PY 407: Introduction to Modern Physics Spring 2009

PY 407: Introduction to Modern Physics
Spring 2009
Instructors: Mary Bridget Kustusch Dr. Donald Ellison
mary bridget kustusch@ncsu.edu don ellison@ncsu.edu
Riddick 224A
Riddick 400L
513-7214 515-7227
Lecture: T/Th 1:30–2:45pm, Riddick 325
Office Hours:
Prerequisites:
Textbook:
Group office hours: M/W 1:00-3:00pm in the Hearth Nook (under the stairs).
Individual office hours: by appointment
MA 242 & PY 208 or equivalent
“Modern Physics for Scientists and Engineers” by Thorton and Rex, 3rd ed.
This course will cover approximately Chapters 1-8.
Text is required and students are expected to keep up with the reading.
Course Objectives:
PY407 is aimed at providing an overview of the important concepts, theories, and models that
are grounded in the major developments of 20th century physics and that are responsible for
most of the technological advances of the last century.
Students who successfully complete PY407 will:
• be familiar with the fundamental ideas of both special relativity and quantum mechanics,
as well as experimental justification of these theories;
• qualitatively understand the relationship of classical mechanics and electromagnetism to
relativity and quantum mechanics;
• be cognizant of the basic applications of the theories presented;
• have a semi-quantitative understanding of the nature of matter at the atomic level;
• be able to apply these ideas to a variety of standard end-of-chapter problems; and
• recognize how the developments of modern physics impact their life and/or course of study.
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Teaching Philosophy and Expectations:
The opportunity and process of learning is not easy, but is one of the best things that life has
to offer. Learning requires incorporating new information and experience into our current way of
viewing the world. Therefore, every individual is responsible for his or her own learning, since no
one can incorporate something into your experience other than you. As a teacher, it is my job
to help facilitate this process: to provide new information, to challenge old information, and to
help you incorporate it all into what you already know.
Everyone is capable of learning. However, since each of us has our own interests and abilities,
particular topics may require something different from each of you. For some, this may involve
extra time and effort, but for others, it may mean changing your approach to the learning process.
You should not expect to know everything we discuss (if you do, you shouldn’t be in this class);
nor should you necessarily expect to get it the first time it is covered. Thus, it is important for
you ask questions and to tell me if I am not being clear.
The best way to learn is through respectful collaboration, which involves entertaining another
person’s perspective while also articulating our own experiences and views. As a result, this
class will provide many opportunities for you to work and communicate with your classmates:
through in-class discussions, the group office hours and the final group project. To encourage
this mutual respect and to create an environment conducive to collaboration, it is expected that
you be present, on time, and prepared to participate in class. Any use of cell phones (including
texting) will not be tolerated in class and if you choose to use your laptop for taking notes, it is
requested that you sit in the back row to avoid distracting your classmates.
Grading (see below for description of each requirement):
40 % Midterm Exams (2)
25 % Final Exam
20 % Homework (via WebAssign)
12 % Group project
3 % Attendance/Participation
Midterms:
There will be two midterm exams given during class and are tentatively set for Feb. 17th and
March 31st. The tests will be a mix of multiple choice and free response questions and problems
and they will cover the material in both a qualitative and quantitative manner. You will be
allowed to bring your textbook and a calculator to the exam, but no other materials.
Final Exam:
The final exam is scheduled for Tuesday, April 28th from 1-4 pm and will be comprehensive.
Like the midterms, you will be allowed to bring your textbook and a calculator, but no other
materials.
Homework:
Homework assignments will be delivered and graded on WebAssign, a computer homework system.
Before each class, there will be a short assignment (1-2 questions) on the reading. Each week, there
will be one longer assignment that will be due at the end of the week (Friday at 10 pm). You will
need to purchase a WebAssign access code and it may be purchased online at www.webassign.net.
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Group Project:
This course covers a wide variety of topics, few of which we will explore in depth. As a result,
there will be a final project in which you will work in groups of three to explore one application
of the physics presented in this course in greater detail.
The format of this project will be a wiki page on the course wiki (http://wikis.lib.ncsu.edu/
index.php/PY_407) created by the group. There are guidelines for this project, as well as a list
of possible topics on the wiki page. You are not restricted to list, but any topic not on this list
must be approved by the instructor. Groups and topics must be chosen by the first midterm and
the final wiki will be due by the last day of class.
Attendance/Participation:
In lieu of clickers, you will write down your responses to in-class questions/problems prior to
class discussion. At the end of each class, turn in the paper on which you have answered these
questions, including your name and the date. Since all questions will be discussed in class, the
papers will not be graded, but will serve as evidence of your participation and attendance for
that day. If you would like your paper returned, write “Please Return” at the top of the page
and it will be returned the following class.
Academic Integrity Policies:
The University has a formal policy on Academic Integrity and it is expected that all work will
maintain this integrity. Thus, it will be assumed that your work is your own unless collaboration
is explicitly authorized (or required). Working with others on homework is acceptable and encouraged.
However, you will be responsible for learning the material, so make sure that you are
capable of re-working on your own any problems that you submit. Collaboration on the group
project is required and it is expected that the group will function in a productive manner with
all members contributing equally. Please let the instructor know if a member of your group is
not contributing, so that the situation can be addressed.
As state above, everyone is responsible for his or her learning. While collaboration is important in
technical work, evaluations of individuals also play an important role in engineering and science.
The midterm exams and the final exam are to be completed without help from others. Cheating
will be heavily penalized in accord with university regulations. See the NCSU Code of Student
Conduct, sections 7-12, for a reminder of the issues and regulations regarding academic integrity.
Students with Disabilities:
Reasonable accommodations will be made for students with documented disabilities. In order
to take advantage of available accommodations, students must register with Disability Services
for Students at 1900 Student Health Center, Campus Box 7509, 515-7653. Students who have a
disability must make an appointment to talk with the instructor during the first week of class,
to discuss what the instructor can do to help the student learn effectively.
For additional information, see http://www.ncsu.edu/dso and
http://www.ncsu.edu/provost/hat/current/appendix/appen_k.html.
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Tentative Schedule:
The sections listed are to be read prior to coming to class on that day.
01/08/09 Chapter 1
01/13/09 2.1-2.4
01/15/09 2.5-2.8, 2.14
01/20/09 Snow Day
01/22/09 2.11-2.13
01/27/09 3.1-3.4
01/29/09 3.5-3.6
02/03/09 3.7-4.1
02/05/09 4.2-4.4
02/10/09 4.5-4.7
02/12/09 Review
02/17/09 Midterm Exam 1
(Groups and topics for research project due)
02/19/09 5.1-5.3
02/24/09 5.4-5.5
02/26/09 5.6-5.8
03/03/09 Spring Break - No class
03/05/09 Spring Break - No class
03/10/09 6.1
03/12/09 6.2-6.3
03/17/09 6.4-6.5
03/19/09 6.6
03/24/09 6.7
03/26/09 Review
03/31/09 Midterm Exam 2
04/02/09 7.1-7.2
04/07/09 7.3
04/09/09 7.4-7.5
04/14/09 7.6-8.1
04/16/09 8.2
04/21/09 8.3
04/23/09 Review
(Final research project wiki page due)
04/28/09 Final Exam (1-4 pm)
February 11, 2009
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