Introduction to Modern Physics
Textbook: K. Krane, "Modern Physics", 3rd ed.

Physics 307 Spring 2013
"The 20th Century Physics Revolution"

Contact Information   |  Goals and Prerequisites   |  Requirements and Grading

Contact Information

• Lecturer: Prof. Fred Myhrer; office PSC 707
• Office hours:
  • Come to my office any time except Tuesdays, or make an appointment by:
  • Calling 777-2087 or 777-8104 or
  • via email: myhrer@sc.edu
• Lectures in CLS 510 :
  • MWF 11:15 AM to 12:05 PM
• Lecture in PSC 205 :
  • M 12:20 PM to 1:10 PM

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Goals

At the end of the course, PHYS 307, the students will be able to:
• express quantities in appropriate microscopic units, eV, MeV, nm, fm, etc,
• handle relativistic kinematics of time dilations, length contractions, simultaneity, velocity addition,
• handle relativistic dynamics using conservation of energy and momentum,
• estimate energy and momentum based on the uncertainty principle,
• find the wavelength of a particle accelerated through a voltage,
• derive atomic properties using the Bohr model,
• find the energy levels and degeneracies of a particle in a 1- or 2-dimensional box,
• display and label the energy levels of the hydrogen atom using spectroscopic notation, and be able to list the possible values of all quantum numbers associated with a given level,
• find the effect of a weak or strong magnetic field on the states of a hydrogen atom,
• find the binding energy of a nucleus from atomic mass tables,
• determine whether a nuclear reaction or decay is energetically possible, and find its threshold energy or the energy released.

Prerequisites

PHYS 211 and 212 or equivalent with a grade of C or better, or the written permission of the instructor.

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Requirements and Grading

• REQUIREMENTS:
  • 4 or 5 Quizzes during the semester
  • Homework assignments
  • Three tests:
    • First: February 11
    • Second: March 8
    • Third: April 12
  • Final Exam (Comprehensive), Saturday, May 4, 9:00 AM
• GRADING:
  • Your overall score will be calculated as follows:
    • Homework: 8%
    • Quizzes: 17%
    • Each Test: 15%
    • Final Exam: 30%
  • You may use a non-programmable calculator on exams and quizzes. You may obtain help in solving homework problems.
  • Tests and the final exam will be based on the material discussed in class, homeword assignments, quizzes, and any assigned problems and/or readings.
• GRADING SCALE:
  • A:88-100   B:76-87   C:63-75   D:50-62.

Academic Responsibility

All work submitted by the student must be his/her own and must comply with the rules stated on this sheet. Please refer to Carolina Community for further information concerning the Code of Student Academic Responsibility.

Please, turn cell-phones off during class.

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