Modern Physics II

PHY 306 --- Fall 2004 Syllabus

Physics Department --- Mercer University

This course is the second in the two-semester sequence PHY 305/306 Modern Physics I/II, which introduces the student to the main developments of twentieth-century century physics. It is intended primarily for physics majors, but should be of interest also to many other students, especially those majoring in chemistry, computer science, engineering and mathematics. Prerequisite is PHY 305. This second semester will explore special relativity, as well as the physics of the very small and the very large: the atomic nucleus, elementary particles, astrophysics and cosmology. 

The primary goal of this course is for students to develop conceptual understanding of these topics rather than detailed knowledge, which they may gain in more advanced courses. The secondary goal is for students to learn some of the mathematics of relativity, and to combine this with their knowledge of quantum physics to describe elementary interactions and the shape and history of the universe. 

By mastering the material in the main text, students will learn to perform relativistic calculations. They will also be able to understand and explain the basic experimental results that led to replacement of classical ideas of space and time by relativity; the nature of the atomic nucleus and its constituents, including nuclear decays, reactions, fission and fusion, and some of their applications; the fundamental particles and their interactions, using the quark model; the conceptual and observational basis for general relativity, and its application to stellar evolution including black holes; and the big bang cosmology, including the evidence for expansion and dark matter.

Writing essays based on the supplementary texts will enhance the students' conceptual understanding and their ability to explain and discuss nuclear and particle physics, special relativity, general relativity and cosmology, as well as the more challenging and picturesque aspects of applications pf quantum theory to the universe as a whole, including recent speculations on causality and extra dimensions...

Lectures: During most class meetings there will be some conventional lectures. We will also discuss the material and go over problems in the text, including homework.

Homework: For each covered chapter of the main text the instructor will assign a set of homework problems (two sets for Chapter 2) to be worked by the students and handed in for grading. After the papers are collected, a solution sheet will be provided. Altogether, there will be seven homework sets; they will count for 35% of the total grade.

Take-home Tests: There will be two of these, containing primarily numerical problems and derivations, but also some conceptual questions. The take-home tests will count for 20% of the total grade (10% each).

Gamow and Hawking Essays: Certain days (9 in all) will be primarily devoted to discussion of the material from the secondary texts. On the previous class day, the students will hand in a short essay (~500 words) on the reading material. On the essay day, there will be a brief reading quiz on the material; then some of the essays will be read in class. The essays will in part form the basis for discussion of the material. The nine essay days together will count for 25% of the total grade: essays 18%, quizzes 4%, discussion 3%.

Final Exam: This will take place on Monday December 13 at 2-5pm. It will be mostly qualitative and open-book, will cover all the material from the main text, and will count for 20% of the total grade.

Grading: The percentage for each activity is shown in the left table below. To convert the total percent to a letter grade, use the scale shown in the right table below.

Miscellaneous policies:

If changes to this syllabus are necessary, they will be implemented after discussion and negotiation with the students. Note that the accompanying course schedule is not a part of the syllabus: it is tentative and subject to revision.

Late homework  sets, take-home tests, or essays will suffer a 5% penalty per day (excluding weekends and holidays) until they are handed in: i.e., 5% if one day late, 10% if two days late,...

There  will be no dropped grades. All work done in the course will be counted. There will be no extra-credit work.

The  College of Liberal Arts' academic misconduct policy will be followed. In addition, all students are bound by the Mercer University Honor Code.

Students are strongly encouraged to discuss with the instructors all their work during the course, regardless of their grades. Questions about point awards should be brought up as soon as possible, as all grades will be final one week after the materials are graded and returned to the students.

Students with a documented disability should inform the instructor at the close of the first class meeting. The instructor will refer you to the office of Student Support Services (SSS) for consultation regarding evaluation, documentation of your disability, and recommendations for accommodation, if needed. Students will receive from SSS the Faculty Accommodation Form. On this form SSS will identify reasonable accommodations for this class. The form must be given to the course instructor for signature and then returned to SSS. To take full advantage of disability services, it is recommended that students immediately contact the Office of Student Support Services. The office is located on the third floor of the Connell Student Center.

All requests for reasonable accommodation are welcome also in regard to absence from class for school representation (i.e., athletic or other events) or personal/family problems. Let's talk about it...