TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

Dates when topics are covered in class AND test and homework assignment due dates are SUBJECT TO CHANGE.  I will update this regularly, adding HW and reading assignments several lectures ahead of time.

Note that test dates may change by as much as ± TWO WEEKS

The homeworks are either from Mastering Physics (MP) or written (WH) and are to be handed in during class.    All HWs count towards your grade unless explicitly noted. In Mastering Physics, always answer numerical questions with 3 significant figures unless the problem specifically requests that you do otherwise. CAUTION:  Do not wait until the last minute to work and submit your Mastering Physics homework.  It is a computer-based system.  Things go wrong with computers.  I will not accept "computer problems" as an excuse for not being able to submit Mastering Physics homework on time.  

 

Date Due 

Reading Assignment/ 
Topics discussed that day

Homework Assignment Due Dates  

MP = Mastering Physics 
WH = written HW

#1
W, 13 JAN

Intro to course. Review Maxwell’s Eqns. Reading: Chap 32.1-32.2

#2
F, 2O JAN

EM Wave Equation Derivation. Reading: read Chap 32.1-32.3

#3
M, 23 JAN

EM Wave Equation continued; Energy and Momentum in EM Waves Reading: Chap 32.4-32.5

MP: hw #1

#4
W, 25 JAN

Standing Waves, Rays and Wavefronts; Reflection and Refraction; Reading: Chap 32.5, 33.1-33.2

 

#5
F, 27 JAN

Total internal reflection, polarization, Huygen's Principle; Reading: Chap 33.3-33.5

#6
M, 30 JAN

Chap 32.5-end 

MP: hw#2

#7
W, 1 FEB

Refraction and Reflection Reading: Chap 33

#8
F, 3 FEB

Start Huygens Principle; Ch. 34 Reading: Chap 34

MP: hw#3

#9
M, 6 FEB

EM waves at spherical surfaces, Thin lenses; Lensmakers Equation; Reading: Chap 34.2-4

 

MP: HW #4

#10
W, 8 FEB

Thin lenses; Lensmakers Equation; Reading: Chap 34.2-4

#11
F, 10 FEB

Cameras/Human Eye/Microscopes and Telescopes; Chap 34.8

WH: hw#5 -- see UNM Learn site; practice problems will be posted on MP

#12
M, 13 FEB

Review for Test 1. Reading Chap 32-34

MP: hw#6 - due on Tuesday

#13
W, 15 FEB

TEST 1: All Topics before approximately Ch. 35

 

#14
F, 17 FEB

Interference, two-source interference, intensity; Reading: Chap 35.1 - 35.3

MP: hw#7

#15
M, 20 FEB

Interference, two-source interference, intensity; Reading: Chap 35.1 - 35.3

MP: hw#8

#16
W, 22 FEB

Interference in thin films; Michelson interferometer; Reading Ch. 34.4-35.5

 

#17
F, 24 FEB

Single slit diffraction; Reading: Chap 36.1-36.3

WH: hw#9 

#18
M, 27 FEB

Multiple Slits and Diffraction Gratings; Reading: Chap 36.4-36.5

 

#19
W, 1 MAR

Multiple Slits and Diffraction Gratings; Reading: Chap 36.4-36.5

#20
F, 3 MAR

X-ray Diffraction; circular aperture diffraction; Reading Chap 36.6-36.7

MP: hw#10 

#21
M, 6 MAR

Start Special Relativity, Reading 37.1-2

MP: hw#11

#22
W, 8 MAR

Special Relativity, Reading:37.3-4

 

#22
F, 10 MAR

Special Relativity, Reading: 37.5

WH: hw#12 

SPRING Break

 

#23
M, 20 MON

Special Relativity, Reading: 37.5 

#24
W, 22 MAR

SR, Lorentz Trans; Ch 37.5

WH: HW#13 

#25
F, 24 MAR

TEST 2 - All Topics since Test 1, including special relativity

 

                    

#26
M, 27 MAR

Special Relativity, Lorentz Velocity Transformation in SR, Reading: 37.5

#27
W, 29 MAR

Special Relativity, Doppler effect, Momentum in SR, Exam 2 Redo due; Reading: 37.6-7

Exam 2 Redo - due today!

#28
F, 31 MAR

Special Relativity, Energy and Momentum in SR - 4 vectors Reading:37.8

#29
M, 3 APR

Light as particles, photoelectric effect, Reading: Ch 38:1-2

MP: HW #14 - due 4/4

#30
W, 5 APR

Compton Scattering, Reading:38.3

#31
F, 7 APR

Probability and uncertainty, Reading:38.4

MP: HW #15 

#32
M, 10 APR

Particles as waves, Reading: 39.1-2

#33
W, 12 APR

Atomic Spectra, Energy Levels Reading:39.2-3

MP: HW #16 

#34
F, 14 APR

Bohr Model of Hydrogen Atom, Lasers, Reading: 39.3-4

 

#35
M, 17 APR

Blackbody Radiation, Electron Interference Reading: 39.5-6

MP: HW #17

#36
W, 19 APR

TEST 3: Topics TBD

#37
F, 21 APR

... 

 

#38
M, 24 APR

Reading: Chap 40

 

#39
W, 26 APR

Reading: Ch 40

MP: hw#19

#40
F, 28 APR

Reading:Chapter 40

MP: hw#20

#41
M, 1 MAY

Reading: Chap 41

 

#42
W, 2 MAY

Reading: Chap 41

MP: hw#21

#43
F, 5 MAY

EXAM REVIEW

F, 12 MAY

FINAL EXAM AND EXAM 4 10AM-12PM