Course Description and Information
Lectures
Homework Assignments
Exams
Supplementary Reading
Links
Instructor's Schedule
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Course Description and Information
Physics 222 is an overview of modern physics with a strong emphasis on quantum mechanics and its applications. Quantum mechanics was developed in the early twentieth century in response to several observed phenomena which could not be described by classical physics. This theory successfully solved many outstanding problems, particularly those related to physics at the microscopic level, and currently provides the broadest understanding of the physical world at the most fundamental levels. A majority of physics research activity today involves quantum mechanics in some form. Quantum mechanics is also essential for understanding how lasers, semiconductors, superconductors, nuclear reactors, magnetic resonance, and other devices in daily use, operate. It also gives rise to many apparently bizarre phenomena, which are completely counterintuitive and inexplicable from your everyday classical perspective. Almost a century after its invention, experts still do not agree on the interpretation of such fundamental features as measurement or preparation of a quantum system. If these issues and applications intrigue you, then this course is where you should start.
Quantum mechanics borrows heavily from classical wave mechanics and the first part of the course will be devoted to developing a solid understanding of the theory of classical vibrations and waves. The bulk of the course will be devoted to developing quantum mechanics in a quasi-historical way. This will lead to simple examples of the Schroedinger equation and applications to atomic structure, spectra and angular momentum. Some of the peculiarities at the heart of quantum mechanics will be discussed.
Course Number: Phys 222-01
Instructor:
Prof. David Collins, Physics Department
169 Olin Hall
Telephone: 577-3636
Email: dcollins@bucknell.edu
Class Times: MWF 1:00 - 1:52pm, Thurs 11:00 - 11:52pm
Classroom: Olin 275
First Class Meeting: Wednesday 21 January 2004.
Prerequisites: (PHYS 212P or PHYS 221) and MATH 211
Texts:
- A. P. French, Vibrations and Waves, Norton (1971).
- P. A. Tipler and R. A. Llewellyn, Modern Physics, 4th ed., Freeman (2003).
First Day Handout: Postscript Format Pdf Format
Schedule:
COURSE SYLLABUS:
The following list is subject to change.
I. Classical Vibrations and Waves
- Simple harmonic motion, damped and driven oscillations, resonance.
- Coupled oscillators.
- Continuous distributions of oscillators and the wave equation.
- Continuous systems, Fourier analysis.
- Traveling waves.
- Superposition of waves, interference and diffraction.
II. Quantum Physics
- Wave and particle properties of light.
- Wave-like properties of particles, uncertainty principle.
- Bohr's model of the hydrogen atom, energy quantization, atomic spectra.
- Quantum mechanics, Schroedinger equation.
- Harmonic oscillator.
- Hydrogen atom.
- Quantization of angular momentum, spin, applications to atomic and molecular spectra.
- Pauli exclusion principle, quantum statistics.
Homework Assignments
Homework Solutions
Homework solutions will be posted on ISR's electronic reserves system (Eres). Transfer to the course Eres page.
Exams
Exams from previous years.
- Quiz 1, Spring 2003. Pdf
- Quiz 2, Spring 2003. Pdf
You should be able to do questions 2 c),d),e) (there are three slits), 3, 4a), 4c), 5, 6 for the second in-class exam for Spring 2004.
- Quiz 3, Spring 2003. Pdf
You should be able to do questions 1b)-d), 3, 5, 6a) for the final exam.
- Quiz 4, Spring 2003. Pdf
You should be able to do all questions except 6b) for the final exam.
- Final Exam, Spring 2003. Pdf
You should be able to do questions except 4c) and 5c) for the final exam.
Supplementary Reading
I. Complex Numbers
P. A. Tipler, Physics for Engineers and Scientists, Vol 1, 4th ed., Freeman (1999).
Appendix D contains a short review of complex numbers on pages AP 21-22.
E. Kreyszig, Advanced Engineering Mathematics, 7th ed., Wiley (1993).
One of the standard mathematics texts for scientists. In general, beyond the level of this course but the introduction to complex numbers (Ch 12. pages 706-718) is accessible at this level.
G. Polya and G. Latta, Complex Variables, Wiley (1974).
A fully fledged complex analysis text for scientists and engineers but with a more accessible introduction to complex variables than most competitors. Chapter 1, pages 1-17 is accessible at this level.
II. Classical Vibrations and Waves
P. A. Tipler, Physics for Engineers and Scientists, Vol 1, 4th ed., Freeman (1999).
Standard introductory physics text. Chapters 14 to 16 cover vibrations and waves at the freshman level.
F. S. Crawford, Jr, Waves, McGraw-Hill (1968).
Volume III of the Berkeley physics course. End of chapter problems include "at-home" experiments and applications to then current physics.
R. P. Feynman, R. B. Leighton and M. Sands, Lectures on Physics, Vol I, Addison-Wesley (1965).
Excellent and classic lecture series on basic physics by one of the twentieth century's most eminent physicists. Feynman's lectures frequently take a non-standard approach when developing well established aspects of physics but they almost always offer insights far beyond those of standard texts. Chapters 21 to 24 deal with vibrations and oscillations. Chapters 47 to 51 describe waves.
III. Quantum Physics
R. P. Feynman, R. B. Leighton and M. Sands, Lectures on Physics, Vol III, Addison-Wesley (1965).
The first chapter of Vol III of Feynman's lectures still contains one of the best introductions to quantum mechanics. This is essential reading for anyone interested in the subject. The entire volume is devoted to quantum mechanics although much of it requires a knowledge of linear algebra beyond that required for this course.
A. Beiser, Concepts of Modern Physics, 6th ed., McGraw-Hill (2003).
Similar coverage and format to Tipler and Llewellyn.
Links
Animations
- Simple Harmonic Motion
- Damped Driven Harmonic Motion
- Damped Oscillation Lab (Brian Martin,King's University College, Alberta) Excellent with many parameters that can be adjusted and good graphing possibilities. Takes a while to load.
- Damped oscillation. (Michigan State University). Easier to manipulate than the previous animation but less versatile.
- Resonance (Walter Fendt) Mozilla compatible
- Resonance (Walter Fendt) IE compatible.
- Damped Simple Harmonic Motion (Southwestern College, KS).
- Two Coupled Oscillators
- Three or More Coupled Oscillators, Loaded Strings
- Three coupled oscillators (From fun@learning.physics by Mark Sutherland) Only works for three coupled oscillators.
- Three coupled oscillators (From Paul Falstad) Five coupled oscillators possible. Not fully compatible with Mozilla.
- Loaded string (From Paul Falstad) String with variable loads. Not compatible with Mozilla.
- Superpositions
- Atomic Spectra
- Particle Diffraction Experiments
- Physics Web Excellent summary of experimental efforts to demonstrate interference and diffraction of particles passing through single and multiple slits. From Physics World.
- Electron interference patterns from LAMEL, Bologna, Italy.
- Electron interference patterns from Hitachi, Japan.
- A Zeilinger, R Gähler, C G Shull, W Treimer and W Mampe, "Single- and double-slit diffraction of neutrons," Rev. Mod. Phys. 60, 1067 (1988).
- Electron scattering Electron scattering and microscopy images from USC, Materials Sciences.
- Electron scattering Electron scattering images from ETH Zurich, Switzerland.
- Electron microscopy: Pfisteria dinoflagellates, which are responsible for fish kills in estuaries in North Carolina. From Center for Applied Aquatic Ecology, North Carolina State University.
- Electron microscopy: Assorted images from the Biology Department, Wake Forest University.
- Electron microscopy: Assorted images from the Electron Microscope Unit, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
- One Dimensional Quantum Mechanics
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