what does the course of.modern physics include

by Vickie Balistreri 3 min read

In this course we will cover the topics of Modern Physics, covering Quantum, Blackbody Radiation, Photoelectric Effect, Photon Energy and Momentum, Wave Duality, Atomic History, Spectra, The Bohr Model, Nuclear Physics, and finally the Standard Model.

What are the course topics? Relativity, Wave-Particle Duality, Atomic Structure, Quantum Mechanics, the Hydrogen Atom, Many-Electron Atoms, Molecules, Statistical Mechanics, Solid State Physics, Nuclear Structure, Nuclear Transformations and Elementary Particles.

Full Answer

What is modern physics and how is it taught?

Modern Physics is the third semester in our three-semester sequence of introductory physics courses. It comes in two flavors at CU: a course for engineering students (PHYS 2130), and one for physics majors (PHYS 2170). These course materials have been used in both environments.

What are the core topics of modern physics?

These are generally considered to be the topics regarded as the "core" of the foundation of modern physics: Atomic theory and the evolution of the atomic model in general. Black-body radiation. Oil drop experiment. Franck–Hertz experiment. Geiger–Marsden experiment (Rutherford's experiment) Gravitational lensing.

What are the chapters that come under modern physics?

Following are the chapters that come under modern physics: 1 Dual nature of matter and radiation 2 Atoms 3 Nuclei 4 Semi-conductors 5 Communication system

What are the branches of modern physics?

Notable branches of modern physics include quantum physics, special relativity, and general relativity. Classical physics is typically concerned with everyday conditions: speeds are much lower than the speed of light, sizes are much greater than that of atoms, and energies are relatively small.

What are included in modern physics?

Modern Physics TopicsAtomic theory and the evolution of the atomic model in general.Black-body radiation.Franck–Hertz experiment.Geiger–Marsden experiment (Rutherford's experiment)Gravitational lensing.Michelson–Morley experiment.Photoelectric effect.Quantum thermodynamics.More items...

What is a modern physics course?

“Modern” physics means physics based on the two major breakthroughs of the early twentieth century: relativity and quantum mechanics. Physics based on what was known before then (Newton's laws, Maxwell's equations, thermodynamics) is called “classical” physics.

What are the four branches of modern physics?

A number of main branches of physics are discussed below.Mechanics. Mechanics is the branch of physics which deals with the motion of an object without or with the reference of force. ... Optics. ... Thermodynamics. ... Electromagnetism. ... Relativity. ... Acoustic.

What are the course under physics?

Studying physics at universityLaboratory physics.Contemporary physics.Mathematical techniques.Quantum physics.Newtonian and relativistic mechanics.Fabric of physics.Plasma and fluids.Special and general relativity.More items...

How many branches of modern physics are there?

TwoThe science branch of science which deals with the interaction of energy and matter is called physics. There are Two Major Branches of Physics that are Modern and Classical Physics. Further physics sub branches are electromagnetism, Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Optics.

Why do we need to study modern physics?

Studying physics strengthens quantitative reasoning and problem solving skills that are valuable in areas beyond physics. Students who study physics or engineering physics are prepared to work on forefront ideas in science and technology, in academia, the government, or the private sector.

What are the 3 main parts of physics?

There are Two Main Branches of Physics, Classical Physics and Modern Physics. Further sub Physics branches are Mechanics, Electromagnetism, Thermodynamics, Optics, etc.

What are the 9 major fields of physics?

Here are all branches of Physics:Classical Physics.Modern Physics.Nuclear Physics.Atomic Physics.Geophysics.Biophysics.Mechanics.Acoustics.More items...

What are the 7 branches of physics?

Terms in this set (7)Mechanics. Motion and its causes; interactions between objects.Thermodynamics. Heat and temperature.Vibrations and Waves Phenomena. Specific types of repetitive motions- springs, pendulums, sound.Optics. Light (including mirrors), lenses, colors.Electromagnetism. ... Relativity. ... Quantum Mechanics.

How many courses are there in physics?

Full list of Physics CoursesCourse NumberCourse TitlePHYS 0160Introduction to Relativity and Quantum PhysicsPHYS 0220AstronomyPHYS 0500Advanced Classical MechanicsPHYS 0560Experiments in Modern Physics33 more rows

What is the best course in physics?

Best Free Online Physics Courses with CertificateCourse NameRatingProviderPhysics: Intro to Electricity & Magnetism4.7/5UdemyPhysics Essentials 14.4/5UdemyAstronomy for VCE Physics4.6/5UdemyIGCSE Physics Chapter 2 Thermal Physics (Cambridge CIE)4.2/5Udemy36 more rows•May 3, 2022

How many subjects are there in physics?

