PHYS253Q: Modern Physics, with Lab.

This course is taught by Dr. Frosso Seitaridou 

Catalog Description:

Fall only. Four credit hours. Prerequisite: Physics 142 or 152 and Math112. Special theory of relativity, wave and particle properties of electromagnetic radation and matter, introduction to quantum mechanics, the Schrodinger equation, atomic models, and simple molecules. Three hours of lecture and one three-hour laboratory per week. 

Welcome to Modern Physics.

This course covers the physical concepts developed in the 20'th century. The concepts we will learn this semester are concepts that almost everybody has heard of (e.g., relativity, x-rays, quantum physics, etc.). Needless to say that these concepts have inspired many works of science fiction and, of course, they have many applications in modern technology. A good understanding of modern physics will help you a) understand modern technology (e.g., GPS, xrays, etc.), b) hone your thinking skills, c) recognize the philosophical implications these concepts have!  Since you have already taken Introductory Physics, by the end of Physics 253 you will have seen and understood almost all physics concepts! I hope you are excited! In addition, you will conduct on your own some of the original experiments that led to the development of these concepts, and you will also work on your scientific writing skills by writing laboratory reports on these experiments.

Goals of the Course 

  At the end of this course, we will be able to: 

1. Have a fundamental understanding of the physical concepts developed in the 20'th century.
2. Apply these concepts in order to solve simple problems in modern physics.
3. Recognize the reasons why some of the concepts are subject to different interpretation by physicists. 
4. Appreciate the philosophical implications of these concepts.
5. Recognize the physics concepts behind modern technological advances.
6. Develop your skills in scientific writing.

    To achieve these goals, we will solve problems, use laboratory exercises, write lab reports, and, depending on interest, I will be giving you some reading assignments that are outside our textbook. 


 

https://docs.google.com/a/philsegre.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=cGhpbHNlZ3JlLmNvbXxwaGlsc2VncmV8Z3g6NjEzNjQ1YjZiNTEyZDc0YQ

PHYS253 Lab Exercises 

  • Click HERE for Complete PHYS253 Modern Physics Manual (11MB, 10/9/15) which includes the following 13 Labs.
 



1. Matlab Project #1 - Series Expansion. 

-- Introduction to Matlab Programming.
 


2. Speed of Light and the Michelson Interferometer

Part1: You will measure the speed of light using the Foucault method. Part 2:You will study interference patterns and measure the wavelength of laser light using a Michelson Interferometer.







3. Microfluidics I: Chip Fabrication.

-- In this lab you will learn how to fabricate a microfluidic device that you will use in part II for Brownian motion studies. 

 


4. Microfluidics II: Observing Brownian motion.

- In this lab you will use a microscope to observe and record the Brownian motions of polystyrene beads. You will use the microfluidic chip that you fabricated in part I for these studies.











5. Matlab #2 - Maxwell-Boltzmann Distribution.

-- You will write a Matlab script to plot and study the Maxwell Boltzmann distribution for different molecular gases.
 


6. Properties of Electrons.

--You will use a compact device with a built-in cathode ray tube (CRT) that allows the electrical and magnetic properties of electrons to be investigated and permits measurement of the electron charge to mass ratio, e/m. This experiment is based on the one used by J.J. Thomson in 1897, at the start of the era of modern physics.


7. Millikan Oil Drop
This experiment is patterned after the original experiments by R.A. Millikan to show that electric chargeexists as integral multiples of e, the charge of a single electron. Historically, this experiment ranks as oneof the greatest experiments of modern physics.
 







8. Matlab #3 - Quantization of Energy.
In this project, you will gain further insight into how the Planck treatment works to correctly account for the average energies of oscillators at thermal equilibrium.
 


9. Black Body Radiation.
This lab is comprised of two different experiments on black-body radiation. The Leslie’s cube lab studies radiative emission from different materials, and the Stefan-Boltzmann Source lab examines the temperature dependence of black-body radiation.


 




10. Light Emitting Diodes (LED's)
-- In this experiment, you will study the properties of light emitting diodes.
 

11. Atomic Spectra
-- You will study the emission spectrum of hydrogen to investigate the energy level changes associated with electronic transitions as described by Bohr's model.



 




12. Frank-Hertz Experiment
--In this experiment, you will verify the quantization of atomic energy levels in Argon using the Franck-Hertz technique.


 

13. Microwave Optics and Bragg Scattering.
--In these experiments you will study the electromagnetic properties of Microwave Radiation. Microwaves have a wavelength of 2.85 cm, much larger than visible light. You will perform experiments on Double-Slit Interference and Bragg Diffraction from a crystalline arrangement.