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

 

News:

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!!

Sir Isaac Newton

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.

Important Links:

Information and syllabus

Exam regrade policy

Past exams (scroll to bottom)

Exam 1 formula sheet

Solutions to exam 1

Exam 1 grade distribution

Solutions to exam 2

Exam 2 grade distribution

Solutions to final exam

Final exam grade distribution

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.

Astronomy picture of the day

Hubble space telescope site

University of Oregon physics applet site

Physlink.com

The particle adventure

Instructor/office hours:

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 information

Topic list

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

 

Lectures:

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 sets:

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

Problem set solutions:

Solutions ...

Recitation modules:

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