Winter 2006 January 9, 2006
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
PHYSICS 2D - Modern Physics: Relativity and Quantum Physics

Web page: http://www-physics.ucsd.edu/students/courses/winter2006/physics2d/
Please check the web page often for announcements.

INSTRUCTOR: Jorge E. Hirsch, 5310 Mayer Hall, Ext. 4-3931, jhirsch@ucsd.edu
Office Hours : Th, 10:30-12.
COURSE COORDINATOR: Patti Hey, 118 Urey Hall Addition, Ext. 2-1468.
TEACHING ASSISTANT: Vinay Tota, Mayer Hall MH 2101, Ext. 2-4155, vtota@physics.ucsd.edu
Office hours: Mon 1-2 or by appt.

COURSE SCHEDULE:

TEXT: Bernstein et al, Modern Physics, Third Edition (2005)

COURSE FORMAT:
This is the fourth quarter of the introductory physics sequence .The course is aimed at students majoring in science and engineering (e.g.,chemistry,biology,computer science, mathematics, pre-med).

Prerequisites: Physics 2B and Math 20D or 21D. Physics 2C is strongly recommended.
Discussion Sections: These sections focus on understanding of theory and methodology, as well as problem solving. You are advised to attend these sections and to make them successful by actively participating.
Problem Sections: These sections focus on problem solving, in preparation for the quiz. You are encouraged to attend and ask questions on homework problems as well as on lecture material.

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS:
Problems from the book will be assigned for each text chapter, solutions will be posted on the web page . To fully understand the material, you should work most of the problems on your own without help of the solution key. Homeworks will not be graded.

  1. Weekly closed-book quizzes will be given on most Fridays in accordance with the schedule given in the attached Tentative Course Schedule. All students are required to purchase bluebooks for quiz taking. Your assigned code number and course number should be written on the cover of the bluebook; do not write your name on the bluebook. At the first quiz you will be assigned a 3-digit number. This number will become your code number for the quarter and will be used on each quiz thereafter, in place of your name. You must memorize this number. Please write quiz answers in ink. Quizzes will be returned to you at the Physics Department Student Affairs Office window (116 Urey Hall Addition) as soon as corrected and recorded. Hours the office will be available for quiz pick-up are 8 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Recorded grades and solutions will be posted by the code number on the web. Check your posted grade to be sure your grade has been recorded correctly. .
  2. Appeals to the grading of quizzes should be made in writing , within one week of the return of that quiz. Do not write directly on the bluebook. Instead, attach a sheet of paper with an explanation for why you are appealing the grade (be specific) and give it to the TA at office hours or discussion sections. Other than for incorrect addition of points, regrades will only be considered for quizzes written in pen (not pencil). If the problem is not resolved after discussing it with the TA, talk to the instructor.
  3. Your overall quiz grade will be computed from the best 6 of the 8 quizzes and will count 50% toward the final grade. Two of the quizzes can therefore be used for absences without penalty.
  4. There will be no make-up quizzes. If you anticipate missing more than two quizzes due to unavoidable circumstances, you must discuss this with the instructor beforehand.

FINAL EXAM: The final will be a closed-book exam and cover all course material. Student I.D. is required .

COURSE GRADE: Quizzes 50% (best 6 of 8), Final 50%.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:
Please read "UCSD Policy on Integrity of Scholarship" in tthe 2005-2006 UCSD General Catalog. These rules will be rigorously enforced.

ADD/DROP PROCEDURE:
Use WebReg to add/change/drop, drop from waitlists. No add/drop cards will be signed by the instructor or TA.
Last day to: Add.................................................Friday,
Drop without "W" on transcript.................Friday,
Drop with "W" on transcript.....................Friday,

No drops allowed after Friday,

WHOM TO SEE:
Sharmila Poddar, 115 Urey Hall Addition, Physics Dept. Student Affairs Office, if you have any trouble using WebReg to add/change/drop, drop from waitlists.
The Teaching Assistant if you have questions relating to problem solving methods or to grades received.
The Instructor, if you have basic questions about the subject matter, or if you have administrative problems.


TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE

Week Topics (Chapters) Quiz Chapters
1: Jan 9 Relativity (2) No quiz, lecture
2: Jan 16 Relativity (3) Quiz 1 on Chpts. 2 and 3
3: Jan 23 Waves / Particles (4) Quiz 2 on Ch. 4
4: Jan 30 Bohr atom (5) Quiz 3 on Ch. 5
5: Feb 6 Schrodinger eq. (6) Quiz 4 on Ch. 6
6: Feb 13 Uncertainty Principle (7) Quiz 5 on Ch. 7
7: Feb 20 Barriers (8) No quiz, lecture
8: Feb 27 Wells (8) Quiz 6 on Ch. 8
9: March 6 Hydrogen atom (9) Quiz 7 on Ch. 9
10: March 13 Atoms and molecules (11) Quiz 8 on Ch. 11