| PHY 251 | Modern Physics | Spring 1999 |
PHY251 is an introduction to the physics of the 20th century. Einstein's special theory of relativity revolutionized our view of space and time. Quantum theory gives us an amazingly powerful tool for analysis of the microscopic world of atoms, molecules, solids, and nuclei. Both these theories alter the classical notions of Newtonian physics in surprising and counter-intuitive ways. Experimental evidence will be reviewed which illustrates the conflicts with classical conceptions. We will discuss the crucial parts of Einstein's theory of relativity. Then Schrödinger's non-relativistic wave equation will be used to describe the behavior of electrons and other sub-atomic particles. This powerful equation - replacing Newton's F = ma in the sub-atomic world - is applied to various systems including the Hydrogen atom. The statistics of Fermions and Bosons will be discussed, and the profound consequences for the structure of atoms, molecules, and solids. Finally, topics from Nuclear Physics, Particle Physics, and Cosmology will be discussed at the introductory level. The course requires familiarity with calculus, and a general knowledge of classical (introductory) physics.
| Prerequisites: | PHY 132 or 142, or PHY 126+127; MAT 203, or MAT 205, or AMS 261 | ||||
| Lectures: | Physics P-112 | MWF 8:20- 9:15pm | |||
| Recitation: | Section 1 Section 2 |
Physics P-124 Physics P-112 |
Last name: A-L Last name: M-Z |
Mon 2:15-3:10pm Mon 2:15-3:10pm |
Allen Forman |
| Textbook: | Kenneth Krane, Modern Physics, Chapters 1-16 | ||||
Note: First meeting of the sections for recitation and laboratory is in the first full week of classes, i.e. section 1 meets on Monday Jan. 25 at 2:15pm.
Course Director |
Philip B. Allen | B-146 Grad Phys |
Office hrs: Tue 11:30-12:30, Wed 11:00-12:00 |
Recitation Instructor: |
Prof. Miriam Forman |
A-106 Grad Phys |
Office hrs: Tues, Wed 2-3pm |
Lab TA: |
Bertram Klein |
C-117 Grad Phys |
Office hrs: Wednesday and Thursday 2-3.30pm |
Communication of homework assignments, solutions, schedules, notes, and other informations will be done via this web site, so make sure you have at least weekly access to a computer on the sunysb.edu network. This page can be reached via the instructor's homepage, via the Physics department home page (http://www.physics.sunysb.edu), and via the course information on the Instructional Computing pages.
You should own the book, a scientific calculator with trig, log, and exponential functions, and bring it to class and recitation.
Homework will be assigned approximately once per week. This will be graded and returned promptly in class. Solutions (after the homework has been returned) will be posted in the library (and possibly also on the web.) Although cooperative learning is encouraged, you are required to solve the problems on your own and to consult others only after giving it a serious try yourself. The final calculations and solutions have to be done by you alone. Count on 4-6 hours of homework per week. Copied or late homework will not be accepted and will count as zero. If the homework is submitted before the graded homeworks are returned, it will be regarded as delayed rather than late, and will be graded, with a penalty for the delay.
Set |
due date |
problem set (Ch-prob1,prob2,..) |
Link to |
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
25-Jan-99 |
1-1,3,4 | |
2 |
1-Feb-99 |
2-2,3,5,6,8,10,27 | |
3 |
8-Feb-99 |
3-1,2,5,6,7,9,20 | |
4 |
15-Feb-99 |
4-1,2,3,11,15,17,26 | |
5 |
24-Feb-99 |
Complete text | Note on probability distributions |
6 |
8-Mar-99 |
Complete text | Things to Memorize |
7 |
17-Mar-99 |
Complete text |
|
8 |
5-Apr-99 |
Complete text |
|
9 |
12-Apr-99 |
Complete text |
|
10 |
19-Apr-99 |
Complete text | Solid State Physics; Quantum Electrons in Metals |
11 |
26-Apr-99 |
Complete text | Nuclear Physics |
12 |
3-May-99 |
Complete text | Things to Memorize |
Recitation attendance is mandatory. There will either be a quiz based on the homework at the end of the session, or else the whole session will be in "cooperative learning" mode with homework-like problems worked together in small groups and submitted for grading. The two lowest quiz grades - absences counting as zero - will be discarded.
There will be two mid-term one-hour examinations during the semester, given during the lecture time, and a final 3-hour exam during finals week.
| Exam | Date | Material | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midterm I | Monday March 1 | Chapters 1-5 | |
| Midterm II | Wednesday March 24 | Chapters 6-10 | |
| Final | Friday May 7, 8:30-11:30am |
Your final grade will be determined as follows:
| Hour Examinations | 15 and 20% | Homework | 10% |
| Final Examination | 40% | Recitation | 10% |
| Attendance | 5% |
Any excuses (medical or otherwise) are to be documented, and discussed with the instructors in a timely manner. If you have a physical, psychiatric, medical, or learning disability that may impact on your ability to carry out assigned course work, I urge that you contact the staff in the Disabled Student Services office (DSS), Room 133 Humanities, 632-6748. DSS will review your concerns and determine, with you, what accommodations are necessary and appropriate. All information and documentation of disability is confidential.