Credit  Hours:                 4

Date Revised:   Fall 2009

Week      Topics Covered in Group Activity                  Laboratory

1

Chapter 15, Oscillations

15.1 Simple Harmonic Oscillation (SHM)

15.2 The Block-Spring System

15.3 Energy in SHM

15.4 Pendulums

15.5,6 Damped and Forced Oscillations

2

Chapter 16, Mechanical Waves

16.1 Wave Characteristics

Group Experiment # 1:

16.2 Superposition of Waves

Hooke's Law and SHM

16.3 Speed of a Pulse on a String

16.4 Reflection and Transmission

Test 1

3

Chapter 16, Mechanical Waves, Continued....

16.5-7 Traveling and Standing Waves

Group Experiment #2:

16.8 Standing Waves on a String

Standing Waves on a String

16.9 The Wave Equation

16.10 Energy Transport on a String

16.11 Velocity of Waves on a String

4

Chapter 17, Sound

17.1 The Nature of Sound Waves

Group Experiment #3:

17.2 Resonant Standing Sound Waves

Air-Column Resonance:

17.3 The Doppler Effect

The Speed of Sound

17.4 Interference in Time, Beats

17.5 Velocity of Longitudinal Waves in a Fluid

17.6 Sound Intensity

17.7 Fourier Series (Optional)

Test 2

5

Chapter 35, Reflection and Refraction

35.1 Ray Optics

Group Experiment # 4:

35.2,3 Reflection and Refraction

Reflection of Light

35.4 Total Internal Reflection

Flat Mirrors

35.5 The Prism and Dispersion

35.6 Images Formed by Plane Mirrors

35.7 Spherical Mirrors

35.8 The Speed of Light

6

Chapter 36,  Lenses and Optical Instruments

36.1 Lenses

Group Experiment # 5:

36.2 The Simple Magnifier

Reflection of Light

36.3 The Compound Microscope

Spherical Mirrors

36.4 Telescopes

36.5 The Eye

36.7 Lens Maker's Formula

Test 3

7

Chapter 37, Wave Optics ( I )

37.1 Interference

Group Experiment # 6:

37.2 Diffraction

Refraction of Light

37.3 Young's Experiment

Refraction Index

37.4 Intensity of Double-Slit Patterns

37.5 Thin Films

7

37.6 Michelson Interferometer

37.7 Coherence

8

Chapter 38, Wave Optics ( II )

38.1 Fraunhofer & Fresnel Diffraction

Group Experiment # 7:

38.2 Single-Slit Diffraction

Refraction of Light

38.3 The Rayleigh Criterion

Thin Lenses

38.4 Gratings

38.5 Multiple Slits

38.6 Single-Slit Diffraction Intensity

Test 4

9

Chapter 39, Special Relativity

39.1 Introduction

Group Experiment # 8:

39.2 The Michelson-Morley Experiment

Interference of Light Waves

39.3 Covariance

Diffraction Grating

39.4 The Two Postulates

39.5 Some Preliminaries

39.6 Relativity of Simultaneity

39.7 Time Dilation

39.8 Length Contraction

39.9 The Relativistic Doppler Effect

39.10 The Twin Paradox

39.11 The Lorentz Transformation

10

Chapter 40, Early Quantum Theory

40.1 Blackbody Radiation

Group Experiment # 9:

40.2 The Photoelectric Effect

Atomic Structure

40.3 The Compton Effect

The Hydrogen Atom

40.4 Line Spectra

40.5 Atomic Models

40.6 The Bohr Model

40.7 Wave-Particle Duality of Light

40.8 Bohr's Correspondence Principle

Test 5

11

Chapter 41, Wave Mechanics

41.1 de Broglie Waves

Group Problems session

41.2 Electron Diffraction

41.6 Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle

41.7 Wave-Particle Duality

12

Chapter42,  Atoms and Solids

42.1 Quantum Numbers of Hydrogen

Group Problems session

42.2 Spin

42.5 Pauli Exclusion Principle

Test 6

13

Chapter 43,  Nuclear Physics

43.1 The Structure of Nucleus

Group Experiment #10:

