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Student Learning Outcomes - - Labs experiments should teach the students the background science, error analysis and how to perform experiments.
- Students should demonstrate competence in Modern Physics, includingSpecial RelativityWave Nature of Quantum Physics
- Students should demonstrate competence in optics, including:RelectionRefractionLensesMirrors
- Students should demonstrate competence in waves, including:SoundE&M WavesInterference
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Description - |
| Lectures, demonstrations, and problems in waves; optics; introductory quantum mechanics; atomic physics; and nuclear physics. |
Course Objectives - |
| The student will be able to:
- Analyze the properties of waves and apply mathematical formulas to physical problems.
- Analyze and solve problems in optics.
- Compute special relativity problems and interpret related paradoxes and special cases.
- Explain wave-particle duality and its implications through both historical and thought experiments.
- Discuss the concepts of quantum mechanics and solve simple problems.
- Explain models of nuclear physics, how they relate to observed results, and solve problems concerning radioactive decay.
- Explain current theories in particle physics.
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Special Facilities and/or Equipment - |
| - Physics laboratory with equipment for teaching introductory thermal physics, electricity and magnetism.
- When taught via Foothill Global Access, on-going access to computer with email software and hardware; email address.
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Course Content (Body of knowledge) - |
| - Analyze the properties of waves and apply mathematical formulas to physical problems.
- The wave function and the propagation speed of a wave
- Traveling waves
- Speed of a wave on a string
- Transverse vs. longitudinal waves
- Energy transfer
- Reflection, transmission, and superposition of waves
- Sound waves, intensity, and the Doppler effect
- Sounds as a pressure wave
- Speed of sound
- Periodic sound waves
- Definition
- Intensity
- Decibels
- Loudness and frequency
- Doppler effect
- Source moving
- Detector moving
- Both moving
- Sonic booms
- Standing waves, interference, and resonance
- Superposition and interference
- Destructive interference
- Constructive interference
- Superposition of sinusoidal waves
- Standing waves
- Nodes and antinodes
- Standing waves as a function of time
- Standing waves on a string
- Standing waves in air columns
- Open both ends
- Closed one end
- Standing waves on a membrane
- Resonance
- Beats
- Electromagnetic waves and their propagation speed
- Analyze and solve problems in optics.
- Reflection and refraction of light
- Ray approximation
- Reflection
- Refraction
- Index of refraction
- Snell's law
- Huygen's principle
- Total internal reflection
- Geometrical optics, mirrors, lenses, and optical instruments
- Images formed by mirrors
- Image distance
- Object distance
- Magnification
- Real vs. virtual
- Upright vs. inverted
- Concave vs. convex
- Ray diagrams for mirrors
- Images formed by lenses
- Image distance
- Object distance
- Magnification
- Real vs. virtual
- Upright vs. inverted
- Concave vs. convex
- Ray diagrams for lenses
- Optical instruments
- The eye
- Microscopes
- Telescopes
- Optical interference, diffraction, and polarization
- Young's double slit
- Constructive and destructive interference
- Intensity distribution
- Thin film interference
- Change of phase on reflection
- Coatings
- Newton's rings
- Michelson interferometer
- Compute special relativity problems and interpret related paradoxes and special cases.
- Frames of reference
- Inertial vs. noninertial frames
- Galilean tranforms
- Einstein's postulates
- Laws of physics same in inertial frames
- Speed of light constant in inertial frames
- Lorentz transformations
- Length contraction
- Time dilation
- Simultaneity
- Experimental evidence
- Muon decay
- Airborne atomic clocks
- Paradoxes
- Addition of velocities
- Momentum
- Energy
- Explain wave-particle duality and its implications through both historical and thought experiments.
- Light acting like a particle
- Blackbody radiation
- Definition of a black body
- Classical attempts at solution
- Planck's solution
- The photoelectric effect
- Experimental evidence
- Einstein's solution
- The Compton effect
- Wave properties of particles
- The de Broglie hypothesis
- Electron diffraction
- Wave-particle duality
- Two slit experiments
- Predictions for waves
- Predictions for particles
- Experimental results
- The concept of probabilistic results
- Discuss the concepts of quantum mechanics and solve simple problems
- Probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics
- Heisenberg uncertainty principle
- Correspondence principle
- Discuss models and solve problems pertaining to the hydrogen atom, the periodic table and condensed matter physics.
- Bohr's model of the hydrogen atom and the hydrogen spectrum
- Restriction of angular momentum to integer multiples of Planck's constant
- Bohr radius
- Energy levels and the hydrogen spectrum
- Shortcomings of the Bohr model
- Quantum mechanical approach
- Schrodinger's equation
- The need for four quantum numbers
- Wave functions for the hydrogen atom
- Shapes
- Probabilities
- Pauli exclusion principle
- The periodic table
- Explain models of nuclear physics, how they relate to observed results, and solve problems concerning radioactive decay.
- Models of the nucleus
- Stability
- Ratio of protons to neutrons
- Radioactivity
- Decay and half-lives
- Biological effects of radiation
- Fission
- Fusion
- Explain current theories in particle physics.
- Inventory of particles
- Leptons
- Hadrons
- Baryons
- Mesons
- Conservation laws
- Quarks
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Methods of Evaluation - |
| - Weekly assignments
- Mid-term test
- Laboratory
- Final examination
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Representative Text(s) - |
| Urone and Hinrichs. College Physics. OpenStax, 2012. Note: OpenStax is the main OER text in the field. The text itself has undergone regular updates since 2012, but the copyright/edition date remains 2012.
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Disciplines - |
| Physics/Astronomy
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Method of Instruction - |
| - Lecture
- Discussion
- Cooperative learning exercises
- Electronic discussions/chat
- Laboratory
- Demonstration
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Lab Content - |
| - Suggested laboratory experiments:
- Speed of sound in air
- Standing waves (in a string or air column)
- Index of refraction
- Focal length
- Lenses
- Interference and diffraction
- Photoelectric effect
- The hydrogen spectra
- Measurements of radioactivity
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Types and/or Examples of Required Reading, Writing and Outside of Class Assignments - |
| - Homework problems: Homework problems covering subject matter from text and related material ranging from 10-40 problems per week. Students will need to employ critical thinking in order to complete assignments.
- Lecture: Four hours per week of lecture covering subject matter from text and related material. Reading and study of the textbook, related materials and notes.
- Labs: Students will perform experiments and discuss their results in either the form of a written lab report or via oral examination. Reading and understanding the lab manual prior to class is essential to success.
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