Fall 2011
Fundamentals of Physics III: Quantum Physics
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Syllabus PHYS 283
Fundamentals of Physics III: Quantum Physics
Fall 2011
Instructor: Matt Bellis
Email: mbellis@niu.edu
Office phone: (815) 753-0761
Read carefully now and keep for your reference throughout the semester.
What will we cover in this course?
In this course we will discuss some of the most significant developments in physics: the wave nature of light,
an understanding of which is essential to both common electronic devices and the most sensitive instruments
probing the world around us; special relativity, which informs our understanding of space and time at high
energies; quantum mechanics, necessary for describing very, very small objects; atomic, molecular and laser
physics; electronic materials like semiconductors that are the basis for much of our technology; the elementary
particles and the fundamental forces that form our Universe; nuclear physics in its many forms (fission, fusion
and radioactivity); and astrophysics and cosmology, where we will discuss the contents and evolution of the
universe.
I will introduce you to some of the most profound insights in science that have led to revolutions on how we
view space and time and how matter and energy interact in our universe. We will talk about how we came to
these conclusions, how the scientific method guided our understanding, and what are the questions left to be
answered. We will learn how these understandings led to so much of the technology that we use on a daily basis
and how NIU professors are pushing this technology to learn even more about our world. I hope you develop
a deep appreciation for physics and a sense of wonder at how much humanity has learned...and what we might
learn next!
Here is a sampling of the questions I hope we will address:
• How does Einstein’s theory of special relativity lead to the conclusion that clocks appear to run slow and
objects appear to be shorter when moving with respect to the observer?
• How does quantum mechanics explain the structure of the periodic table?
• How do incandescent light bulbs work and why are they so inefficient?
• How do fluorescent bulbs work and why are they more efficient? Why do they contain mercury?
• How do LEDs (light emitting diodes) work and why are they even more efficient?
• How do solar cells turn light into electricity?
• How does a laser work? What is special about laser light?
• How is mass turned into energy in the sun and in a nuclear reactor? What is the difference between fusion
and fission?
• How do we explain why some isotopes are stable and others undergo radioactive decay?
• What is radiation? How is it used for cancer therapy?
Expectations for the course:
I sincerly hope that you will learn much about physics over the course of the semester and come to appreciate
how much we have learned about Nature and how she operates! To this end, your assignments and tests will
be graded with an eye toward evaluating your understanding and comprehension of these concepts. When
answering a problem that requires you to explain your answer, don’t try to complicate what you are trying to
say with extra words or phrases in an attempt to get partial credit. It is more valuable to learn to use concise
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Fundamentals of Physics III: Quantum Physics
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sentences to explain a scientific concept. Using the right words in the wrong fashion will result in the same 0
points as if you simply put nothing down.
I will occasionally discuss the historical context of these discoveries or the individuals or made them. Unless
specifically noted, these dates and names will not be tested on exams. It is hoped however, that these discussions
will give you a sense of the development of scientific thought beyond just the equations and concepts themselves.
Lecture times and office hours:
Location
Hours
Lecture
Faraday Hall 144
Mon., 3:30-4:45PM
Wed., 3:30-4:45PM
Office hours
Faraday Hall 225
Wed., 11AM-noon
By appointment.
Course web site:
The class website is administered through Blackboard (https://webcourses.niu.edu/). Homework problems will be assigned through the web page, as well as mentioned in class.
I may also set up a Google Calendar for the course, if enough students think this would be helpful. Contact
me if you would use this resource.
Prerequisites:
Math 230 (Calculus II) and either Phys 251A (General Physics II, Electricity and Magnetism) or Phys
252 (Intermediate General Physics).
Materials for class:
Required text: Giancoli, “Physics for Scientists & Engineers with Modern Physics”, 4th Ed., Vols. 2 & 3.
Homework:
There will be weekly homework assignments. The main reason for doing problems is to learn how to apply
concepts learned from the text or in class. You can never do too many problems! To get full credit for
assigned problems, you need to convince the graduate teaching assistants that you got the right solution and
you understood the concepts. Treat every homework assignment as an opportunity to study for the upcoming
exam! That is the level of understanding you would like to aim for.