43.2 Binding Energy, Nuclear Stability

Nuclear Radiation

43.3 Radioactivity

The Chart of Nuclides

43.4 The Radioactive Decay Law

43.5 Nuclear Reactions

43.6,7 Fission and Fusion

14

Chapter 44, Elementary Particles

44.1 Antimatter

Group Problems session

44.2 Exchange Forces

44.3 Classification of Particles

44.4 Symmetry and Conservation Laws

44.5 The Eightfold Way and Quarks

44.6 Color

44.7 Gauge Theory

44.8 The Electroweak Interaction

44.9 The New Quarks

44.10 Quantum Chromodynamics

44.11 Grand Unified Theory

15

Final Exam (Comprehensive)

     The objective of this course is to familiarize students with the principles of modern physics that are often used in today's industry and technical equipment. At work sites, the graduates often need to work with equipment that work by the virtue of modern physics principles. Examples are X-ray machines, ultrasound equipment, blood pressure measurement devices, electronic and optical equipment, radioactive isotopes, etc. The examples and problems selected for the course give students the necessary knowledge and skills to read and analyze scientific data with proper understanding of the units involved and the type of physical quantity measured. The first few chapters lay down the foundation that is absolutely necessary to understand the wave phenomenon that appears in later chapters. On this basis, after finishing this course, students will be able to:

A

explain metric and American units and systems and perform various conversions between the two, (The gauges at work sites often use both types of units.), (V.1&V.3)

B

describe oscillatory motion, simple harmonic motion, mass-spring system, simple pendulum, and damped and forced oscillation and calculate the parameters involved in motions classified as being oscillatory, (V.1, V.4)

C

define wave, explain wave characteristics, superposition of waves, waves on strings, and wave reflection and transmission, (V.3, V.4)

D

explain the traveling and standing waves, wave velocity, energy, and related equations ,(V.3, V.4)

E

explain types of waves, sound waves, resonance, the Doppler effect applied to mechanical waves, interference, and beats, (V.3, V.4)

F

describe the straight-line-motion behavior of light through ray optics using the reflection and refraction phenomena in mirrors and lenses, (V.3, V.4)

G

explain how speed of light may be measured by use of ray optics, (V.3, V.4),

H

realize the use of mirrors and lenses in optical instruments such as microscopes, telescopes, cameras, human eye, etc, (V.5)

I

calculate simple problems involving flat and spherical mirrors as well as ray-optics instruments, (V.3, V.4)

J

explain the wave-like behavior of light through interference, diffraction, single-slit diffraction, and multi-source interference phenomena, (V.3, V.4)

K

Explain the special relativity, Lorentz transformation, time dilation and length contraction as an introduction to modern physics, (V.2, V.3, V.4)

L

describe black-body radiation, the photoelectric effect, the Compton effect, and line spectra of atoms as verifications of particle-like behavior of light, (V.2, V.3, V.4),

M

explain the Bohr model of the atomic configuration and related formulas, (V.2, V.3, V.4)

N

explain De Broglie waves, electron diffraction, and the Heisenberg uncertainty principle as well as wave-particle duality, (V.2, V.3, V.4)

O

explain the quantum numbers in atomic structure (V.2, V.3, V.4)

P

describe the structure of the nucleus, binding energy, radioactivity, nuclear fission and fusion, (V.2, V.3, V.4) and

Q

have an understanding of the most recent developments in atomic structure and subatomic particles. (V.4)

*

Roman numerals refer to the Goals of Natural Sciences Department.

