Modern Physics

Catalog description

We will move beyond limitations of classical physics and introduce the foundations for the Theory of Relativity and quantum mechanics. This is the physics of the very fast, and the very small. The first part of the course is dedicated to the study of special relativity, including time dilation, space contraction, simultaneity, Lorentz transformations, relativistic energy and momentum, internal energy, the relativistic doppler effect, among other foundational topics. The second part of the course is directed to the study of the foundations of quantum mechanics. Some of the topics include blackbody radiation, the photoelectric effect, DeBroglie wavelength, Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, one dimensional Schrödinger equation solutions in free space and 1D potentials, and quantum tunneling. In the last third of the semester topics such as atomic spectra, the quantum description of angular momentum radioactive emissions, and topics in nuclear physics will be studied. Prerequisites: MATH-252 and PHYS-202 or PHYS-212