PHYS 223
Modern Physics
Fall 2014
Syllabus
This course is a survey of the major developments in physics of the 20th century, as well
as an introduction to more sophisticated mathematical and laboratory techniques. Topics
include special relativity, the quantum nature of light, the wave nature of particles, the
Schrödinger equation, atomic physics, molecules, quantum statistical physics, and
cosmology.
Instructor:
David Altman
Email: daltman@willamette.edu
Office: Collins 312
Phone: 650-804-5764
Office Hours: Wednesday, 12:30-1:30 am and Thursday, 10-11 pm (or by
appointment)
Prerequisites: Physics 222, Math 142
Text: Quantum Physics: A Fundamental Approach to Modern Physics, John S.
Townsend.
In addition, supplemental texts will be posted online.
Lectures: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10:20-11:20 am in Collins 306. To
get the most out of the lecture, you are highly encouraged to read the appropriate
sections from the text before coming to class.
Website: The class website can be found on the WISE system
(http://wise.willamette.edu). The site will contain important handouts, including slides
from lectures, weekly problem sets, and answer keys.
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs): By the end of this class you should
1) Have a broad theoretical understanding of Special Relativity and Quantum Mechanics
and how they help explain the structure of matter.
2) Be able to use simple lab equipment and software to collect, analyze, and present
experimental data.
3) Be able to write a publication-style paper that includes the research methods, data,
analysis, and conclusions of an experiment that you have carried out
Your progress on achieving these goals will be assessed through:
Homework: There will be weekly reading and problem set assignments. Every Friday,
you will be assigned a problem set that will be due the following Friday. Answers must
be clear and complete. You will be expected to state your assumptions and draw out
diagrams and graphs.
You are encouraged to work on your problem sets in groups. However, each person in
the group must submit his or her own original solutions. Late homework will not be
accepted unless you have received permission from me prior to the date the homework is
due.
Laboratory: Over the course of the semester, we will be doing 4 labs that focus on
making measurements of fundamental constants (e.g. the speed of light or the charge-tomass ratio of the electron). Lab reports will be more formal than in Introductory Physics
and will involve more sophisticated data analysis. They will also be typed out in LaTeX.
Labs will be completed over two weeks (see the schedule below). The lab report will be
due on the Monday following the two-week period.
Tests: There will be two midterms, which will be given during your lab time (Oct 7 and
Nov 11) and a comprehensive final (Dec 8).
Grading: Homework 20%, Laboratories 25%, Midterms 15% each (30% total), Final
25%
Plagiarism: You should familiarize yourself with Willamette’s plagiarism policy, which
you can find at http://www.willamette.edu/cla/dean/policies/plagiarism.html. Plagiarism
can take different forms, but its essence is presenting the words or work of another as
your own. When you are quoting from a source, you must place that material in quotation
marks and correctly cite the source of the quotation. If you are paraphrasing the words of
another, you must provide the source from which you are paraphrasing. When using your
own words to express an idea or argument of another, the source should be credited. A
paper that is plagiarized, wholly or partially, will receive an F and may not be rewritten.
Depending on the severity of the plagiarism, the penalty may also extend to failing the
course. In accordance with university policy, any instance of plagiarism will be promptly
reported to the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts.
Accommodations: I value studentsʼ wide-ranging perspectives and learning styles. I am
committed to making reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities that have
been documented with Disability Services (see www.willamette.edu/dept/disability).
Students with documented disabilities who may need accommodations, who have any
emergency medical information the instructor should know of, or who need special
arrangements in the event of evacuation, should make an appointment with the instructor
as early as possible, no later than the first week of the term.
Time commitment for this course: Willamette's Credit Hour Policy holds that for every
hour of class time there is an expectation of 2-3 hours work outside of class. Thus, for a
class meeting three days a week you should anticipate spending 6-9 hours outside of class
engaged in course-related activities. Examples include study time, reading and
homework assignments, research projects, and group work.
