SRJC Course Outlines

4/26/2024 7:50:45 PMPHYS 43 Course Outline as of Fall 2006

Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION

Discipline and Nbr:  PHYS 43Title:  MODERN PHYSICS  
Full Title:  Modern Physics for Scientists and Engineers
Last Reviewed:1/23/2023

UnitsCourse Hours per Week Nbr of WeeksCourse Hours Total
Maximum2.00Lecture Scheduled2.0017.5 max.Lecture Scheduled35.00
Minimum2.00Lab Scheduled017.5 min.Lab Scheduled0
 Contact DHR0 Contact DHR0
 Contact Total2.00 Contact Total35.00
 
 Non-contact DHR0 Non-contact DHR Total0

 Total Out of Class Hours:  70.00Total Student Learning Hours: 105.00 

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade Only
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly:  PHYS 4D

Catalog Description:
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This is a course intended for scientists and engineers and will include special relativity, atomic structure and quantum physics, nuclear processes, high energy physics.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:
Completion of PHYS 41 or higher (V5) and Course Completion or Current Enrollment in PHYS 42 ( or PHYS 4C) and Course Completion or Current Enrollment in MATH 2 ( or MATH 2B)


Recommended Preparation:

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description: Untitled document
This course is intended for scientists and engineers and will include special relativity, atomic structure and quantum physics, nuclear processes, high energy physics.
(Grade Only)

Prerequisites:Completion of PHYS 41 or higher (V5) and Course Completion or Current Enrollment in PHYS 42 ( or PHYS 4C) and Course Completion or Current Enrollment in MATH 2 ( or MATH 2B)
Recommended:
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;UC.
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:Effective:Inactive:
 Area:
 
CSU GE:Transfer Area Effective:Inactive:
 B1Physical ScienceSpring 1984
 
IGETC:Transfer Area Effective:Inactive:
 
CSU Transfer:TransferableEffective:Spring 1984Inactive:
 
UC Transfer:TransferableEffective:Spring 1984Inactive:
 
C-ID:
 CID Descriptor: PHYS 200S Calculus-Based Physics for Scientists and Engineers: ABC SRJC Equivalent Course(s): PHYS40 AND PHYS41 AND PHYS42 AND PHYS43

Certificate/Major Applicable: Major Applicable Course



COURSE CONTENT

Outcomes and Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
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Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:
1.  State the Einstein postulates of special relativity, and discuss the
   concepts of and solve problems involving the transformation of co-
   ordinates in space and time, length contraction, time dilation,
   relativistic momentum and energy, and the relativistic addition of
   velocities.
2.  Trace the development of quantum physics from Planck's work with black
   body radiation to Einstein's explanation of the photoelectric effect,
   to Compton scattering, and solve problems involving the photoelectric
   effect and Compton scattering.
3.  State the postulates made by Bohr in developing the Bohr model of the
   atom; reproduce the derivation of allowed radii and energy levels in
   the Bohr model; solve problems involving electron energy levels and
   spectral lines; describe the shell and subshell structure of orbital
   electrons relating this structure to the periodic table.
4.  Describe what is meant by wave-particle duality; solve problems
   involving particles as waves; solve problems using the uncertainty
   principle.
5.  Write the one-dimensional nonrelativistic Schroedinger wave equation;
   solve problems involving wave functions for the infinite square well,
   one-dimensional harmonic oscillator, and hydrogen atom including
   finding probabilities of finding a particle in a region of space and
   expectation values of physically measurable quantities.
6.  Define terms used in describing atomic nuclei; calculate nuclear
   binding energies; write equations for radioactive decay processes;
   solve problems involving half-lives; and calculate Q values for
   radioactive decays.
7.  Explain the concept of cross-section in nuclear interactions; solve
   problems involving cross-sections; write equations for nuclear
   interactions; and calculate threshold energies and Q values.
8.  Sketch and describe the significance of the curve of binding energy
   per nucleon versus mass number; write equations for nuclear fusion
   and nuclear fission processes; calculate Q values for nuclear fusions
   and fissions; describe the components of and processes occurring in
   nuclear reactors.
9.  Indicate the properties of quarks, leptons, mesons and baryons and the
   conservation laws which apply in their interactions; and list the
   fundamental forces in nature and the field particles for and types of
   particles involved in each of these interactions.

Topics and Scope
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1.  Special Relativity.
     a. transformation of space and time coordinates
     b. length contraction and time dilation
     c. relativistic momentum and energy
     d. relativistic addition of velocities
2.  Early Quantum Physics.
     a. black body radiation and Max Planck
     b. the photoelectric effect and the photon
     c. Compton scattering
3.  The Bohr Model of the Atom.
     a. quantization of angular momentum
     b. energy levels and spectra
     c. the periodic table and electron shells and subshells
4.  Early Wave Mechanics.
     a. DeBroglie hypothesis and electron diffraction
     b. Heisenberg uncertainty principle
     c. wave-particle duality
5.  The Schroedinger Wave Equation.
     a. solution of infinite square well potential & hydrogen atom.
     b. probability and expectation values (square well, quantum
        oscillator, hydrogen atom)
6.  Nuclear Processes
     a. nuclear structure, binding energy
     b. radioactive decay - half life, decay modes, Q values
     c. nuclear interactions - cross-sections, Q values
     d. fission - nuclear reactors, fission products, Q values
     e. fusion - fusion reactors, Q values
7.  Elementary Particles
     a. accelerators and detectors
     b. the Standard Model - leptons, quarks, mesons and baryons
8.  Other topics as time allows (solid state intro., lasers, supercon-
   ductivity, etc.)

Assignments:
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1.  No less than eight sets of homework problems.
2.  Five to fifteen quizzes.
3.  No less than two mid-term exams.
4.  Final exam.

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.
Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.Writing
0 - 0%
None
This is a degree applicable course but assessment tools based on writing are not included because problem solving assessments are more appropriate for this course.
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.Problem Solving
15 - 25%
Homework problems
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.Skill Demonstrations
0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.Exams
75 - 85%
Multiple choice, Problems to solve and exams.
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.Other Category
0 - 0%
None


Representative Textbooks and Materials:
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Modern Physics for Scientists and Engineers, Thornton & Rex, 2nd edition,
Saunders, 2000

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