Catalog
Description
|
Intermediate treatment,
includes: theory of relativity, wave-particle duality, atomic theory, quantum
theory of the hydrogen atom, properties of matter, decay and nuclear reactions
and elementary particles.
(4 credits) |
Course
Objectives
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To provide physics and engineering students with a strong background
in modern physics. |
|
Topics
|
Chapters 1 - 6, 11 - 13: relativity, particle properties of
waves, wave properties of particles, atomic structure, quantum mechanics,
quantum theory of the hydrogen atom, nuclear structure, nuclear transformations,
elementary particles. |
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Prerequisite
|
PHY 120 - Physics
II. |
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Instructor
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John J. Lynch, Ph.D.
Office: 110 Donahue
Hall
Office Phone:
(304) 243-2287
Home Phone: (304)
292-6987
Cell Phone: (304)
376-6987
E-mail Address: 
Office Hours:
<see schedule>
|
Required
Items
|
Concepts of
Modern Physics, Arthur Beiser, 6th ed. A
mathematical handbook, a
scientific pocket calculator, a protractor, and a ruler. |
|
Reserve
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Homework solutions
for problems that have just been graded will be available online. |
|
Lectures
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Monday, Wednesday,
and Friday from 11:00 to 11:50 and Tuesday from 12:10 to 1:00 in 104 Donahue
Hall. |
Weekly
Homework
Assignments
|
Homework assignments
will be e-mailed to students one week before they are due. Homework will
be collected at the beginning of Wednesday's class. Students are encouraged
to visit, phone, or e-mail the instructor with any questions regarding the
homework assignments. Students are also encouraged to discuss the homework
assignments with other students. The two lowest homework scores will be discarded. |
|
Exams
|
Four 50-minute
exams and a final exam will be administered. The 50-minute exams will be
held on Mondays on the following days:
September
20th
October
18th
November
15th
December
6th
The final exam
will be purely comprehensive and held according to the finals week schedule.
All exams are closed-book. Students may use both sides of a 3"x5"
index card on which they have jotted down formulas, laws, definitions, constants,
etc., and they may use a scientific pocket calculator. All four index cards
are allowed on the final exam. Students may not share index cards or calculators.
|
|
Attendance
|
Students are
expected to attend all lectures. Good class attendance is highly
correlated with good grades. It is the responsibility of a student to inform
the professor of the cause of any absence in advance. If the cause
of the absence occurs suddenly, a student must inform the professor as
soon as possible. Freshmen and upperclassmen on academic probation are
permitted no more than two absences for each credit hour. |
|
Workload
|
Students are expected
to spend an average of two hours in study and preparation for every hour
of class. |
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Grading
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The following
weights will be used in determining students' numerical scores:
40%
Homework
42%
Four 50-minute Exams
18%
Final Comprehensive Exam
The two lowest of
the four 50-minute exams scores will carry a weight of 7% each while the other
two will carry a weight of 14% each.
After the second exam, an addendum to this syllabus will be made available
showing students how to convert numerical grades into letter grades.
|
Academic
Integrity
|
Plagiarism or
cheating makes a student liable for an F for the course. Students should
refer to the Student Handbook for a complete description on academic integrity. |
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ADA
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If a student has a disability and anticipates needing any type
of accommodation in order to participate in this class, please advise the
instructor. |