PH 301

MODERN PHYSICS

FALL 2008

TEXT: Thornton and Rex, Modern Physics for Scientists and Engineers.

• Relativity and quantum mechanics will be covered, as well as selected topics in 20th-century physics.

INSTRUCTOR: Dr.Cecilia Vogel

Office : 207 Science, 794-3404	Web: helios.augustana.edu/~cv/301
e-mail: ceciliavogel@augustana.edu	AIM: phvogel87

Office hours:   WF 9-9:30, 2:30-3, Tue 10:30-11, or by appointment, in 207 Science.    I have intro lab Mondays from 2:30-4:30. If you have homework questions, you can come to lab and ask me between lab questions.

GRADING:

Your choice:

3 exams @ 20% OR 25% each	60%	75%
Homework and discussion	25%	25%
Project	15%	0%
Total	100%	100%

POLICIES:

Homework to be graded should be turned in to me in person, or to my mailbox, by 4:30 pm on the due date. You may hand in homework up until the beginning of the next class period for 80% credit. Homework will not be accepted after graded homework has been returned.

Show all work and justify all answers on homework and exams. Be prepared to discuss assignments in class.

Attendance is required on all days on which exams or discussions are scheduled. If you have a conflict with a school-related event, you may take an exam early. You must make arrangements with me before the scheduled date. Attendance is highly recommended on all class days, as the book will be supplemented by lectures and handouts.

Final exam is worth the same amount toward your grade in the course as the midterm exams. 3/4 of the points on the final will be questions on topics covered after the second exam. 1/4 will be questions on the topics covered by exams 1 & 2.

Prerequisites: PH201-203 and calculus.

Important events in the course calendar (subject to change - check web for updates and details):

Exam #1 covering relativity, September 12

Exam #2 covering quantum mechanics & atoms, October 1

Otional Project ideas due Oct 6,   Optional Project due Monday of finals week, 3:30 pm.

Final exam  Wednesday, 12-2 pm

Points to Ponder (extra credit for useful and speedy feedback on these points):

• We will cover chapters 2-6, 12, 14 (relativity, quantum, nuclear, particles), but perhaps not completely. Are there any topics in these chapters that you feel should not be skipped?
• There are other topics of the 20th (and 21st) century that we could cover in class, or that you could choose for your project. Consider the other chapters in the text, the list below, and any modern physics topics you've heard in the news, books, etc. Are there any topics (besides relativity, quantum, nuclear, particles) which you're interested in covering in class? Some examples:
• spacetime
• Quantum paradoxes (such as Schrödinger's Cat, measurement paradox, EPR paradox)
• superfluidity
• superconductivity
• chaos
• black holes
• big bang
  
• Consider joining Augustana Physics and Engineering Club. Recent years' events included movies, astronomical viewing, fireworks, trebuchet, outreach to grade schools, and food.   Tell us what you want to do this year!  (Contact me or Jake Wietting if you aren't already on the e-mail list.)