Calendar / Reading assignments

 

Week 15 (Apr 18-Apr 22)
Two Readings available on D2L if needed:

  • Mermin, N. David. "Is the moon there when nobody looks? Reality and the quantum theory." Physics today 38.4 (1985): 38-47.
  • Wheeler, J., and Max Tegmark. "100 years of quantum mysteries." Scientific American 2.01 (2001).

HW 11 due on Apr 21, 5p. LAST ONE!!

 

Week 14 (Apr 11-Apr 15)
Knight Chapter 40 (40.9 bonding)
HW 10 due on Apr 14, 5p.

Week 13 (Apr 4-Apr 8)
Knight: Chapter 42 and Chap 41 (pieces)
Monday & Wed. We review nuclear structure (42.1), strong force & PE (42.3), alpha decay (42.6). Then radiation (42.5) Beta & Gamma (42.6), and weapons
Friday we will review atomic physics, discharge lamps, and laser applications (41.6- 41.8).
HW 9 due on Apr 7, 5p.

Week 12 (Mar 28-Apr 1)
Knight: Chapter 40
We review1-D models, such as infinite and finite potential well, and quantum tunneling, and Scanning Tunneling Microscopes
HW 8 due on Mar 31, 5p.

Week 11 (Mar 21-25)
- SPRING BREAK -
No HW due this week (but next HW is online already).

Week 10 (Mar 14-18)
Knight: Chapter 40.2-7, 40.10
We will discuss different 1D models, such as infinite and finite potential well and quantum tunneling.
No HW due this week.
Midterm 2 is on Thurs, Mar 17, 7:30-9:00 PM in G1B20.

Week 9 (Mar 7-11)
Knight: Chapter 41.3, 40.2-4
After finishing our discussion of spin measurements, we will continue with solving the Schrodinger equation for specific forms of the potential.
HW 7 is due on Thurs, Mar 10, at 5PM.

Week 8 (Feb 29 - Mar 4)
Knight: Chapter 39.5-39.6, 41.3
By introducing wave packets we will discover the Heisenberg's uncertainty principle for position and momentum. Then we move on to introduce the concept of electron spin via the Stern-Gerlach experiment.
HW 6 is due on Thurs, Mar 3, at 5PM.

Week 7 (Feb 22-26)
Knight: Chapter 39.1-39.6, 40.1
We will introduce the wavefunction as a concept to describe dynamics of matter, the Schrodinger equation and the interpretation of these concepts.
HW 5 is due on Thurs, Feb 25, at 5PM.

Week 6 (Feb 15-19)
Knight: Chapter 38.4, 39.1-39.3
We will look at the concept of matter waves, study the wave-particle duality in the double slit experiment on our way to the Schrodinger equation.
HW 4 is due on Thurs, Feb 18, at 5PM.

Week 5 (Feb 8-12)
Knight: Chapter 38.4-38.7
We will study the Bohr model of atoms and review for the midterm.
No HW this week
Midterm 1 is on Thurs, Feb 11, 7:30 - 9:00PM in G1B20.

Week 4 (Feb 1-5)
Knight: Chapter 37.1-37.2, 37.6-37.8, 38.5-38.7
We will see how the interpretation of light as energy quanta can help to understand observation of discrete spectra and use it as motivation to study the Bohr model of atoms.
HW 3 is due on Thurs, Feb 4, at 5PM.

Week 3 (Jan 25-29)
Knight: Chapter 38.1-38.4, 37.1-37.2
We will discuss the photoelectric effect, Einstein's interpretation and then see how this relates to discrete spectra observed in discharge tubes
HW 2 is due on Thurs, Jan 28, at 5PM.

Week 2 (Jan 18-22)
Knight: Chapter 21.5-21.7, 22.1-22.2, 38.1-38.3
After discussing the properties of light as EM wave (incl. interference phenomena) we will start exploring the photoelectric effect.
HW 1 is due on Thurs, Jan 21, at 5PM.

Week 1 (Jan 11-15)
Knight: Chapter 20.1-20.6, 21.1-21.3
We will review the concepts of waves in electromagnetism.
No HW due this week.