PHY 19: Modern Physics

Spring 2008


Class Schedule: M W 2-3:20pm Professor: Steve Liebling
Classroom: Pell Hall 202 Office:  Pell Hall 210
Text: Serway/Moses/Moyer's Modern Physics 3rd Edition
(Textbook site: http://info.brookscole.com/mp3e) (Textbook site: http://www.brookscole.com/cgi-wadsworth/course_products_wp.pl?fid=M20bI&flag=instructor&product_isbn_issn=9780534493394&disciplinenumber=13) Ch. 16 HW: 2, 3, 7, 10, 13
Equation Sheet (PDF)
SR Equation Sheet (PDF)
Office Hours: M W 1:00-2:00pm and by appt.
Web: http://relativity.liu.edu/steve Phone: 299-3439
Email:

Course Objective: Students will learn study various topics of modern physics including relativity, quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and cosmology.

Grading Policy:

Homework 25%
Test 1 25%  
Test 2 25%
Final Exam 25%
Extra Credit: There will be no extra credit or extra credit papers, Do the homework, and take the tests. As the semester progresses, there is less and less to be done to increase your grade.

Homework: Homework assignments will be presented in class and will generally consist of problems from the required text. Homework problems must be done in order to gain mastery of the material and skills necessary for the tests.

Tests: The class will have two tests as indicated on the syllabus. Each test will cover the material presented since the previous test (to be precise, much of what we will learn applies throughout all the chapters, however, the questions will be geared towards specifically covering material presented between the tests). The tests will be given during classtime.

Final: The final will be held during the time dictated by the Registrar during Exam Week.

Cheating: You are encouraged to work on homework problems with others. However, you must work alone on quizzes and tests. On quizzes and exams you may use only a calculator and writing utensils; I will give you an equation sheet.

Other Resources: Tutors, library books, office hours, supplemental texts, and consult the web page: How to Study Physics. I'd also recommend the books from my course for nonscientists, especially the quantum mechanics and relativity books.

Syllabus: Below is the anticipated schedule of what we'll cover. The dates of the tests are fixed; on principle I do not change them so that students can plan for them. Near the end of the semester, I generally have flexibility in what we cover. If you have a preference for what we might cover, please feel free to provide feedback.

Week 1 Jan. 23   Course Overview
Week 2 Jan. 28 Relativity I   Ch. 1  
Jan. 30   Ch. 1  
Week 3 Feb. 4 Relativity II  Ch. 2  
Feb. 6   Ch. 2  
Week 4 Feb. 11   TEST 1
Feb. 13 The Quantum Theory of Light   Ch. 3  
Week 5 Feb. 19 (Tuesday) The Particle Nature of Matter   Ch. 4  
Feb. 20   Ch. 4  
Week 6 Feb. 25 Matter Waves   Ch. 5  
Feb. 27   Ch. 5  
Week 7 Mar. 3 Quantum Mechanics in 1D   Ch. 6  
Mar. 5   Ch. 6  
Week 8 Mar. 10 Tunneling Phenomena   Ch. 7  
Mar. 12   TEST 2  
Week 9 Mar. 17 S P R I N G     B R E A K S P R I N G     B R E A K
Mar. 19 S P R I N G     B R E A K S P R I N G     B R E A K
Week 10 Mar. 24 Quantum Mechanics in 3D   Ch. 8  
Mar. 26 Atomic Structure   Ch. 9  
Week 11 Mar. 31 Statistical Physics   Ch. 10  
April 2   Ch. 10  
Week 12 April 7 Molecular Structure   Ch. 11  
April 9   Ch. 11   (Last day to withdrawal 4/11)
Week 13 April 14 Elementary Particles   Ch. 15  
April 16   Ch. 15  
Week 14 April 21 Cosmology   Ch. 16  
April 23   Ch. 16  
Week 15 April 28   Catchup & review  
Week 16 April 30--May 6 Final Exam Period   Final Exam Period  

Last updated January 16, 2008.
Steve Liebling (home)