SPH4U: Concepts of Modern Physics Presentations
Guidelines:
You will choose a topic in modern physics from the list below. Each topic is a basic concept or
idea in modern physics (related to quantum mechanics, general relativity, particle physics, or
theories of everything)
You will be allotted 10 minutes to present a summary of your topic, highlighting the significance
of the main concepts related to your topic, and you will then field questions from the class. You
may use the chalkboard or the projector (powerpoint, youtube, other animations) to aid in your
presentation, but this is not mandatory. You will then post your summary on the Modern Physics
class wiki: rosedalemodernphysics.wikispaces.com
You will be assessed based on the clarity and accuracy of your presentation, and on how well
you answer questions and stimulate discussion.
Presentations will be given at the beginning of Thursday and Friday classes.
Modern Physics Topic Sign-up and Presentation Schedule
Date
Name (am
class)
September 18
Name (pm
class)
Topic
JJ Thomson, Plum Pudding Model
Ernest Rutherford, Gold Leaf Experiment
24
Photoelectric effect – problems with classical
theory
Max Planck, Planck’s postulate and constant
October 2
Niels Bohr – atomic model with energy levels
8
16
Werner Heisenberg, Uncertainty Principle
22
Photography and CCDs (charge coupled
devices)
Louis De Broglie, matter waves
30
Erwin Schrodinger, Wave Equation
November 6
Wave functions and quantum numbers
12
Electron microscopes
20
Quantum tunneling
26
Scanning tunnelling microscopes
Date
Name (am
class)
January 8
14
Name (pm
class)
Topic
Radioactivity and radiocarbon dating
22
Wolfgang Pauli, Pauli Exclusion
Principle
Bosons and Fermions
28
Quarks
February 4
Transistors and microelectronics
18
Lasers – basic principles and applications
26
Richard Feynman, Quantum
Electrodynamics (QED)
Schrodinger’s Cat, Quantum mechanics
and the nature of reality
Quantum entanglement
March 4
24
April 8
Quantum computing
14
General Relativity – basic ideas
22
Arthur Eddington, Experimental
Evidence for General Relativity
Paul Dirac, matter and anti-matter
28
May 6
12
The Standard Model
The Steady State Theory
The Big Bang Theory
May 20
String Theory
Dark Energy
26
Higgs Boson – recent developments
Topics List:
1. JJ Thomson, Plum Pudding Model
2. Ernest Rutherford, Gold Leaf Experiment
3. Photoelectric effect – energy quantization
4. Max Planck, Planck’s postulate and constant
5. Niels Bohr – atomic model (energy levels)
6. Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle
7. Photography and CCDs (charge coupled devices)
8. De Broglie’s matter waves
9. Schrodinger’s wave equation
10. Wave functions, quantum numbers
11. Electron microscopes
12. Quantum tunneling
13. Scanning tunnelling microscopes
14. Radioactivity and radiocarbon dating
15. Pauli Exclusion Principle
16. Bosons and fermions
17. Quarks
18. Transistors and microelectronics
19. Lasers – basic principles and applications
20. Richard Feynman, Quantum Electrodynamics (QED)
21. Schrodinger’s Cat – quantum mechanics and the nature of reality
22. Quantum entanglement
23. Quantum computing
24. General Relativity – basic ideas
25. Experimental Evidence of General Relativity (Arthur Eddington)
26. Paul Dirac, matter and anti-matter
27. The Standard Model
28. The Steady State Theory
29. The Big Bang Theory
30. String Theory
31. Dark Energy
32. The Higgs Boson and the Higgs Field