedule of Classes:
Class #
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
Date
Jan 07
Jan 12
Jan 14
Jan 19
Jan 21
Jan 26
Jan 28
Feb 02
Feb 04
Feb 09
Feb 11
Feb 16
Feb 18
Feb 23
Feb 25
March 02
March 04
March 09
March 11
March 23
March 25
March 30
Apr 01
Apr 06
Apr 08
Chapter
Intr. & 1
1
1
2
2
2
3
3
3
Midterm # 1
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
6
6
6
Midterm # 2
7
7
7
7
26.
27.
28.
29.
Apr 13
Apr 15
Apr 20
Apr 27,
11:30 am - 2 pm
8
8
8
final exam
The instructor reserves the right to make changes and adjustments in
the schedule as needed.