20806235Modern Physics
Course Information
Description
Modern Physics introduces students of science or engineering to special relativity, quantum physics, the Schrodinger equation, atomic structure, statistical physics, band theory of solids, semiconductors, nuclear physics, and special topics.
Total Credits
3
Course Competencies
  1. Summarize the limitations and failures of Classical Physics
    Assessment Strategies
    Problem sets, presentations, quizzes, exams
    Criteria
    Summarize the definitions of hypothesis, theory, experiment, and law in a physics context.
    Apply the principles of Newtonian mechanics, electromagnetism, and thermodynamics to a variety of systems in a classical framework.
    Interpret the results of historically-significant experiments that demonstrated the limitations of Classical Physics and supported the theories of Modern Physics.
    Contrast the foundational concepts of Classical Physics with those of Modern Physics.
    Apply limits consistent with the correspondence principle.

  2. Apply the principles of special relativity
    Assessment Strategies
    Problem sets, presentations, quizzes, exams
    Criteria
    Explain the two postulates of special relativity.
    Explain special relativity’s implications for simultaneity.
    Develop solutions to problems involving time dilation, length contraction, and the relativistic Doppler shift.
    Make use of the Lorentz transformation.
    Analyze dynamics problems in terms of relativistic energy and relativistic momentum.

  3. Apply the quantum theory of light
    Assessment Strategies
    Problem sets, presentations, quizzes, exams
    Criteria
    Contrast the classical and quantum theories of thermal radiation.
    Analyze the photoelectric effect.
    Calculate photon frequencies, wavelengths, energies, and momenta.
    Analyze the dynamics of the Compton effect and other photon-matter interactions.
    Examine the particle-wave complementarity of light.

  4. Investigate the wavelike properties of matter
    Assessment Strategies
    Problem sets, presentations, quizzes, exams
    Criteria
    Compute the de Broglie wavelength of matter waves associated with various particles.
    Examine the concept of wave packets.
    Estimate particle properties with the Heisenberg uncertainty relationships.
    Discuss the significance of a particle’s wavefunction as it relates to the probability of locating the particle.
    Examine wave-particle duality of matter.

  5. Investigate the properties of single-electron atoms with the Rutherford-Bohr model
    Assessment Strategies
    Problem sets, presentations, quizzes, exams
    Criteria
    Examine the composition and basic properties of atoms.
    Analyze the emission and absorption spectra of hydrogen and single-electron ions.
    Explain the postulates of the semi-classical Bohr model of the atom.
    Analyze quantized electron orbit radii and energies using the Bohr model.
    Calculate photon frequencies, wavelengths, and energies associated with atomic spectral lines.
    Explain the deficiencies of the Bohr model of the atom.

  6. Apply the methods of quantum mechanics to a variety of one-dimensional systems
    Assessment Strategies
    Problem sets, presentations, quizzes, exams
    Criteria
    Examine the Born interpretation of a particle’s wavefunction.
    Develop exact or approximate stationary-state solutions to the Schrödinger equation for a variety of one-dimensional potentials.
    Determine the energies associated with a particle’s allowed states.
    Calculate the probability of locating a particle using its wavefunction.
    Examine quantum mechanical expectation values, operators, and observables.
    Analyze quantum mechanical tunneling phenomena.

  7. Apply the methods of quantum mechanics to the hydrogen atom and other three-dimensional systems
    Assessment Strategies
    Problem sets, presentations, quizzes, exams
    Criteria
    Examine the concepts of quantum numbers and degeneracy.
    Analyze the hydrogen atom wavefunctions and associated energy levels.
    Calculate atomic electron properties with the radial probability density.
    Analyze various orbital angular momentum and intrinsic spin interactions within the hydrogen atom.
    Examine implications of the Pauli exclusion principle for multi-electron atoms.

  8. Apply statistical physics concepts to classical and quantum particle systems
    Assessment Strategies
    Problem sets, presentations, quizzes, exams
    Criteria
    Contrast statistical approaches to systems of distinguishable particles to those of indistinguishable particles.
    Examine the properties of bosons and fermions.
    Evaluate the density of states for classical and quantum particle systems.
    Analyze classical particle system properties with the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution.
    Analyze quantum particle system properties with the Fermi-Dirac and Bose-Einstein distributions.
    Calculate the Fermi energy associated with a system of fermions.

  9. Apply solid-state physics concepts to crystalline materials and semiconductors
    Assessment Strategies
    Problem sets, presentations, quizzes, exams
    Criteria
    Contrast the classical free electron theory of metals with the quantum theory of metals.
    Examine the band theory of solids for metals, insulators, and semiconductors.
    Summarize the properties of intrinsic and impurity semiconductors.
    Analyze the p-n junction and various semiconductor devices.
    Examine the fundamental principles of superconductivity.

  10. Investigate nuclear structure, radioactivity, and reactions
    Assessment Strategies
    Problem sets, presentations, quizzes, exams
    Criteria
    Analyze the fundamental properties of nucleons and nuclei.
    Calculate nuclear binding energies.
    Examine the nuclear force and nuclear models.
    Analyze radioactive decay and decay processes.
    Analyze nuclear reactions with cross sections and conservation laws.
    Examine nuclear fission and fusion reactions and associated applications.