       Students will:

1

learn in a cooperative mode by working in small groups with other students and exchanging ideas within each group (or sometimes collectively) while being coached by the instructor who provides assistance when needed, (Active Learning Strategy),

2

learn by being a problem solver rather than being lectured, (Active Learning Strategy),

3

explore and seek the solutions to the given problems that measure his/her level of accomplishment, (Active Learning Strategy),

4

visit industry sites or will be visited by a person from industry who applies the concepts being learned at his/her work site, (Transitional Strategy),

5

gradually be given higher- and higher-level problems to promote his/her critical thinking ability, (Active Learning Strategy),

6

search for the solution to the assigned projects by examining the available software and resources. (Transitional Strategy),

7

get engaged in learning processes such as projects, mentoring, apprenticeships, and/or research activities as time allows, (Transitional Strategy),  and

8

use computers with appropriate software during class or lab as a boost to the learning process (Technology Literacy Outcome).

Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:

1

apply the physics concepts to theoretical and practical situations (A through Q),

2

estimate an unknown parameter in a given practical situation by using the physics principles involved (B, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, L, M, and N),

3

perform necessary conversions between Metric and non-Metric units and systems (A),

4

calculate the variables in simple harmonic motion and analyze the period of oscillations with regard to mass and spring stiffness in mass-spring systems (B),

5

analyze and solve problems on wave motion and calculate the necessary parameters involved such as wavelength, frequency, amplitude, phase, etc (B, C, D, and E),

6

solve problems involving ray optics in mirrors and lenses and calculate the image size, position, and magnification (F),

7

analyze and solve problems explained by the refraction phenomenon and calculate the parameters involved (F),

8

know how to calculate the speed of light by at least one method (F and G),

9

apply mirror, lens, and refraction formula to solve telescope, camera, and the human-eye problems (F, G, and H),

10

apply the Young's double-slit formula to measure an unknown wavelength by measuring other simple parameters (J),

11

use a diffraction grating to measure the wavelength of an unknown source (J),

12

learn Einstein's relativity postulates to apply the necessary formulas where relativistic considerations become important (K),

13

apply the photoelectric and Compton effects where particle energy is vital to initiate electron release or movement (L),

14

be able to explain the Bohr model of atomic structure and calculate the radius of the hydrogen atom (M),

15

be able to use the de Broglie wavelength for different masses moving at different speeds (N),

16

be able to write the atomic structure of different atoms (O),

17

be able to explain nuclear structure, binding energy, short-range forces, radioactivity, fission, fusion, and calculate the mass loss in nuclear reactions (P), and

18

briefly explain new development in atomic structure and subatomic particles. (Q)

*

Letters after performance expectations reference the course objectives listed above.

Students are primarily evaluated on the basis of test/quiz type assessments and homework as outlined on the syllabus and a supplement sheet distributed by the instructor.

A

The following formula is used to evaluate the course grade:

Course Grade = (0.75)x(Theory Grade) + (0.25)x(Lab Grade)

B

Tests count (80%), quizzes (10%), and homework (10%).  The number of tests may vary from 5 to 7.  The percentages given for tests, quizzes, and homework may vary depending on the instructor.

C

Laboratory Grade = (the sum of reports grades) / (the number of the reports).

10 experiments listed below are designed for the course. Each experiment requires a report that must be at least spell-checked. Procedures for a standard lab report will be given by your lab instructor.  To avoid a ZERO  Laboratory Grade, at least 6 reports must be turned in.  No late lab report(s) will be accepted and there are No Lab Make-ups.

D

Site Visits: The necessary site visits will be announced as the arrangements are made. Evaluation will be based on of attendance as well as the visit report.

E

Grading Scale:   (91-100: A),  (87-91: B+),  ( 81-87 : B),  (77-81: C+),  (70-77:C), and (60-70: D)

1

Hooke's Law and Simple Harmonic Motion

2

Standing Waves in a String

3

Air Column Resonance and Speed of Sound

4

Reflection of Light (Flat Mirrors)

5

Reflection of Light (Spherical Mirrors)

6

Refraction of Light (Snell’s Law)

7

Refraction of Light (Thin Lenses)

8

Interference of Light Waves (Diffraction Grating)

9

Atomic Structure (The Hydrogen Atom)

10

Nuclear Radiation (The Chart of Nuclides)