Physics 249 introductory handout: Lecture 1, Sep 5th 2012
Reading: Chapter 3
Course:
Physics 249 Fall 2012: A Modern Introduction to Physics
MWF 9:55-10:45am
2223 Chamberlin Hall
Web site: 249 web site
http://www.physics.wisc.edu/undergrads/courses/fall2012/249/
Faculty:
Professor Matthew Herndon
Office Hours: Wednesdays 11-12
Office: 4279 Chamberlin Hall
Phone: (608) 262-8509 (office)
Email: herndon at hep.wisc.edu
Teaching Assistant:
Chien Seng
Office Hours: Wednesdays 2:25pm, Thursdays 4:35
Email: cseng at wisc.edu
Office: 5264 Chamberlin Hall
Text Book:
Modern Physics 6th Edition
Paul A. Tipler by Ralph Llewellyn
Link: Modern Physics
http://www.amazon.com/Modern-Physics-PaulTipler/dp/142925078X/ref=sr_1_11?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1345671086&sr=1-11
Web Site: Modern Physics 6e
http://bcs.whfreeman.com/tiplermodernphysics6e/
Lectures:
Covers concepts, derivation some example problems for complex topics.
Lecture notes handed out in class and available on the course web site after each lecture.
Homework:
Weekly homework except exam week. Homework due on Friday at the beginning
of lecture. Generally covers material from proceeding Wednesday, Friday, and Monday
lectures. First homework due Friday September 13th.
Discussion section and quizzes:
Discussion sections:
M 1:20-2:10pm, 2:25-3:15pm
2116 Chamberlin Hall
Exams:
Two in class midterm exams and a final exam will be given.
Midterm exams Friday Oct 12th and Friday Nov 16th
Final exam Friday Dec. 21st 10:05-12:05
Grading:
40% Homework
30% Midterm exams
30% Final Exam
Honors:
A 5 page (double spaced) term paper describing the work of a Nobel prize winner in
physics is required for Honors credit. The paper should summarize the award winning
work itself and present day research in the area including two recent papers from the
ArXiv as well as references to the original research papers that resulted in the prize. Due
Friday Dec. 7th. Please submit your paper by email in word or pdf format.
Syllabus topics.
1 Quantization of Charge Light and Energy
2 The Nuclear Atom
3 The Wavelike Properties of Particles
4 The Schrödinger Equation: 2 weeks
Midterm Exam 1
5 Atomic Physics: 2 weeks
6 Statistical Physics
7 Molecular Structure and Spectra?
Midterm exam 2
8 Nuclear Physics
9 Particle physics: 3 weeks