Write out the solutions carefully, on the front side of each page only. Define all symbols used, and explain
in words any assumptions you made. Do not plug in values for the variables until the very final step. Include
units when you plug in values for variables. Show explicitly how the units cancel to give you the appropriate
units for the final result. Diagrams are also often very helpful in solving a problem and in demonstrating that
you understood the solution. We encourage you to discuss problems with your classmates; however, you must
write up solutions independently.
Write CLEARLY with dark pencil or pen. Write on ONE side only of 8.5” x 11” paper. Show all steps of
your calculations and all formulae used (as described above) but omit scratch work. BOX IN YOUR ANSWERS
so that they can be found easily. ALWAYS GIVE THE UNITS FOR THE FINAL ANSWER.
Homework is to be handed in in class on the due date. It may be turned into either me or the grader
by the end of the school day (6PM) at no reduction in grade. It may be turned in up to two days late (by
6PM Wednesday for a Monday due date, by 6PM Friday for a Wednesday due date) while incurring a 20%
loss for lateness. Assignments will only be accepted later than this at my discretion. If there are extenuating
circumstances, contact me to discuss this as soon as possible.
REMEMBER, HOMEWORK COUNTS FOR 20% OF THE FINAL GRADE.
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In-class quizzes and exercises:
We will occasionally be doing exercises in class that will be handed in for a grade. The goal is to give you as
much hands-on experience with the material as possible. We all learn by doing. I’m not trying to make lectures
more work than they need to be. On the contrary, I’d like the lecture sessions to be as productive as possible
and having us all work on problems in class will allow us to more quickly identify where misconceptions lie.
While I will not have pop quizzes, I will sometimes have quizzes at the beginning of class on the material
which will be lectured that day. That means you will be quizzed on material that you have not been introduced
to in class but should be aware of if you’ve done the reading before class. You will always be told the lecture
before, if there will be one of these quizzes coming up in the next lecture. The quiz will generally be one
conceptual question. You should be able to answer these questions if you have read the material at some very
simple level. The reason for these quizzes is studies show that when students come into class having seen the
material already, they have a better chance to comprehend it when seeing it a second time1 .
These quizzes will only be administered during the first 5 minutes of class and there are no make-up quizzes.
Exams and final exam:
There will be two exams during the term and the final exam. The exam dates are given in the course
calendar and will not be changed. Only material covered up to the exam date will be included. The final exam
is comprehensive. Exams are not open-book and crib sheets are not allowed. A formula sheet will be provided.
No other materials are allowed except calculators.
Let me know by the end of the first week of class (mbellis@niu.edu) if you have an absolutely
unavoidable conflict with these scheduled exam times, such as participating in a university athletic event.
Using outside materials and collaborating with your peers.
You are encouraged to work with your fellow classmates in solving homework problems and studying for
exams, but the work that you hand in must be your own.
There is a plethora of online materials that can supplement your learning (e.g. Wikipedia2 , Kahn Academy
lectures3 ), but remember that the final work must be your own. Blindly copying phrases out of Wikipedia is
not acceptable. You should use these resources as a way to reinforce your understanding of the material, not
as a replacement for understanding.
Grading:
The weighting of grades is given below.
There will be no curving of either individual exam grades or the
Homework
In-class quizzes and assignments
Exam 1
Exam 2
Comprehensive Final Exam
20%
10%
20%
20%
30%
final grades. However, an extra credit assignment may be completed during the last week of class. This assignment will be worth between 0-2 pts. added to your final grade, depending on the quality of the assignment.
The details of the assignment will be discussed in class.
Lecture organization:
1
http://prst-per.aps.org/abstract/PRSTPER/v6/i1/e010108 Zhongzhou, et. al. “Using multimedia modules to better prepare
students for introductory physics lecture”, Phys. Rev. ST Phys. Educ. Res., 2010
2
http://www.wikipedia.org/
3
http://www.khanacademy.org/
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Table 1: Definition of grades.
A
B
C
D
F
90-100%
80-89%
70-79%
60-69%
0-59%
Some studies suggest that most adults can focus during a lecture for about 20 minutes4 . I will try to lecture
for about 15-25 minutes at a clip at which time I will stop for 3-6 minutes or so and give everyone a chance to
not think about physics.
