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Fundamentals of Physics III ("Modern Physics")

PHY 2030 - An introduction to space-time physics and quantum physics with applications in astronomy, cosmology, solid-state physics, nuclear physics, and particle physics. Four credits. Prerequisite: PHY 2020. Offered Fall Semester.

Office Hours - T 3-5pm; W 1:30-2:30pm; Th 3-5pm; F 3-4pm (363 Couch Hall)

Useful Numbers to Memorize

  • Speed of light
  • Size of atom, nucleus (order of magnitude)
  • Diameter of Earth, Sun (order of magnitude)
  • Masses of protons, electrons, etc. (order of magnitude)
  • Common values that pop up in math (e.g., square root of 2 and 3, sine/cosine of 30,45,60 degrees)
  • Metric prefixes
  • Various unit conversions (both directions): km to miles, cm to inches, lbs in kg, etc.
  • Number of seconds in a year (~pi x 10^7)

SBG Assignment Rules

  • LFermi - I will assess you at random throughout the semester (in class). I will use the average assessment score for your course grade.
  • Lapp, LData, LNote - We will assess you on every lab and take your current running average of all assessment scores.
  • LRForm, LRClarify, LRData - You will have to submit three different lab reports throughout the semester. These reports will be the source of assessment for these standards. For each standard, we will take either (i) your most recent assessment score, if it is the highest for that standard, or (ii) the average of all your previous scores, if your most recent is not the highest. (Note this means your assessment scores can go down even after you mastered them).
  • All Other Standards - I will assess you approximately every 2-3 weeks (the 3 "exams" will be the major assessments). For each standard, I will take either (i) your most recent assessment score, if it is the highest for that standard, or (ii) the average of all your previous scores, if your most recent is not the highest. (Note this means your assessment scores can go down even after you mastered them).

Course Schedule & Assignments

DAY DATE CHAPTER / ASSIGNMENTS / ASSESSMENTS / LABS
121 Aug Topic: R1
Homework Questions: B.1,B.3 (hint: make the water the Other Frame),B.5,M.3
Assignments (due next class): (i) read R1 & R2, (ii) review syllabus, (iii) work above homework problems
223 Aug Topic: R2
Questions: B.2,B.4,B.5,B.8,B.10,M.3,M.5,R.1
Assignments (due next class): (i) read R3; (ii) work above R2 problems; (iii) memorize most of the suggested numbers above (speed of light, size of atom, etc.); (iv) review solutions to R1 problems
328 Aug Topic: R3
Questions:B.1,B.2,B.5,B.6,B.8,M.2,M.5,M.10 (minimum: work 3 B, 2 M)
Assignments (due next class): (i) read R4; (ii) work above R3 problems; (iii) memorize most of the suggested numbers above (speed of light, size of atom, etc.); (iv) review solutions to R2 problems;
430 Aug Topic: R4
Questions: B.2,B.4,B.7,M.1,M.2,M.4,D.1,R.2 (R4)
Assignments (due next class): (i) read R5; (ii) work R4.B2, R4.B4, R4.M4, and R3.B7; (iii) review solutions to R3.
54 Sep Topic: R5 (with R4 wrap-up)
Assignments (due next class): (i) review R5 Two-Minute Problems; (ii) look over and review solutions to R1-R4 problems, bring questions to 129 Couch at 9am on Thursday (optional; mandatory start time on Thursday is 9:45am as usual)
66 Sep Topic: R6 (with R5 wrap-up)
Questions: B.1,B.2,B.3,B.6,M.3,D.2 (R5)
Questions: B.1,B.2,B.3,B.4,B.6,B.8,M.4,D.1,R.2 (R6)
711 Sep Mini-Assessment (R1-R4)
Topic: R7
Questions: B.1,B.4,B.9,B.10,M.7 (R7)
Assignments: (i) review R7; (ii) work above R7 problems; (iii) review solutions to R6 problems; (iv) read R8 (may the force be with you)

Course Documents

Resources

Useful Software