Physics 100 - Spring 2009- University of Rochester
Physics of the Natural World
News Important links Prestentations Contact info Lectures Problem sets Solution sets Recitations
spiral galaxy in Andromeda, rollover is Z to quark-antiquark-gluon event in the SLD detector at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center
I enjoyed getting to know you this term. I hope you feel the class was worthwhile. Have a great summer! -SM
Ponder this:
"22,000 days. It's not a lot. It's all you got. 22,000 days."
- The Moody Blues , in Long Distance Voyager released in 1981"Understanding is a lot like sex. It's got a practical purpose, but that's not why people do it normally."
- Frank Oppenheimer
Our Hero!!
Listen to the ballad of Sir Isaac Newton (found here). Our man Isaac invented much of the basic physics we'll discuss. Before that he did backup vocals for Bon Jovi.
Best numerical average distribution (final curve used for grades)
A few potentially useful links:
The physics classroom (online tutorial on mechanics)
Fear of physics - another online site with visuals that can help you make sense of some things
Bored? Check these out (trust me ... these are cool even if you aren't into physics):
FSU magnet lab powers of ten ... perspectives on size scales.
Steve Manly, Department of Physics and Astronomy
reach via email: steven.manly@rochester.edu
reach via phone: 585-275-8473
reach via feet: B&L 203E
Manly's office hours: Monday 3:30-4:30 pm and Wednesday 11 am - noon. If that doesn't work get in touch with me for an appointment ... feel free to drop by without an appt. with the understanding that I might in the middle of something else and need to set up a better time to meet.
Recitation leader:
Amanda Neukirch: ajneuk@pas.rochester.edu
Recitation times:
Monday 4:50-6:50 pm, Morey 505
Wednesday 4:50-6:50 pm, Morey 505
Wednesday 7:40-9:40 pm, Morey 505
Friday 2-4 pm, Hylan 105
Presentation group list and participant lists
Presentation Dates
Group topic Date A Nuclear physics and society 27-Apr-09 B String theory 27-Apr-09 C Global Positioning System 29-Apr-09 D Search for extra-terrestrial life 15-Apr-09 E Music 29-Apr-09 F Life and times of a great physicist 20-Apr-09 G Radiation - dangers and uses 20-Apr-09
Web links used in lectures
Lect 1 - January 14, 2009 - Introduction to course (see syllabus above), nature of science
Lect 2 - January 21, 2009 - nature of science, kinematic variables, Newton's laws
Lect 3 - January 26, 2009 - Newton's laws, electric and gravitational fields
Lect 4 - January 28, 2009 - Fields, special relativity
Lect 5 - February 2, 2009 - special relativity, also see the electric field java applet, magnetic field java applet
Lect 6 - February 4, 2009 - Maxwell's equations, waves
Lect 7 - February 9, 2009 - Waves, blackbody radiation , interference applet , superpostion and beats and standing waves applets , refraction applet
Lect 8 - February 11, 2009 - Waves and de Broglie and birth of quantum physics, blackbody radiation applet, photoelectric effect applet, Compton scattering applet
Lect 9 - February 16, 2009 - de Broglie matter waves, Bohr model, Audio file (16 kbps mp3), audio file (64 kbps mp3)
Lect 10 - February 18, 2009 - Bohr model of the atom, Schroedinger's equation, Bohr model applet
Lect 11 - February 23, 2009 - Quantum mechanical solution of single electron atom, spin, multi-electron atom
Lect 12 - February 25, 2009- Multi-electron atom, quantum wavefunction
Lect 13 - March 4, 2009 - Quantum indeterminacy, many worlds interpretation, Audio file (16 kbps mp3), audio file (64 kbps mp3)
Lect 14 - March 16, 2009 - More on quantum indeterminacy
Lect 15 - March 18, 2009 - Nuclear physics
Lect 16 - March 23, 2009 - Nuclear physics
Lect 17 - March 25, 2009 - Nuclear physics, nature and life cycle of stars
Lect 18 - March 30, 2009 - Particle physics
Lect 19 - April 1, 2009 - More particle physics, Earth's place in the cosmos, gravitation
Lect 20 - April 6, 2009 - Hot big bang cosmology
Lect 21 - April 8, 2009 - Inflationary hot big bang cosmology
Lect 22 - April 13, 2009 - Inflation, hot big bang, dark matter, supersymmetry
Problem set 1 - due at end of class on Jan. 26. 2009
Problem set 2 - due at end of class on Feb. 2, 2009
Problem set 3 - due at end of class on Feb. 11, 2009 (feel free to turn it in on Feb. 9)
Problem set 4 - due at the end of class on Feb. 18, 2009
Problem set 5 - due at the end of class on Feb. 25, 2009
Problem set 6 - due at the end of class on March 25, 2009
Problem set 7 - due at the end of class on April 1, 2009
Problem set 8 - due at the end of class on April 8, 2009
Problem set 9 - due at the end of class on April 15, 2009
Problem set 10 - due at the end of class on April 29, 2009
Solutions ...
Recitation 1 - for week starting January 26, 2009
Recitation 2 - for week starting February 2, 2009
Recitation 3 - for week starting February 9, 2009
Recitation 4 - for week starting February 16, 2009
Recitation 5 - for week starting February 23, 2009
Recitation 6 - for week starting March 16, 2009
Recitation 7 - for week starting March 23, 2009
Recitation 8 - for week starting March 30, 2009
Recitation 9 - for week starting April 13, 2009
Recitation 10 - for April 24, 27 and 29