Physics 2170, Fall 2009 Syllabus

Quick information

Required materials

• Modern Physics for Scientists and Engineers Second Edition by Taylor, Zafiratos, and Dubson
• IClicker, available in the CU bookstore

Grading

Your grade in this class comes from the following:

• 65% from exams (10% from each of three midterms and 35% from the final)
• The three midterms will be in class (dates to be determined - will be scheduled shortly)
• The final is on December 15, 2009 from 4:30-7:00 PM
• 30% from the homework
• Homework is due at 9:50 AM on Wednesday (before class) in the wood box just inside the physics help room (G2B90)
• You are encouraged to work together on the problems but each student must write up their own answers
• The lowest homework score will be dropped
• 5% from in-class work
• Each lecture will have 1-5 clicker questions which you will answer after discussing with your fellow students. You receive 2 points for answering and an extra point for a correct answer on these questions. This accounts for 5% of your grade. The lowest 5 lectures will be dropped.

Classroom conduct

To ensure a distraction free environment for all students, all laptop computers, MP3 players, cell phones, and similar devices are not to be used during lecture.

Overall Course Goals:

Reason for the course.

The goal of this course is for you to understand the basics of modern physics... particularly in two areas: special relativity and quantum mechanics. Special relativity will give you tools to understand the nature of measurement, simultaneity and mathematical formalisms that describe the rules that govern the universe when approaching the speed of light. Quantum mechanics will focus on the microscopic origin of the behavior of materials that you may encounter in the world around you or in technological applications. Engineers and scientists use simplified models to describe material properties, and most of the time these approximations work fine, but not always. This course will help you to understand why these models work and where they become unreliable and why. The latter issues become particularly important as one is working in the area of nanotechnology. A secondary goal is to increase your general knowledge through understanding the new (past hundred years) way physicists have come to understand how the universe behaves, i.e. according to the laws of quantum physics.

General Structure of the course.

1. The key conceptual and mathematical formalisms that describe the relations between space and time and Einstein's theory of special relativity.
2. The key experimental results that gave rise to the ideas of quantum mechanics and how the ideas of quantum mechanics explains these experiments. In all three sections, the use and limitations of mathematics will be considered.
3. Deeper exploration of the ideas of QM and learning to apply these ideas in simple systems such as simple atoms and model situations.
4. Applying ideas to a number of real world situations.

Guiding principles of the instruction:

1. People understand concepts better by seeing them in action and thinking about them than by hearing them explained.
2. Understanding physics (and solving problems that test that understanding) is a learned skill, like cooking, or playing basketball or the violin. It takes time, effort, and practice.
3. People learn best by thinking about topics and discussing them with others.
4. Students learn most when they take the responsibility for what is learned.

In keeping with these principles, there will be a substantial number of homework problems each week. You will have considerable difficulty completing them if you work alone. However, if you work with other students and develop an expert approach to problem solving, the homework problems should take you less time and effort, and you will learn a lot from doing them. Although you are encouraged to work out the solutions to problems together with other students, you are required to write up the answers in your own words. So each student's wording should be unique to the student. Typically you will need to spend between four and six hours outside of class to master the material.

There will be problem-solving sessions Monday and Tuesday where you will be able to conveniently get together with other students to work on homework. The instructor, Jamie Nagle, will be present at these sessions to provide coaching on problem solving methods. You are encouraged to come to these to work with other students and get coaching in problem solving as necessary. The times and room numbers are listed above. The physics help room is also open 40 hours per week, and there are always students and TAs there, although they are not necessarily from 2170.

Students begin this class with a range of backgrounds in physics and math. As a result, it is impossible for each class to be perfectly matched to everyone's background. I would like to provide whatever help is necessary for every student, regardless of their background, to do well in the course and achieve all of the learning goals. However, it is your responsibility to recognize that you need that help, and to take advantage of its availability by asking to meet with me. You can set up an appointment or just try coming by my office.

