Undergraduate Course: Modern Physics (PHYS08045)
Course Outline
| School | School of Physics and Astronomy |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | This course is designed for pre-honours physics students continuing from PH1. It provides an introduction to special relativity and quantum physics. It serves both as a preparation for further study in physics-based degree programmes, and as a stand-alone course for students of other disciplines, including mathematics, chemistry, geosciences, computer science and engineering. The course consists of lectures to present new material, and workshops to develop understanding, familiarity and fluency. |
| Course description |
Modern Physics (20 lectures)
*Special Relativity (10 lectures)
- Definition of inertial reference frames and invariance of speed of light,(postulates of SR). Michelson Morley experiment. Role of the observer. (2)
- Time effects and the concept of time dilation and Lorentz contraction. Events. Synchronisation. Moving clocks. Synchronised clocks in one frame viewed from another moving frame. (2)
- Doppler (red shift) and its implications, Gamma, addition of velocities. Twins paradox. Rod and Shed paradox. (2)
- Geometric formulation of SR (Minkowski Diagrams), and their relation to time dilation, Lorentz contraction, order of events, relativistic Doppler, world lines, event horizon. (2)
- Momentum and relation to mass and energy as a relativistic property. (2)
*Introduction to Quantum Physics (10 lectures)
- Planck's Radiation formula (1)
- Photoelectric Effect, Einstein's photon theory (1)
- Rutherford scattering (1)
- Compton Effect (1)
- Bohr-Sommerfeld quantization condition; Bohr Atom (1)
- Discussion of atomic spectra (1)
- Correspondence Principle, De Broglie relations between waves and particles, Uncertainty Principle (1)
- First look at Schršodinger's equation. Meaning of wavefunction, probability interpretation, probability current. (1)
- First look at solving Schršodinger's equation for particle in a box (2)
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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2015/16, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Lecture Hours 22,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 20,
Summative Assessment Hours 2,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
54 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
80 %,
Coursework
20 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
20% Coursework
80% Examination |
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
|
| Main Exam Diet S1 (December) | | 2:00 | | | Resit Exam Diet (August) | | 2:00 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course it is intended that student will be able to:
- State the basic principles of special relativity and elementary quantum mechanics and the regimes in which the different theories apply
- Apply these principles in conjunction with elementary mathematical techniques to solve simple problems in relativistic and quantum mechanics
- Present a solution to a physics problem in a clear and logical written form
- Assess whether a solution to a given problem is physically reasonable
- Locate and use additional sources of information (to include discussion with peers where appropriate) to facilitate independent problem-solving
- Take responsibility for learning by attending lectures and workshops, and completing coursework
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | ModP |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Alex Murphy
Tel: (0131 6)50 5285
Email: |
Course secretary | Mrs Bonnie Macmillan
Tel: (0131 6)50 5905
Email: |
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