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 Mastering Physics HWs are to be finished by 11:40 AM of the day they are due.  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 Homework

#1
M, 12 JAN

Introduction to course

#2
W, 14 JAN

Electromagnetic Waves; Maxwell's equations, Derivation of wave equation. Reading: Chap 32.1-32.2

#3
F, 16 JAN

Sinusoidal electromganetic waves, Energy and Momentum in electromagnetic waves. Reading: Chap 32.3-32.4

#4
W, 21 JAN

Energy and Momentum in electromagnetic waves, Standing electromagnetic waves. Reading: Chap 32.4-32.5

MP: HW #1  

#5
F, 23 JAN

Nature of light; Reflection and Refraction, Total internal reflection. Reading: Chap 33.1-33.3

WH: HW #2 (Problems: 32.39, 32.40, 32.43, 32.45)

#6
M, 26 JAN

Dispersion, Polarization. Reading: Chap 33.4-33.5  

MP: HW #3

#7
W, 28 JAN

Scattering of light, Huygens's principle. Reading: Chap 33.6-33.7

#8
F, 30 JAN

Geometric Optics; Reflection and Refraction at plane surfaces, Reflection at spherical surfaces. Reading: Chap 34.1-34.2

WH: HW #4 (Problems: 33.49, 33.51, 33.61, 33.63)

#9
M, 2 FEB

Reflection at spherical surfaces, Refraction at spherical surfaces, Thin lenses. Reading: Chap 34.2-34.4

#10
W, 4 FEB

Thin lenses. Reading: Chap 34.4

MP: HW #5

#11
F, 6 FEB

Cameras, the Human eye. Reading: Chap 34.5-34.6

WH: HW #6 (Problems: 34.83, 34.85, 34.93, 34.105)

#12
M, 9 FEB

Magnifier, Microscopes and Telescopes. Reading: Chap 34.7-34.8

#13
W, 11 FEB

TEST 1: All Topics in Chaps 32-34

 

#14
F, 13 FEB

Interference; Interference and coherent sources, Two-source interference. Reading: Chap 35.1-35.2

#15
M, 16 FEB

Intensity in interference patterns, Interference in thin films. Reading: Chap 35.3-35.4

MP: HW #7

#16
W, 18 FEB

Interference in thin films, Michelson interferometer. Reading: Chap. 35.4-35.5

 

#17
F, 20 FEB

Diffraction; Fresnel and Fraunhofer diffraction, Single slit diffraction. Reading: Chap 36.1-36.2

WH: HW #8 (Problems: 35.41, 35.47, 35.49, 35.57)  

#18
M, 23 FEB

Intensity in single-slit pattern, Multiple slits, Diffraction grating. Reading: Chap 36.3-36.5

MP: HW #9  

#19
W, 25 FEB

X-ray diffraction, Circular aperture diffraction, Holography. Reading: Chap 36.6-36.8

#20
F, 27 FEB

TEST 2: All Topics in Chaps 35-36

WH: HW #10 (Problems: 36.55, 36.57, 36.65, 36.69) 

#21
M, 2 MAR

Special Relativity. Reading: Six Ideas - Chap 1

#22
W, 4 MAR

Special Relativity. Reading: Six Ideas - Chap 2

 

#23
F, 6 MAR

Special Relativity. Reading: Six Ideas - Chap 6 

Spring Break

 

#24
M, 16 MAR

Special Relativity. Reading: Six Ideas - Chap 7

WH: HW #11 (Problems: R1B.4, R1S.10, R2B.6, R2S.11)  

#25
W, 18 MAR

Special Relativity. Reading: Six Ideas - Chap 5

 

                     

#26
F, 20 MAR

Special Relativity. Reading: Six Ideas - Chap 8

#27
M, 23 MAR

Special Relativity. Reading: Six Ideas - Chap 9

MP: HW #12

#28
W, 25 MAR

Special Relativity. Reading: Six Ideas - Chap 10

#29
F, 27 MAR

TEST 3: Special Relativity

WH: HW #13 (Problems: R5S.4, R7S.6, R8B.2, R9B.9, R10S.9)

#30
M, 30 MAR

Photons; Photoelectric effect, X-ray production. Reading: Chap 38.1-38.2 (back to Young and Freedman book from here on)

#31
W, 1 APR

Photoelectric effect, X-ray production. Reading: Chap 38.1-38.2

 

#32
F, 3 APR

Compton scattering, Pair production. Reading: Chap 38.3

#33
M, 6 APR

Heisenberg uncertainty principle. Reading: Chap 38.4

MP: HW #14

#34
W, 8 APR

Particles Behaving as Waves; Electron waves, Nuclear atoms. Reading: Ch 39.1-39.2

 

#35
F, 10 APR

Bohr model of the atom, Laser. Reading: Chap 39.3-39.5

WH: HW #15 (Problems: 38.32, 38.34, 38.35, 38.41)

#36
M, 13 APR

Continuous spectra, Uncertainty principle (revisited). Reading: Chap 39.5-39.6

MP: HW #16

#37
W, 15 APR

Quantum Mechanics; Wave functions and Schrodinger equation, Particle in a box. Reading: Chap 40.1-40.2

#38
F, 17 APR

Potential wells, Potential barriers and Tunneling. Reading: Chap 40.3-40.4

WH: HW #17 (Problems: 39.55, 39.69, 39.85, 39.87)

#39
M, 20 APR

Harmonic oscillator. Reading: Chap 40.5  

MP: HW #18

#40
W, 22 APR

Atomic Structure; Schrodinger equation in three dimensions. Reading: Chap 41.1

#41
F, 24 APR

Particles in a three-dimensional box. Reading: Chap 41.2

WH: HW #19 (Problems: 40.46, 40.53, 40.57, 40.65)

#42
M, 27 APR

The Hydrogen atom. Reading: Chap 41.3

#43
W, 29 APR

The Zeeman effect. Reading: Chap 41.4

#44
F, 1 MAY

Electron spin. Reading: Chap 41.5  

MP: HW #20

F, 8 MAY

FINAL EXAM (10:00-12:00 in RH 103)