This is the fourth semester of a three-semester, calculus-based physics sequence. The required prerequisites are Physics I, II and III. We will cover quantum mechanics and special relativity, and their applications to particle physics, nuclear physics, atomic physics, solid-state physics, and astrophysics. Prerequisites: PS 250 or 219, MA 345.
Required
Text: Twentieth Century Physics,
by Reynolds
Recommended Texts: University
Physics,
11th edition, by Young and Freedman.
Modern Physics,
2nd edition,
by Krane.
Modern Physics, 3rd edition,
by Thornton and Rex.
Recommended Hypertext: Hyperphysics
See the syllabus
for more detailed information.
What is physics?
What is required to succeed in physics?
What should you be able to do after this
course?
How to study - by students,
by Carl Wieman, Nobelist
How to read textbooks - Lang,
Sivjee
How to solve problems - Hubsch, Reynolds - see Sample
Solution below
How to take tests
How
to get a good grade - Wiesenfeld
A modern Rutherford-type
experiment
The CERN Courier
Special
Relativity from CERN
Satellite finder -- Heavens
Above
Niels Bohr: The
Atomic Theory and the Fundamental Principles Underlying the Description
of Nature
The information
philosopher
The history
behind Rutherford's experiment and the atom
Rutherford's original
paper on the scattering of alpha-particles
electric
dipoles
magnetic
dipole moments
Compton's original
paper on the Compton effect
irreverent view of physics
Bismuth
decay
Gell-Mann
interview
Discovery
of Sigma (bottom) baryons
Discovery of
Elements 116 and 118
Discovery
of the Upsilon
(b-bbar meson)
The nuclear valley of
stability
plot from Meyerhoff
Greek alphabet
-
MEMORIZE!
nuclide
chart
history
of particle physics - with collection of original
articles
nuclear
spin
Moseley's
original plot
selected topics in the history
of physics
Quantum
mechanical "reality"
Symmetry
and Degeneracy
History
of Atomic Physics - with original
articles
Fission by Meitner
and Frisch
Heisenberg's
Indeterminacy Principle
Phase
and group velocity
Reasonable
doubt
Burden
of proof
The
case FOR Millikan
Philosophy of science - review of
Popper
Nobel
prizes - Millikan's
lecture
The electromagnetic spectrum
The ultraviolet dayglow spectrum
Cosmic
Rays
Frisch and Smith 1963 paper
Arthur C. Clarke's Three
Laws
Other Modern Physics Web sites
Univ
Virginia
Univ
Cincinnati - (for
engineers)
List
of course web sites
Epistemology
and Modern Physics
Colorado
School of Mines
Listening to lectures is not enough. All processes of learning are somehow connected to active participation, and the learning of physics is no exception. Therefore, it is imperative that you work diligently at your own desk. However, this does not mean that you should only work alone. I encourage you to form study groups and collaborate with your classmates.
"Modern Physics" textbooks in the
ERAU library:
Modern
physics for scientists and engineers / Stephen T. Thornton,
Andrew Rex. - QC21.3 .T467 2006
Modern
physics & technology for undergraduates / Lorcan M. Folan
& Vladimir I. Tsifrinovich, Gennady P. Berman. - QC23.2 .F65 2003
The
six core theories of modern physics / Charles F. Stevens. -
QC21.2 .S688 1995
Concepts
of modern physics / Arthur Beiser. 4th ed. - QC21.2 .B448 1987
Schaum’s
outline of theory and problems of modern physics / Ronald
Gautreau, William Savin. - QC32 .G34 1999
"Modern Physics" textbooks in my
office:
Modern
physics, by Bernstein, Fishbane, and Gasiorowicz - office
Modern
physics, by Tipler and Llewellen - office
These textbooks are more advanced
and provide material for
further study:
Quantum
Physics, by Robert Eisberg and Robert Resnick - office
Elements
of Nuclear Physics, by Walter Meyerhof - office
The
following three books by Abraham Pais
give a detailed (i.e., advanced) history of modern physics:
Subtle
is the Lord, by Abraham Pais - QC16.E5 P35 2005 An excellent technical biography of
Albert Einstein.
Inward
Bound, by Abraham Pais - office
Niels
Bohr's Times, by Abraham Pais - QC773 .P35 1991 - biography
Books with an historical and
philosophical perspective:
Pauli's Exclusion Principle,
by Michela Massimi - QC 174.17 .P3 M37 2005
The following books are at a
senior or first-year graduate level:
Modern
Elementary Particle Physics, by Gordon Kane - QC 793.2
.K36 1987
The
Ideas of Particle Physics, by Coughlan - QC 793.2 .D6 1991
Elementary
Particle Physics, by Kallen - QC 721 .K18
Elementary
Particles, by Hughes - QC 793.2 .H83 1985
Particle
Physics, by Martin and Shaw - QC 793.2 .M38 1992
Quantum
Mechanics, by Ernest Abers - QC 174.12 .A24 2004
The
Conceptual Development of Quantum Mechanics, by Max
Jammer - QC 174.1 .J26 1989 - for those interested in the philosophical
problems of QM.
Elementary Quantum
Mechanics, by Peter Fong - QC 174.1 .F63
Elementary Quantum
Mechanics, by Neville Mott - QC 174.1 .M64
Encounters with Einstein, by
Werner Heisenberg - Q 175 .H393113 1989 - A coneptual discussion of
particle physics and quantum mechanics.
These books have varying
degrees of technical information and
commentary:
Lise
Meitner and the Dawn of the Nuclear Age, by Patricia Rife
- QC 774 .M4 R54 1999 -
biography
Lise
Meitner: A Life in Physics, by Ruth Lewin Sime - QC 774
.M4 S56 1996 - biography. An excellent book written by a
chemist.
The technical aspects can be
easily understood by a
physics major, and her story is incredibly compelling.
The
Classical Atom, by Friedman and Sartori - QC 174.1 O7 - Discussions
of atomism from the 19th century and early 20th century.
Landmark
Experiments in Twentieth Century Physics, by George Trigg - Good Dover paperback that
explains in detail modern physics experiments.
The
World of the Atom, ed. Henry A Boorse and Lloyd Motz - QC 173.B56 (2 vols)
Excellent reprints
from Lucretius to Einstein concerning the existence of atoms and
subatomic particles.
From
X-Rays to Quarks, by Emilio
Segre - QC 7.S44 1980
Enrico
Fermi, by Emilio
Segre - QC 16 .F46 S4
Quantum
Profiles, Bernstein. QC 174.12 .B464 1991
Perspectives
in Modern Physics, Essays in honor of Hans Bethe's 60th
birthday, edited by R.E. Marshak - QC
774.B4 M3.
Mostly advanced articles,
but some nice reminscences and anecdotes.
An
Interpretive Introduction to Quantum Field Theory from
X-Rays to Quarks, Paul Teller - QC 174.45 .T45 1995
Call numbers are for the Jack R. Hunt
Library .
"office" indicates that it is available for loan in my office.
Problems are the cutting
edge that distinguishes between success and failure. Problems call
forth our courage and our wisdom; indeed, they create our courage and
our wisdom. It is only because of our problems that we grow mentally
and spiritually. When we desire to encourage the growth of the human
spirit, we challenge and encourage the human capacity to solve
problems, just as in school we deliberately set problems for our
children to solve. It is through the pain of confronting problems that
we learn.
- Morgan Scott Peck