Undergraduate Course: Classical and Modern Physics (PHYS08044)
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 | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course is designed for pre-honours direct entry physics students. It provides an introduction to classical dynamics, waves, 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 |
Classical Physics (20 lectures)
*Revision of elementary statics & dynamics
- Statics forces, resolution of forces into components. Force diagrams.
- Laws of motion in two and three dimensions: Newton's Laws in vector form. Conservation of linear momentum.
- Concept of reference frames, relative motion, laws of motion in this notation.
- Force/Work relation, conservation of energy (kinetic and potential), dynamic and static friction.
*Further dynamics
- Centre-of-mass of points and solid bodies
- Linear momentum of system of particles, centre-of-mass frame, elastic collision in centre-of-mass frame.
- Full dynamics in one-dimension: use of differential equations, Rocket equations, friction, air resistance etc).
- Rotational motion, torque, angular acceleration and angular momentum of set of particles.
- Moment-of-inertia of sets of particles and rigid bodies, central axis theorem, angular equations of motion, energy relations.
*Waves & vibrations
- Introduction to waves, waves propagating in 1 dimension, the wave equation
- Superposition principle, interference, normal modes, the Fourier principle
- Classical wave theory of light, Huygens principle, diffraction, link to quantum mechanics, Young's slits
- Electromagnetic theory of light, refractive indices, refraction, total internal refraction
- Mechanical waves, Doppler effects, Mechanical vibrations, simple harmonic motion, damping
Modern Physics (20 lectures)
* Special Relativity
- Definition of inertial reference frames and invariance of speed of light (postulates of SR). Michelson Morley experiment. Role of the observer.
- Time dilation and Lorentz contraction. Events. Synchronisation. Moving clocks. Synchronised clocks in one frame viewed from another moving frame.
- Doppler (red shift) and its implications, the Lorentz factor, addition of velocities. Twins paradox. Rod and Shed paradox.
- Geometric formulation of SR (Minkowski Diagrams), and their relation to time dilation, Lorentz contraction, order of events, relativistic Doppler, world lines
- Momentum and relation to mass and energy as a relativistic property.
*Introduction to Quantum Physics
- Planck's radiation formula, Photoelectric effect, Einstein's photon theory
- Compton effect, De Broglie hypothesis, Correspondence Principle
- Bohr atom, atomic spectra
- Wavefunction, probability interpretation, Uncertainty Principle
- Time dependent Schršodinger equation, quantum mechanical operators
- Probability density function, outcomes of measurements
- Time independent Schršodinger equation, stationary states, eigenfunctions and eigenvalues, commutators
- Solutions of time independent Schršodinger equation for unbound states, reflection and transmission coefficients, quantum mechanical tunnelling
- Solutions of time independent Schršodinger equation for bound states, quantisation, zero point energy
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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2017/18, 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:
200
(
Lecture Hours 44,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 40,
Summative Assessment Hours 3,
Revision Session Hours 4,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
105 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
80 %,
Coursework
20 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
20% Coursework
80% Exams |
| Feedback |
Feedback to students is provided in multiple ways, including written comments on returned weekly hand-ins, one-to-one feedback in workshops, in-lecture personal response systems and post-exam discussion sessions |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
|
| Main Exam Diet S1 (December) | | 3:00 | | | Resit Exam Diet (August) | | 3:00 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- State the basic principles of classical dynamics, 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 classical, 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.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
Lectures plus workshops |
| Keywords | CMP |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Prof Alex Murphy
Tel: (0131 6)50 5285
Email: |
Course secretary | Mr Peter Hodkinson
Tel: (0131 6)50 5254
Email: |
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