Physics as a subject is divided into six broad branches as discussed below. This branch takes a keen look at the behavior of light in various media. This branch looks at the interaction between electric fields and magnetic fields and the applications of such interactions.

What are the differences between quantum mechanical and relativistic physics?

Modern physics is often encountered when dealing with extreme conditions. Quantum mechanical effects tend to appear when dealing with "lows" (low temperatures, small distances), while relativistic effects tend to appear when dealing with "highs" (high velocities, large distances), the "middles" being classical behavior.

What is modern physics?

Modern physics is a branch of physics either developed in the early 20th century and onward or branches greatly influenced by early 20th century physics. Notable branches of modern physics include quantum mechanics, special relativity and general relativity .

What are the hallmarks of physics?

Hallmarks. Main articles: History of quantum mechanics and History of relativity. These are generally considered to be the topics regarded as the "core" of the foundation of modern physics: Atomic theory and the evolution of the atomic model in general. Black-body radiation.

What is classical physics?

Classical physics is typically concerned with everyday conditions: speeds are much lower than the speed of light, sizes are much greater than that of atoms, and energies are relatively small. Modern physics, however, is concerned with more extreme conditions, such as high velocities that are comparable to the speed of light (special relativity), ...

What is the difference between classical and modern physics?

Classical physics is usually concerned with everyday conditions: speeds are much lower than the speed of light, sizes are much greater than that of atoms, yet very small in astronomical terms. Modern physics, however, is concerned with high velocities, small distances, and very large energies.

Is quantum mechanics compatible with special relativity?

While quantum mechanics is compatible with special relativity (See: Relativistic quantum mechanics ), one of the unsolved problems in physics is the unification of quantum mechanics and general relativity, which the Standard model (of particle physics) currently cannot account for.

Which distribution fails to account for the observed behavior of the gas?

However near absolute zero, the Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution fails to account for the observed behavior of the gas, and the (modern) Fermi–Dirac or Bose–Einstein distributions have to be used instead. German physicists Albert Einstein, founder of the theory of relativity, and Max Planck, founder of quantum theory.

What is the purpose of physics?

To gain an appreciation of the extensive changes that took place in physics at the turn of the twentieth century. To develop the skills necessary to solve problems of modern physics and its applications and provide sufficient background for the student to pursue advanced work in materials, optics, and other applied sciences.

What is the importance of understanding modern physics?

The understanding of modern physics and its applications is essential to the pursuit of advanced work in materials, optics, and other applied sciences. Topics include the special theory of relativity, particle-like properties of light, wave-like properties of particles, wave mechanics, atomic and nuclear phenomena, elementary particles, ...

What is the photoelectric effect?

Referred to as an instantaneous process, the photoelectric effect is explained as a phenomenon which occurs when electrons are emitted from a metal surface when the light of an adequate frequency is incident upon.

Why do electrons change in number?

Due to a change in potential, the electrons gradually changing in the number reflects that the ejected electrons possess a variety of velocities. For a negative potential of the collector, the current is reduced to zero indicating that is some upper limit of the energy that electrons emit.

Why is it important to go through the formulas in physics?

In order to cover different topics of modern physics, it is important to go through the formulas which you must remember as they will help you solve numerical problems in competitive exams. There are different formulas required to crack derivations and concept based questions.

What is modern physics?

Physics is a prominent field of science which is filled with a number of remarkable and astonishing experiments, facts and discoveries which have been life-changing contributions . Modern Physics is a subfield of Physics and consists of a variety of ground-breaking inventions and concepts. Dealing with post-Newtonian concepts, Modern ...

What to learn while gearing up for engineering entrance exams?

While gearing up for engineering entrance exams or any other rigorous competitive exams, you must learn about the basic core concepts of modern physics. Making notes while practising a subject will also help you in the last moment revision. Mentioned below are important notes for this topic:

Which part of an atom contains the most charge?

The nucleus which is the central part of the atom contains positive charge and almost the entire mass of the atom. Also, the electrons revolve around the nucleus in a fixed circular orbit.

Is photoelectric current dependent on the frequency of light?

The photoelectric current is independent of the frequency of light and is directly proportional to the intensity of light. The maximum velocity of the electrons (stopping potential) is dependent on the frequency of the incident light.

What is modern physics based on?

Modern physics is based on the two major inventions of the early 20th century. These are relativity and quantum mechanics. This kind of Physics is based on what was known before then, i.e. Newton’s laws, Maxwell’s equations, thermodynamics and termed as classical physics.

What are the two major breakthroughs of the twentieth century?

