PHYSICS70

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Foundations of Modern Physics

Physics H&S - Humanities & Sciences

Course Description

Required for Physics or Engineering Physics majors who completed the PHYSICS 40 series. Introduction to special relativity: reference frames, Michelson-Morley experiment. Postulates of relativity, simultaneity, time dilation. Length contraction, the Lorentz transformation, causality. Doppler effect. Relativistic mechanics and mass, energy, momentum relations. Introduction to quantum physics: atoms, electrons, nuclei. Quantization of light, Planck constant. Photoelectric effect, Compton and Bragg scattering. Bohr model, atomic spectra. Matter waves, wave packets, interference. Fourier analysis and transforms, Heisenberg uncertainty relationships. Schrödinger equation, eigenfunctions and eigenvalues. Particle-in-a-box, simple harmonic oscillator, barrier penetration, tunneling, WKB and approximate solutions. Time-dependent and multi-dimensional solution concepts. Coulomb potential and hydrogen atom structure. Prerequisites: PHYSICS 41, PHYSICS 43. Pre or corequisite: PHYSICS 45. Recommended: prior or concurrent registration in MATH 53.

Grading Basis

ROP - Letter or Credit/No Credit

Min

4

Max

4

Course Repeatable for Degree Credit?

No

Course Component

Discussion

Enrollment Optional?

Yes

Course Component

Lecture

Enrollment Optional?

No

This course has been approved for the following WAYS

Scientific Method and Analysis (SMA)

Does this course satisfy the University Language Requirement?

No

Courses

PHYSICS70 is a completion requirement for:

Programs

PHYSICS70 is a completion requirement for: