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 (binding energy, liquid-drop model, radioactive decay, nuclear reactions)
-Elementary Particles (forces and particles, the standard model, relativistic collisions)
Timetable
Schedule
You will find the timetables for all courses and degree programmes of Leiden University in the tool MyTimetable (login). Any teaching activities that you have sucessfully registered for in MyStudyMap will automatically be displayed in MyTimeTable. Any timetables that you add manually, will be saved and automatically displayed the next time you sign in.
MyTimetable allows you to integrate your timetable with your calendar apps such as Outlook, Google Calendar, Apple Calendar and other calendar apps on your smartphone. Any timetable changes will be automatically synced with your calendar. If you wish, you can also receive an email notification of the change. You can turn notifications on in ‘Settings’ (after login).
For more information, watch the video or go the the 'help-page' in MyTimetable. Please note: Joint Degree students Leiden/Delft have to merge their two different timetables into one. This video explains how to do this.
Mode of instruction
See Brightspace
Assessment method
Midterm test: 30% of the final grade
Final exam: 70% of the final grade
11 Weekly Problem assignents: 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.
Reading list
H.D. Young, R.A. Freedman, University Physics; Pearson; 15th ed. (2019)
Registration
As a student, you are responsible for registering on time, i.e. 14 days before the start of the course. This can be done via Mystudymap. You do this twice a year: once for the courses you want to take in semester 1 and once for the courses you want to take in semester 2. Please note: late registration is not possible.
Registration for courses in the first semester is possible from July; registration for courses in the second semester is possible from December. First-year bachelor students are registered for semester 1 by the faculty student administration; they do not have to do this themselves. For more information, see this page
In addition, it is mandatory for all students, including first-year bachelor students, to register for exams. This can be done up to and including 10 calendar days prior to the exam or up to five calendar days in case of a retake exam. You cannot participate in the exam or retake without a valid registration in My Studymap.
Contact
Contact: Prof.dr. M.P. van Exter (Martin)
Remarks
none