Policy on religious holidays: Willamette University recognizes the value of religious
practice and strives to accommodate students’ commitment to their religious traditions
whenever possible. When conflicts between holy days or other religious practice and
academic scheduling arise, every effort should be made to allow students to adhere to
their tradition, including, when possible, excusing class absences and allowing make-up
work. A student anticipating the need to miss a class for religious reasons should alert the
faculty member within the first two weeks of the semester, and the two of them should
determine the next course of action. Any unresolved difficulty should be referred to the
Office of the Chaplains.
Important Dates:
-
August 26 – First day of classes
September 1– Labor Day, no classes
September 9 – Last day to add/drop courses
October 7 – Last day to choose CR/NC grading
October 17 – Mid-semester day, no classes
October 31 – Last day to withdraw from courses
November 17-25 – Web registration
November 27-28 – Thanksgiving vacation
December 5 – Last day of classes
December 6-7 – Study Days
December 8-13 – Final exams
Lab Schedule
Lab 1 – Measurement of e/m (2 set-ups)
Lab 3 – Photoelectric effect (2 set-ups)
Lab 2 – Speed of light (1 set-up)
Lab 4 – Compton scattering (1 set-up)
Tuesday morning – 4 groups: A, B, C, & D
9 students (3 groups of 2, 1 group of 3)
Tuesday afternoon – 4 groups: E, F, G, & H
9 students (3 groups of 2, 1 group of 3)
Tuesday morning
Tuesday afternoon
Week 1 (Aug 26)
NO LAB
Week 2 (Sep 2)
Derivation of e/m equations for Lab 1
Week 3 (Sep 9)
Group A – Lab 1
Group B – Lab 1
Group C – write-up Lab 1
Group D – write-up Lab 1
Group E – Lab 1
Group F – Lab 1
Group G – write-up Lab 1
Group H – write-up Lab 1
Week 4 (Sep 16)
Group A – write-up Lab 1
Group B – write-up Lab 1
Group C – Lab 1
Group D – Lab 1
Group E – write-up Lab 1
Group F – write-up Lab 1
Group G – Lab 1
Group H – Lab 1
September 22
Turn in lab
September 23
Turn in lab notebook
Week 5 (Sep 23)
Group A – write-up Lab 2
Group B – write-up Lab 3
Group C – Lab 2
Group D – Lab 3
Group E – write-up Lab 2
Group F – write-up Lab 3
Group G – Lab 2
Group H – Lab 3
Week 6 (Sep 30)
Group A – Lab 2
Group B – Lab 3
Group C – write-up Lab 2
Group D – write-up Lab 3
Group E – Lab 2
Group F – Lab 3
Group G – write-up Lab 2
Group H – write-up Lab 3
October 6
Turn in lab
October 7
Turn in lab notebook
Week 7 (Oct 7) – EXAM
Week 8 (Sep 14)
Group A – Lab 3
Group B – Lab 2
Group C – write-up Lab 3
Group D – write-up Lab 2
Group E – Lab 3
Group F – Lab 2
Group G – write-up Lab 3
Group H – write-up Lab 2
Week 9 (Oct 21)
Group A – write-up Lab 3
Group B – write-up Lab 2
Group C – Lab 3
Group D – Lab 2
Group E – write-up Lab 3
Group F – write-up Lab 2
Group G – Lab 3
Group H – Lab 2
October 27
Turn in lab
October 28
Turn in lab notebook
Week 10 (Oct 28)
Group A –Lab 4
Group B – tba
Group C – tba
Group D – tba
Group E –Lab 4
Group F – tba
Group G – tba
Group H – tba
Week 11 (Nov 4)
Group A – tba
Group B – Lab 4
Group C – tba
Group D – tba
Group E – tba
Group F – Lab 4
Group G – tba
Group H – tba
Week 12 (Nov 11) – EXAM
Week 13 (Nov 18)
Group A – tba
Group B – tba
Group C – Lab 4
Group D – tba
Group E – tba
Group F – tba
Group G – Lab 4
Group H – tba
Week 14 (Nov 25)
Group A – tba
Group B – tba
Group C – tba
Group D – Lab 4
Group E – tba
Group F – tba
Group G – tba
Group H – Lab 4
Week 15 (Dec 2) – no lab
FINAL EXAM: Monday, Dec 8, 2014 from 8-11 am