PHYS/ECE 3740
Spring 2013
Professor: Kyle Dawson
Office: INSCC 459
Email: kdawson@astro.utah.edu
Office Hours: Thursdays 3PM-4PM and by appointment
Course Website: www.physics.utah.edu/~kdawson/phys3740
Teaching Assistant/Grader: Chris Winterowd
Email: winterow@physics.utah.edu
Class hours: Monday/Wednesday, 1:25AM – 2:45 PM.
Class Location: BEH S 115
Discussion Section: Friday, 2:00-2:50, BEH S 115
TA Office Hours: 9:30 AM, INSCC 445
Textbook: Modern Physics, Randy Harris, 2nd Edition, 2008.
HW: Due Fridays at 6PM in TA mailbox (across from main Physics office)
Introduction
This course will provide an overview of the Physics of the 20th century. This is
essentially the first material that is required for a Physics degree that includes modern
physics.
Students will learn special relativity and have an introduction to quantum mechanics.
They will also study the physics of nuclei, scattering, and the funny behavior that
differentiates quantum mechanical particles from the more intuitive, macroscopic motion
that we see with our own eyes. We will also discuss the history behind the scientific
progress in modern physics and modern applications that arise from these discoveries.
The class will emphasize group problem solving and the ability to qualitatively describe
the behavior behind the equations.
Course Structure
We will meet twice per week. A typical week will cover a specific topic as follows:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Monday – 40 minutes lecture on history or modern applications
Monday – 40 minutes description of the physics
Before Class on Wednesday – students must read the material for the week
Wednesday – 30 minutes group problem solving
Wednesday – 10 minutes explanation of problem from instructor
Wednesday – 40 minutes lecture, HW assigned for following week
Friday – 50 minute HW review with TA
Questions from all members of the class are encouraged and expected.
Course Outline
All classes will be held in the usual classroom. The schedule will proceed as follows:
Week
1
2
3
4
5
6
Date
Jan 7-11
10
11
12
13
14
Jan 14-18
Jan 21-25
Jan 28-Feb 1
Feb 4-8
Feb 11-15
Feb 18-22
Feb 25-Mar 1
Mar 4-8
Mar 11-15
Mar 18-22
Mar 25-Mar 29
Apr 1-5
Apr 8-12
Apr 15-19
15
Apr 22-24
8
9
Topic
Introduction and Special
Relativity
Relativistic Dynamics
Special Topics in Relativity
Behavior of Particles
Behavior of Waves
More Waves
Review
Midterm and Bound States
Case Study of Bound States
Spring Break
Unbound States
QM in 3-d
Hydrogen Atom
Spin
Atomic Physics (many
electrons)
Second Midterm (Final)
Reading
1, 2.12.2
2.3-2.7
2.8-2.10
3.1-3.6
4.1-4.4
4.5-4.7
5.1-5.4
5.5-5.11
PS
1 (Wed)
2 (Mon)
3 (Mon)
4 (Mon)
5 (Wed)
6 (Wed)
HW
1: due 1/18
2: due 1/25
3: due 2/1
4: due 2/8
5: due 2/15
6: due 2/22
7: due 3/8
8: due 3/22
6.1-6.4 7 (Wed) 9: due 3/29
7.1-7.5 8 (Wed) 10: due 4/5
7.6-7.10 9 (Wed) 11: due 4/12
8.1-8.4 10 (Wed) 12: due 4/19
8.5-8.9 11 (Wed)
Group Problem Solving
Every Wednesday will feature group problem solving. Upon entering the classroom,
each student will be assigned a group by picking a number out of a hat. All students with
the same number will work together to solve the problems for the week. There will be
half an hour dedicated to this problem solving. At the end, each group will submit a
single solution set to the instructor to be graded equally for all members of the group.
The instructor will then describe the solution to the problems. Each week, students will
work in a different group as determined by the random selection from the hat.
Upon request, students can perform the problem solving before the Wednesday lecture.
No other make-up problem sets will be allowed. Students who do not participate will
receive a zero for the problem set. The lowest score of the semester will be dropped for
each student.
Homework
There will be twelve homework assignments over the course of the semester. These will
be assigned on Wednesday and due the following Friday before 6PM. Please deposit
completed assignments in Chris’s mailbox across from the main Physics office.
Homework will be graded on a scale of 0-10. Late assignments will be accepted but will
have 1 point deducted if received on Monday, and 0.5 points deducted for each following
day.
Exams
There will be two exams for this course. The first exam will be in class on February 25
and will cover the material described in class and in chapters 1-4 of the textbook. The
second exam will be in class on April 24 and will cover the material described in chapters
5-8 of the textbook. In both cases, there will be an in-class review on the class before the
exam.
Exams will be open-note and open-book. They will include material covered in the
textbook (theory, physics) and covered in class (experimental results and history).
Grades
Grades will be determined from homework, group problem solving, and exams. All will
have equal weight – in other words, HW, group problem solving, midterm, and final will
each account for 25% of the grade. The final grades will be determined on a curve. The
median grade will be assigned a letter grade at the discretion of the instructor.