Physics 3141 - Introduction to Modern Physics

Spring 2004          MW 4:00 - 5:20 PM          Burson 116

 

YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INFORMATION ON THESE SHEETS. PLEASE READ THEM CAREFULLY AND KEEP THEM FOR REFERENCE.

 

Instructor: Dr. Tom Suleski                                                              Office: Burson, Room 135C

Office Phone: 704-687-2040                                                            email: tsuleski@uncc.edu

Office hours: Mondays and Wednesdays 2:00-3:00 p.m. or by appointment

Web: The WebCT course website is accessible through your 49er Express account.

 

Required Text: The textbook is Modern Physics (4th Edition) by Tipler and Llewellyn.

Suggested reading:  Six Easy Pieces and Six Not So Easy Pieces by Richard Feynman

 

Homework and Quizzes:

It is critical not to fall behind in this class and then attempt to catch up the night before a test. To help you avoid this pitfall, we will use the following homework/quiz system. Each week you will be given a list of homework problems. The next week you will be given 15 minutes to complete a quiz covering these problems. If you have done the homework assignment, the quizzes will be straightforward. You will not have a quiz the week of an in-class test. I will drop your lowest quiz grade. I do not give make-up quizzes. 

 

In-Class Tests:

You will have three tests during the semester. The tentative dates for the tests are given on the following page. Each test will cover material from the homework, text, and lectures. Please realize, however, that physics builds on previous knowledge so each test will not necessarily be completely independent of previously covered material. I do not give make-up tests. A student who cannot avoid being absent on the day of a test should contact me prior to the test so that we can make alternate arrangements. NO EXCEPTIONS.

 

Final Exam:

There will be a comprehensive final exam given during the final exam period. This exam will cover all of the material taught in the course. The date and time of the final are given on the schedule.

 

Grades:

At the end of the semester, you will have 5 scores (1 overall quiz score, 3 test scores, and 1 final exam score). The top 4 scores will be averaged, with each carrying equal weight. Grades will nominally be assigned using a 10-point grading scale: A = 90-100, B = 80-89, etc. However, I reserve the right to adjust the grading scale based on class performance.

 

Academic Integrity:

Students have the responsibility to know and observe the requirements of The UNCC Code of Student Academic Integrity (see Catalog or http://www.legal.uncc.edu/policies/ps-105.html). This code forbids cheating, fabrication or falsification of information, multiple submission of academic work, plagiarism, abuse of academic materials, and complicity in academic dishonesty. Any special requirements or permission regarding academic integrity in this course will be stated by the instructor, and are binding on the students. Academic evaluations in this course include a judgment that the student's work is free from academic dishonesty of any type; and grades in this course therefore should be and will be adversely affected for academic dishonesty. Students who violate the code can be expelled from UNCC. The normal penalty for a first offense is zero credit on the work involving dishonesty and further substantial reduction of the course grade. In almost all cases the course grade is reduced to F. Students are expected to report cases of academic dishonesty to the course instructor.

 

Classroom Rules

The following are a set of rules governing student conduct in the classroom. They represent little more than common courtesy. The continued violation of these rules after an appropriate warning can result in the student being disenrolled from the course.

1. Arrive on time. If you arrive a few minutes late, quietly take a seat in the back of the classroom.

2. If it will be necessary to leave before the class is over, inform me before the class begins.

3. Turn off all cell phones and pagers before class begins.

4. Do not hold personal conversations or sleep during class.

5. Do not read material unrelated to the class during class.

6. In general, food and drink are not allowed in the classroom.

 

Tentative Course Schedule

M

12-Jan

Chapter 1

Relativity I

W

14-Jan

Chapter 1

Relativity I

M

19-Jan

NO CLASS

 

W

21-Jan

Chapter 1

Relativity I

M

26-Jan

Chapter 1

Relativity I

W

28-Jan

Chapter 2

Relativity II

M

2-Feb

Chapter 2

Relativity II

W

4-Feb

Chapter 3

Quantization of Charge, Light, & Energy

M

9-Feb

Chapter 3

Quantization of Charge, Light, & Energy

W

11-Feb

Chapter 3

Quantization of Charge, Light, & Energy

M

16-Feb

Chapter 3/Review

Quantization of Charge, Light, & Energy

W

18-Feb

Test 1 (Chapters 1, 2, 3)

 

M

23-Feb

Chapter 4

The Nuclear Atom

W

25-Feb

Chapter 4

The Nuclear Atom

M

1-Mar

Chapter 4

The Nuclear Atom

W

3-Mar

Chapter 4

The Nuclear Atom

M

8-Mar

NO CLASS

 

W

10-Mar

NO CLASS

 

M

15-Mar

Chapter 5

Wavelike Properties of Particles

W

17-Mar

Chapter 5

Wavelike Properties of Particles

M

22-Mar

Chapter 5

Wavelike Properties of Particles

W

24-Mar

Chapter 6

The Schršdinger Equation

M

29-Mar

Chapter 6/Review

The Schršdinger Equation

W

31-Mar

Test 2 (Chapters 4, 5, 6)

 

M

5-Apr

Chapter 11

Nuclear Physics

W

7-Apr

Chapter 11

Nuclear Physics

M

12-Apr

Chapter 11

Nuclear Physics

W

14-Apr

Chapter 11

Nuclear Physics

M

19-Apr

Chapter 12

Nuclear Reactions & Applications

W

21-Apr

Chapter 12

Nuclear Reactions & Applications

M

26-Apr

Chapter 12/Review

Nuclear Reactions & Applications

W

28-Apr

Test 3 (Chapters 11 and 12)

 

M

3-May

Review

 

F

7-May

FINAL EXAM (all chapters)

3:30-6:30 pm