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SIF1004 / SMES1203: Modern Physics: (2 Credit Hours)

This document provides an overview of a Modern Physics course, including its prerequisites, assessment methods, textbooks, and topics. The major topics covered are Special Relativity, Quantum Theory, Atomic Matter, Nuclear Physics and Radioactivity, Particle Physics, and Cosmology and Astrophysics. Modern Physics describes fundamental phenomena that were discovered in the 20th century and includes atomic, nuclear, particle, and quantum physics as well as relativity and cosmology.

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3K views

SIF1004 / SMES1203: Modern Physics: (2 Credit Hours)

This document provides an overview of a Modern Physics course, including its prerequisites, assessment methods, textbooks, and topics. The major topics covered are Special Relativity, Quantum Theory, Atomic Matter, Nuclear Physics and Radioactivity, Particle Physics, and Cosmology and Astrophysics. Modern Physics describes fundamental phenomena that were discovered in the 20th century and includes atomic, nuclear, particle, and quantum physics as well as relativity and cosmology.

Uploaded by

J K
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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SIF1004 / SMES1203 : Modern

Physics
(2 credit hours)
Muhammad Imran Mustafa Abdul Khudus
B.Sc. Physics (Imperial College London)
M.Sc. Physics (University College London)
Ph.D. Optoelectronics (ORC, University of Southampton)

email: [email protected]
Overview
• Prerequisites: None
• Assessment (SIF1004 & SIX1004 / SMES1203)
• 40% / 30% - Continuous assessment (Quiz, tests, etc.)
• 60% / 70% - Final examination
• Reference books:
• Young and Freedman, University Physics
• Kenneth S. Krane, Modern Physics
• Arthur Beieser, Concepts of Modern Physics
• Stephen S. Thornton, Modern Physics for Scientists and Engineers
• To be updated
Special
theory of
relativity

Cosmology
Quantum
and
Theory
astrophysics

SIF1004
Modern
Physics
Particle Atomic
physics matter

Nuclear
Physics and
Radioactivity
No. Topic Details
1. Special theory of relativity Galileo-Newtonian relativity, Michelson-Morley experiment, Special theory of
relativity postulates; Lorentz transformation, Lorentz contraction, time dilation
Relativity of Mass, Momentum and Energy, 4-vector time-position: 4-vector,
velocity 4-vector, momentum 4-vector and momentum–energy.

2. Quantum Theory The need for quantum theory, Duality of Particle-Wave, Wave Function,
Heisenberg uncertainty, Time independent Schrodinger equation, Examples in 1-
D: zero free particle and infinite square well potential.

3. Atomic matter Summary of atomic structure and the physics of periodic table, Types of Atomic
Bonding, Van de Waals bond, X-ray spectrum and atomic number, Crystal
structures, basic concept of phonons , Introduction to electron conduction in
conductor, semiconductor and insulator.

4. Nuclear Physics and Radioactivity Structure and characteristics of nucleus, binding energy, Nuclear forces.
Radioactivity, Conservation Laws, Q-value, natural Radioactivity Series, Nuclear
reactions, nuclear reactor and technology

5. Particle physics Elementary particles and forces


6. Cosmology and astrophysics Introduction to Big-Bang theory, structure and evolution of stars and galaxies
What is Modern Physics?

“Modern” + “Physics”?
‘Classical’ Physics • Atomic and nuclear → radioactivity,
(pre-1900s) atomic power
• Quantum mechanics → basic
structure matter
• Greek scholars (e.g. Artistotle)
• Particle physics → basic structure
• Knowledge of nature of matter
• Hence, meta-physics • Mechanics → forces, motion • Condensed matter → solids and
• Thermodynamics → heat, liquids, computers, lasers
temperature • Relativity, Cosmology → universe,
• Electricity and magnetism → life!
charge, currents
• Optics
φυσική(?) telescopes
→ light, lenses,

‘Modern’ Physics
Major subfields of Physics
• Classical Physics (pre 20th century)
• Mechanics → forces, motion
• Thermodynamics → heat, temperature
• Electricity and magnetism → charge, currents
• Optics → light, lenses, telescopes

• Modern Physics (20th century)


• Atomic and nuclear → radioactivity, atomic power
• Quantum mechanics → basic structure matter
• Particle physics → basic structure matter
• Condensed matter → solids and liquids, computers, lasers
• Relativity, Cosmology → universe, life!
The 'architects' of modern physics
From specific to general
• Usually we start from some known but specific theory and try to
generalize it
• a new (general) theory will yield the old (restricted) theory as a
special approximation
• E.g. when backtracking to your younger age, the difficult math you
learnt in the University must reduce to that of simple arithmetic
knowledge that you learnt in primary school
• E.g. the relativity and quantum theories must yield to classical physics
when applied to large-scale objects moving at speeds much lower
than the speed of light
Example
• Special case: The parabola motion of projectile on Earth is a special
case of the more general case of elliptic motion of satellite around
the Earth
• General case: The mathematical description of satellite has to reduce
to parabolic motion of projectile on Earth surface when the length
scale reduces from that of Earth size (~6000 km) to that of a short
distance (say, ~ 100 m)
Another example
• Ray optics vs wave optics, both describing the propagation of light
• Geometrical optics/ray optics: only rectilinear propagation, reflection,
refraction, valid only when l /d <<1 or l <<d
• Wave (physical) optics: more general (diffraction, interference, also
rectilinear propagation), more comprehensive, valid up to l ~ d
wave optics ray optics (no wave phenomena)
First up: Special Relativity!

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