It is having its base on the two major breakthroughs of the twentieth century. These are Relativity and Quantum Mechanics. Modern physics mainly involves the advanced description of nature through some theories which were different from classical Physics. These are involving the elements of quantum mechanics and Einsteinian relativity.

What is the meaning of the term "energy"?

It means, their energy is given by an integer multiple of a minimum value. In the year 1924, the wave-particle duality, which was established by physicist Louis De’Broglie, showed that anybody can behave like a wave. In the year 1926, Quantum Mechanics appeared.

What is the purpose of modern physics?

Its purpose is to find the quantitative physical laws for everything from the Nanoworld to the planets. A branch of science which is dealing with the interaction of matter and energy is popularly known as physics.

What is the most difficult concept in physics?

Answer: The most difficult concept in physics is undoubtedly the unification of the theory of gravity with the theories concerning matter and the other three fundamental forces. These forces are like electromagnetism and nuclear forces. At the later stage, it is constituting the Standard Model.

What did Einstein show about relativity?

In the year 1905, through his theory of relativity, Albert Einstein explained and showed that references which move at very high speeds. This speed was close to the speed of light propagation, experience the passage of time and the measurement of distances in different ways.

When did quantum mechanics start?

In the year 1926 , Quantum Mechanics appeared. It was the result of the work of physicists like Werner Heisenberg and Erwin Schröedinger. Thus, modern physics was able to explore the nature of the microscopic world and the great relativistic speeds.

What did Einstein explain about the photoelectric effect?

On the other hand, the interference of electrons and the stability of an atom could only be described if electrons were considered as waves.

What is the difference between quantum theory and relativity?

Quantum theory explains the physical phenomena at a short scale whereas the theory of relativity describes large-scale physics and gravity. Quantum physics broadly consists of topics like atomic structure, wave nature of matter, the spin of elementary particles, uncertainty principle, radioactivity, and many more.

What did classical physics fail to explain?

Classical physics failed to explain the experimental results of black body radiation, photoelectric effect, and the phenomena of interference of electrons, the stability of an atom. Classical physics considers waves and particles as different notions.

What did Einstein think of spacetime?

Einstein introduced the idea of “spacetime”. A massive object can wrap the fabric of spacetime and gravity is its consequence. Einstein also realized that mass and energy are equivalent concepts. The equivalent energy E corresponding to a mass m is, E = m c 2. Here, c denotes the speed of light in vacuum.

What are the concepts of quantum theory?

Concepts of modern physics. The key concepts of quantum theory are, Wave - Particle Duality : Light behaves as both wave and particle. Light consists of photons or quanta of energy. Particles have a wave nature. Particles are delocalized in space.

What is the study of all natural phenomena?

Physics is the study of all natural phenomena from both theoretical and experimental viewpoints. The developments of the subject have been made by numerous scientists. Considering the most important contributions, the title “Father of Physics” is given to three scientists at different times.

What is modern physics?

Modern physics is a branch of physics that deals with the fundamental nature of the universe with post-Newtonian concepts. In the early twentieth century, some experimental results could not be matched with the predictions of classical physics, which describes the physical phenomena at an ordinary scale. Modern physics gradually took birth ...

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Course Description

Modern physics is a branch of physics that developed in the early 20th century and onward or branches greatly influenced by early 20th century physics. Notable branches of modern physics include quantum mechanics, special relativity and general relativity.
Classical physics is typically concerned with everyday conditions: speeds are …

Course Goal

Course Objectives

Syllabus

Student Assessment Criteria

  • This course covers a broad spectrum of topics related to the development of quantum and relativity theories. The understanding of modern physics and its applications is essential to the pursuit of advanced work in materials, optics, and other applied sciences. Topics include the special theory of relativity, particle-like properties of light, wave-...
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Computer and Technical Requirements

  • To gain an appreciation of the extensive changes that took place in physics at the turn of the twentieth century. To develop the skills necessary to solve problems of modern physics and its applications and provide sufficient background for the student to pursue advanced work in materials, optics, and other applied sciences.
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Participation Expectations

  1. Identify and describe the changes in physics that took place near the end of the 19th century.
  2. Analyze and solve problems related to the main physical concepts and theories of the 20th century.
  3. Compare and contrast the "old" versus "new" physics and identify the regimes of validity where each applies.
  1. Identify and describe the changes in physics that took place near the end of the 19th century.
  2. Analyze and solve problems related to the main physical concepts and theories of the 20th century.
  3. Compare and contrast the "old" versus "new" physics and identify the regimes of validity where each applies.
  4. Use advanced analysis and mathematical methods for advanced studies or application in the practical world.

Final Words from The Instructor

  1. The Old Theory - A historical perspective
  2. Special Relativity
  3. Relativistic Doppler Effect
  4. General Relativity
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