Official course details

Homework details

• Homework Assignments will be posted on the course webpage every by Wednesday at 5pm.
• Homeworks are due 9:50 AM on Wednesday (before class) unless otherwise specified
• You are encouraged to work together on the homework problems, but you must write up the answers in your own words. There will be a Problem Solving Session each week: Mondays and Tues. The location is at reserved tables near the rear of the Physics Help Room. This is a great opportunity to come work on the homework with your classmates!
• Homework is a large part of your grade, so failing to turn in more than one assignment, and thereby getting a 0 will have a big impact on your grade. Talk to me, NOW, if you will have a scheduling problem during the term so that you will be unable to complete any of the assignments. Permission for exceptions from the normal class work schedule must be requested in advance.
• It is best if you print out the assignment early, so you see the problems before class.

Exams

• There are three in-class midterm exams (dates TBD) and one final exam on December 15, 2009 from 4:30pm-7:00 PM.
• There are no early, late, or make-up exams
• Exams are closed book. A formula sheet will be provided.
• In exceptional circumstances it is possible to have one midterm exam score dropped. You must contact me before the exam with the nature of the circumstances and if it is approvied you must provide sufficient documentation within two weeks of the exam.

Honor code

All students of the University of Colorado at Boulder are responsible for knowing and adhering to the academic integrity policy of this institution. Violations of this policy may include: cheating, plagiarism, aid of academic dishonesty, fabrication, lying, bribery, and threatening behavior. All incidents of academic misconduct shall be reported to the Honor Code Council (honor@colorado.edu; 303-735-2273). Students who are found to be in violation of the academic integrity policy will be subject to both academic sanctions from the faculty member and non-academic sanctions (including but not limited to university probation, suspension, or expulsion). Other information on the Honor Code can be found at http://www.colorado.edu/policies/honor.html and http://www.colorado.edu/academics/honorcode/

Bringing someone else's clicker to class to give them credit is a direct violation of the CU honor code - please don't do it, nor tolerate other people doing it. Please feel free to talk to me if anything is going on you're not comfortable with!

Disabilities

If you qualify for accommodations because of a disability, please submit to me (Professor Nagle) a letter from Disability Services in a timely manner so that your needs be addressed. Disability Services determines accommodations based on documented disabilities. Contact: 303-492-8671, Willard 322, and http://www.Colorado.EDU/disabilityservices

If you have a temporary medical condition or injury, see guidelines at http://www.colorado.edu/disabilityservices/go.cgi?select=temporary.html"

Discrimination and Harassment

The University of Colorado at Boulder policy on Discrimination and Harassment, the University of Colorado policy on Sexual Harassment and the University of Colorado policy on Amorous Relationships apply to all students, staff and faculty. Any student, staff or faculty member who believes s/he has been the subject of sexual harassment or discrimination or harassment based upon race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status should contact the Office of Discrimination and Harassment (ODH) at 303-492-2127 or the Office of Judicial Affairs at 303-492-5550. Information about the ODH, the above referenced policies and the campus resources available to assist individuals regarding discrimination or harassment can be obtained at http://www.colorado.edu/odh

Religious observances

Campus policy regarding religious observances requires that faculty make every effort to deal reasonably and fairly with all students who, because of religious obligations, have conflicts with scheduled exams, assignments or required attendance. In this class, please speak to me (Professor Nagle) regarding any accomodation you might need regarding religious observances.

Classroom conduct

Students and faculty each have responsibility for maintaining an appropriate learning environment. Those who fail to adhere to such behavioral standards may be subject to discipline. Professional courtesy and sensitivity are especially important with respect to individuals and topics dealing with differences of race, culture, religion, politics, sexual orientation, gender, gender variance, and nationalities. Class rosters are provided to the instructor with the student's legal name. I will gladly honor your request to address you by an alternate name or gender pronoun. Please advise me of this preference early in the semester so that I may make appropriate changes to my records. See policies at http://www.colorado.edu/policies/classbehavior.html and at http://www.colorado.edu/studentaffairs/judicialaffairs/code.html#student_code