Admission Requirements
Mathematics and Physics on Dutch high school VWO level
Description
The remarkable revolution in physics at the beginning of the twentieth century has influenced our worldview at all levels. In this first course on modern physics, we will introduce the counter-intuitive principles, relativity and quantum mechanics and relativity, that are the foundations of the laws of physics. Starting with Einstein’s insight that the speed of light is the same for all observers, even when they move with respect to each other, we deduce the theory of special relativity, with E = mc2 as it most well-known consequence. Next we show how the photo-electric effect indicates the existence of a smallest quantum of light. This makes clear that waves are particles as well, but the principles of quantum mechanics demand that the converse is also true. Particles are also waves, and this explains the stability of atoms. We explain the important role of quanta in the explanation of blackbody radiation, en the structure of the atomic nucleus. We conclude by describing how these new insights have shown that forces and particles are in essence the same thing, en how daring experiments such as the Large Hadron Collider at CERN test these amazing principles with astonishing precision. The outlook towards modern physics given in this course is the first step to the research frontier.
Course Objectives
-Special Relativity (postulates of Einstein, time dilation, length Contraction, Lorentz transformations, Doppler shift, relativistic energy and momentum)
-Basis of Quantummechanics (photoelectric effect, De Broglie waves, wavefunction, uncertainty principle)
-Atomic structure (electron orbits and the Bohr atom)
-From single to many body physics (statistical distributions/Maxwell-Boltzmann, the ideal gas, blackbody radiation and Planck)
-Nuclear structure (liquid-drop model, orbit-model, radioactive decay, nuclear reactions)
-Elementary Particles
Timetable
Schedule
For detailed information go to Timetable in Brightspace
Mode of instruction
See Brightspace
Assessment method
Assessment method
Midterm test: 30% of the final grade (on first part of course)
Final exam: 70% of the final grade (mainly on second part of course)
Problem assignments: max 1.0 on top of the final grade (if final grade > 5.5)
Only the final exam can be retaken and will then count for 100% of the final grade. This retake will contain questions equally distributed over the full course.
Brightspace
Instructions and course material can be found on Brightspace. Registration for Brightspace occurs automatically when students enroll in uSis via uSis by registration for a class activity using a class number
Reading list
H.D. Young, R.A. Freedman, University Physics; Pearson; 14th ed. (2016)
Contact
Contact: Prof.dr. M.P. van Exter (Martin)