Physics 290

 

Quantum Physics / Fall 2008
MWF 10am and TW 1-4
Professor Ann Silversmith Office
G070, x4704
Research Lab G072 x4739

Course Instructions

Textbooks:

Several texts will be used in conjunction with the lectures for this course. If you took 195 last spring you already own three of them.

• Your intro text – Halliday and Resnick or the equivalent. This book will be an invaluable resource. You will use it to look up material from last year that you have forgotten. In addition, chapters 38-40 cover some of the material that we will learn about this semester. It is often useful to have a second reference that is written at an easier level, and you may find yourself referring to H&R quite often. (If you don't have an intro text, see me right away. I have plenty of them gathering dust and I’ll give you one.)
• A book of integral tables and other mathematical goodies. I recommend the Mathematical Handbook by Murray Spiegal in Schaum’s outline series. It’s cheap and has everything you’ll need + lots more.
• Introduction to Error Analysis: The study of Uncertainties in Physical Measurements by John Taylor.

In addition, you are asked to purchase the following new book at the college store:

• Quantum Physics of Atoms, Molecules, Solids, Nuclei and Particles by Eisberg and Resnick. This book covers quantum phenomena and will be used extensively. It is an excellent textbook; explanations are detailed and offer deep insights. It is not an easy read, but if you invest the time you will find it to be invaluable. A lot of your time outside class will be spent reading this book! There is a lot more in E&R than we will cover this semester but you will find it to be a great reference when you take upper-level physics classes.

Course Description

The physics you studied in 190 and 195 was well understood during the 19th century. In this course we will start to learn about physics that was developed during the early part of the 20th century. The course is still called "Modern Physics" at many colleges, but in fact we'll be learning about the development of quantum mechanics that took place before 1940. Because 1940 doesn’t seem all that “Modern” anymore, we decided to change the name of the course.

Our goal is to learn about the basic ideas of quantum physics and their applications to simple systems as well as to provide an introduction to some of the more advanced areas of modern (i.e.. post-quantum) physics. We will study the phenomenology of quantum mechanics and develop basic mathematical tools for predicting and understanding the behavior of simple quantum systems and will apply those ideas to some basic systems, particularly to atoms. You will learn to solve simple quantum systems and to interpret the solutions in physical terms.

I am not sure how the pace of the course will go. We will hope to cover the first 8 chapters of E&R and have time to touch on the physics presented in chapter 9. Chapters 5, 6, and 7 form the core of the material.

Mathematics

This course will make free use of basic mathematics through calculus and will move into solution of simple differential equations and partial differential equations. You will use the spreadsheet program Excel extensively to do numerical calculations and to do data analysis for lab work.

Grades

The grade for the course will be based on homework, labs, and exams as follows:

• Homework and class participation will count for 1/3 of the grade. I will start classes by asking students questions about the previous lecture and about assigned reading. You will be evaluated on how well you keep up with the material. There will be a homework set due every Wednesday at the beginning of class time. It will be graded and returned the next week.
• Lab will count for another 1/3 of the grade. You will keep a complete lab notebook, and will give short oral presentations during some labs. (More on how the lab will work tomorrow afternoon.) Note - there are guaranteed to be questions on the exams that are based your lab work.
• The final 1/3 of the grade will be calculated from your exam scores. There will be 2 midterms and a final; all three exams will contribute equally to your final grade. The exams will be closed-book exams. The midterms will take place during lab period and will probably be during weeks 5 and 10. The final will be cumulative.

Homework Problem Sets

You will receive weekly reading and homework assignments. Problem sets will be due at the beginning of class on Wednesdays. In order to discourage undesirable behavior I will charge for late homework at the rate of 20% of the homework grade per day for 2 days and will not accept HW after Friday’s class. Please get your problem sets in on time! Solutions will be posted on either Wednesday or Friday.

Lab

Lab begins this week with a group exercise measurement of the speed of light in air. During subsequent weeks, all experimental work and analysis will be done with a lab partner. Lab partners will rotate from week to week. Always plan to spend 3 hours in lab. As indicated on the schedule, we will use two of our lab periods for midterm exams.

Remarks

I have not provided a pre-planned (day by day) syllabus for this course. I would like to cover through chapter 8 in E&R. Chapters 4-7 will form the core of the material.

Besides doing problem sets, you have the important jobs of keeping on top of the reading and participating fully during classes by asking and answering questions. The success of the course depends on all of us!