Module Identifier | PH14020 | ||
Module Title | DYNAMICS, RELATIVITY AND QUANTUM PHYSICS | ||
Academic Year | 2001/2002 | ||
Co-ordinator | Professor Geraint Vaughan | ||
Semester | Semester 1 | ||
Other staff | Dr James Whiteway, Dr Keith Birkinshaw | ||
Pre-Requisite | Normal entry requirements for Part 1 Physics | ||
Co-Requisite | Part 1 core modules | ||
Course delivery | Lecture | 40 Lectures | |
Workshop | 2 Example Classes | ||
Practical | Incorporated into PH15010 and PH15510 | ||
Assessment | Course work | Examples sheets 1,2,3,4,5,6,8 &9 Deadlines are detailed in the Year 1 Example Sheet Schedule distributed by the Department | 30% |
Exam | 3 Hours End of semester examination | 70% |
Kinematics: Newton's laws of motion; inertial frames; Galilean transformations; relativity principle of Newtonian mechanics; momentum and kinetic energy; collision processes; internal forces; centre-of-mass system.
-Gravity and weight.
Universal gravitation: g and G; variation of g for terrestrial observer; planetary motion and artificial satellites.
Potential energy and gravitational fields.
Rotational motion: centripetal acceleration/force; moment of inertia; equation of motion; angular momentum; analogy between linear and rotational motion.
Relativity
Introduction and discussion of the shortcomings of pre-relativistic physics, which lead to the simple postulates of Special Relativity, with spectacular results in our understanding of space and time. The Lorentz-Einstein transformations are derived from the postulates, leading to an understanding of time-dilation and Lorentz contraction.
Quantum Physics
Radiation: Black-body radiation, Laws of Wein and Stefan, breakdown of classical theory, Planck function.
Photoelectric effect, photon as particle.
Rutherford Scattering, Bohr atom and one-electron spectra.
Nuclear masses, mass number, binding energy, stable nuclei.
Radioactive decay, beta-ray spectra, gamma-ray spectra, half life.
Wave-particle duality, Young's slit experiment.
De Broglie relationships, Electron diffraction, the Uncertainty Principle.
Progression from Bohr theory: Schrodinger equation, introduction to *. Standing waves.
Multielectron atoms: the idea of orbitals and the four quantum numbers. Pauli Exclusion Principle.
Periodic Table, molecular orbitals and covalent bonding.
Ionic and van der Waals bonds. Inter-atomic energy curve.
Crystalline and amorphous solids. Types of crystals, crystal organisation.
Electrons in crystals: introduction to band theory. Conductors, insulators, semiconductors.