Class participation:
Students are encouraged to participate in class discussion and ask questions during class. Class participation
is not explicitly included in the final grade, but at the end of the term, it may affect the grade of students who
fall on the borderline (±0.5 points) between grades.
In-class electronic communications:
I ask that you do not take phone calls, text, email, update your status, or tweet during lectures.
Students with disabilities:
Instructional and/or examination accommodation will be provided for qualified students with disabilities.
Please contact me during the first week of class and register with the Center for Access-Ability Resources
(CAAR) at 815-753-1303.5
Academic integrity:
I expect students to maintain the highest standards in academic work. Examples of conduct that I would
regard as violating these standards include copying from another’s examination paper or allowing another to
copy from one’s own paper; unpermitted collaboration; plagiarism; revising and resubmitting a quiz or exam for
regrading, without the instructor’s knowledge and consent; representing as one’s own work the work of another;
and giving or receiving aid on an academic assignment under circumstances in which a reasonable person should
have known that such aid was not permitted.
Students found to have cheated on exams will receive a grade of F for that exam. All incidents or suspected
incidents of cheating on either homework or exams will be reported to the university judicial office. For more
information, see the official NIU policy on academic integrity at http://catalog.niu.acalog.com/content.
php?catoid=15&navoid=443#acad_inte.
In this course, I encourage students to discuss physics issues and problem-solving strategies related to assigned problems. However, the solutions to the problems must be written up independently.
Incomplete grades:
Incompletes will only be given under extraordinary circumstances such as extended illness or call-up to
active military duty.
4
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attention_span#cite_note-Essential-1 Dianne Dukette; David Cornish (2009). “The Essential 20: Twenty Components of an Excellent Health Care Team”. RoseDog Books. pp. 72-73
5
http://www.niu.edu/caar/
Fall 2011
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Fundamentals of Physics III: Quantum Physics
Course calendar:
Date
Mon. Aug. 22
Wed. Aug. 24
Mon. Aug. 29
Wed.
Mon.
Wed.
Mon.
Aug. 31
Sept. 5
Sept. 7
Sept. 12
Wed.
Mon.
Wed.
Mon.
Sept.
Sept.
Sept.
Sept.
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19
21
26
Topic
Chapter/section
The Wave Nature of Light; Interference
Go over course organization. Interference.
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Interference.
34
Interference.
34
Diffraction and Polarization
Diffraction.
35
Labor day. No class.
Diffraction.
35
Diffraction.
35
Special Theory of Relativity
Special relativity.
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Special relativity.
36
Special relativity.
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Special relativity.
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Wed. Sept. 21
Mon.
Wed.
Mon.
Wed.
Mon.
Wed.
Mon.
Wed.
Mon.
Wed.
Mon.
Exam 1
Early Quantum Theory and Models of the Atom
Sept. 26 Quantum Theory and Models of the Atom.
Sept. 28 Quantum Theory and Models of the Atom.
Oct. 3
Quantum Theory and Models of the Atom.
Quantum Mechanics
Oct. 5
Quantum Mechanics.
Oct. 10 Quantum Mechanics.
Oct. 12 Quantum Mechanics.
Quantum Mechanics of Atoms
Oct. 17 Quantum Mechanics of Atoms.
Oct. 19 Quantum Mechanics of Atoms.
Oct. 24 Quantum Mechanics of Atoms.
Molecules and Solids
Oct. 26 Molecules and Solids.
Oct. 31 Molecules and Solids. (Halloween)
Wed. Nov. 2
Mon. Nov. 7
Wed. Nov. 9
Mon. Nov. 14
Wed. Nov. 16
Mon. Nov. 21
Wed. Nov. 23
Mon. Nov. 28
Wed. Nov. 30
Mon. Dec. 5
Exam 2
Nuclear Physics and Radioactivity
Nuclear Physics and Radioactivity.
Nuclear Physics and Radioactivity.
Nuclear Physics and Radioactivity.
Nuclear Energy; Effects and Uses of Radiation
Nuclear Energy; Effects and Uses of Radiation.
Nuclear Energy; Effects and Uses of Radiation.
Elementary Particles
Thanksgiving break. No class.
Elementary particles.
Astrophysics and Cosmology.
Final Exam
4PM-5:50PM. Note the different time from lecture!
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