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Week
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Material
covered
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Homework
assignment
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Reading
assignment
|
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8/29-8/301
(short week)
|
Introduction,
Relativity (SMM, Chapter 1)
Introductory slides (8/29)
Time dilation/length contraction
(8/31)
|
No homework
|
Michelson-Morley Experiments
(due 9/03)
Interferometer calculations (8/31)
Original Michelson paper
|
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9/03-9/07
|
Relativity I
(SMM, Chapter 1)
Clock synchronization (9/03)
Lorentz transformations
(9/05)
Three-clock photos (9/07)
Train and Tunnel paradox (video)
|
Homework #1
Due 9/07
Solutions
|
Time travel (due 9/10)
Minkowski space-time(9/07)
Twin paradox (video)
|
|
9/10-9/14
|
Relativity I
(SMM, Chapter 1)
Space-time (cont) (9/10)
(college
closed 9/10-9/16)
|
Homework #2
Due 9/17
Solutions
|
No assignment
(due to college closing)
|
|
9/17-9/21
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Relativistic
Doppler effect
Optical relativistic effects
MIT's "A slower speed of light" game
Relativistic
dynamics, nuclear reactions, elementary particles (SMM, Chapters 2,15)
Relativistic energy and momentum (9/19)
Relativistic collisions (9/21)
|
Homework #3
Due 9/21
Solutions
|
Einstein as a Celebrity
(due 9/24)
|
|
9/24-9/28
|
Emergence of
quantum (SMM, Chapter 3)
First quantum effects (9/24,26)
Midterm test #1 (9/28) Solutions
Practice test 1: with solutions
Practice test 2: with solutions
|
No homework
|
No assignment
|
|
10/01-10/05
|
Quantum
theory of light (SMM, Chapter 3)
Wave-particle duality for light (10/01)
Photon wave function (10/03)
Uncertainty principle (10/05)
|
Homework #4
Due 10/05
Solutions
|
Early quantum theories
(due 10/08)
|
|
10/08-10/12
|
Quantization
of matter (SMM, Chapters 5,6)
Energy quantization (10/08)
Shrodinger equation (10/10)
Time-dependent quantum states (10/12)
Neutrino oscillations (10/12)
PhET simulation: bound states
Quantum Chess!
|
Homework #5
Due 10/12
Solutions
|
First steps of Quantum Mechanics
(due 10/17)
|
|
10/15-10/19
|
Fall break
Schrödinger
equation: bound states (SMM, Chapter 6)
Finite potential well (10/17)
Simple harmonic oscillator (10/19)
|
Homework #6
Due 10/19
Solutions
|
Manhattan project (due Oct. 22)
|
|
10/22-10/26
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Schrödinger
equation: reflection and scattering (SMM, Chapter 7)
Measurements in quantum physics (10/22)
Quantum tunneling (10/24)
Above-barrier motion (10/26)
General solutions for Schrodinger equation
|
Homework #7
Due 10/26
Solutions
|
The responsibility of the scientist (Due Oct. 29)
|
|
10/29-11/02
|
Atomic energy
levels (SMM, Chapter 8)
3D quantum box (10/29)
Hydrogen atom (10/31)
1D quantum review (11/02)
Midterm
test #2 (11/02) Solutions
Practice midterm 1
Practice midterm 2
|
No homework
|
No assignment
|
|
11/05-11/09
|
Extra credit presentations (Due 11/30)
Electron spin
and quantum statistics
(SMM,
Chapters 9, 10)
Angular momentum quantization (11/5)
Magnetic properties of atoms (11/7)
Spin and quantum statistics (11/09)
|
Homework #8
Due 11/09
Solutions
|
Original EPR paper (Due 11/12)
Stern-Gerlach experiment: history
|
|
11/12-11/16
|
Atomic and
molecular structure (SMM,
Chapters 11)
Vibrational and rotational molecular spectra (11/12)
Covalent bonding (11/14)
Fermi energy and Drude model of conductivity (11/16)
Molecular/solid energy level simulator
|
Homework #9
Due 11/16
Solutions
|
Quantum Mechanics and the Nature of Physical Reality (Due 11/19)
Link to the original EPR, Bell and ADR papers
|
|
11/19-11/23
|
Solids (SMM,
Chapter 12)
Quantum theory of conductivity (11/19)
Thanksgiving
break
|
No homework
|
No assignment
|
|
11/26-11/30
|
Subatomic
Physics (SMM, Chapters 13, 15)
Nuclear structure (11/26)
Nuclear reactions (11/28)
Quark model (11/30)
|
Homework #10
Due 11/30
Solutions
|
Big Science (Due 12/03)
|
|
12/03-12/07
|
Subatomic
Physics (SMM, Chapters 13, 15)
Quantum Electrodynamics (12/03)
Antiparticles (12/05)
Standard model (12/07)
|
Homework #11
Due 12/07
Solutions
|
Optional extra credit: Next Big Thing (Due 12/15)
|
|
12/11
|
Final
exam Solutions
(2.00-5.00 pm) in Small 110
Pre-final review (12/10)
Preliminary equation sheet
Practice exam 1: no solutions
Practice exam 1: with solutions
Practice exam 2: no solutions
Practice exam 2: with solutions
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