NOTE: The information in this page could be changed after an official announcement in class. Please pay attentions to announcements in class and constantly check this webpage for updated information.


Instructor: TeYu Chien (簡德宇)
Lecture Time and Place:MW 11:00am-12:15pm; Engineering Building (EN) 3111
Office: Physical Science Building 224
Office Hours: MTW 1pm-2pm
Website: http://physics.uwyo.edu/~teyu
Email: tchien@uwyo.edu

Teaching Assistant: Xin Tian
Office: PS 103 D
Office Hours: T 1:30pm - 3:30pm
Email: xtian1@uwyo.edu

Important Dates:
  • Last day to drop for courses: Jan. 26th
  • Advising Week: March 27th - 31st
  • Last day to withdraw from individual semester courses: April 7th
  • Last day to withdraw from the university: April 21st
Required Materials
  • Text: Modern Physics, Sixth Edition, by Paul A. Tipler/Ralph A. Llewellyn
  • Poll Everywhere for interactive in-class activities and attendance: You need to register at http://www.polleverywhere.com. See instruction below.
Goals:This course is designed to give science and engineering majors instruction in the fundamental principles of modern physics, including Relativity, Quantum Physics, Atomic Physics, Statistical Physics, Molecular Spectra, and Solid State Physics.

Prerequisites:PHYS 1220 or PHYS 1320 or equivalent

Topics to be covered:
  1. Relativity
  2. Quantum Physics
  3. Atomic Physics
  4. Statistical Physics
  5. Molecular Spectra
  6. Solid State Physics
  7. Nuclear Physics (optional)
  8. Particle Physics (optional)
  9. Astrophysics and Cosmology (optional)
Partial credit: Partial credit will be given to solutions of the problems that are partially completed, have minimal algebra mistakes, wrong sign, or units. The steps in the solution must be presented, skipping steps means skipping points that you can earn, and no grade will be given to a problem showing only a solution (such as a number) without showing the intermediate steps to get there.

Exams: Homework will contain mostly quantitative problems, whereas lectures will deal with largely conceptual, multiple-choice questions. Hence, the exams will contain both quantitative and conceptual problems. The exams will be closed book and closed notes. I will provide a "cheat sheet" with useful formulas and constants. No make-up exams will be given. All exams are mandatory and no grade will be dropped or replaced. There will be two exams: mid-term and final.
Exams dates and times:
Time and PlaceCovered Chapters
Mid-termTime: March 9th (Thu), 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm, Place: STEM 195Chapters 1-5
Final5/12/2017 (Friday), Place: EN 3111, 10:15 am - 12:15 pmChapters 6-10

Homework:We will have homework for each chapter whenever we finish one chapter. Students may work in groups to discuss the homework, however, be sure to write the homework alone to prevent from plagiarism. Students involved with plagiarized homework will be investigated. Homework considered as plagiarism will be graded as zero point, even you are the original copy. No homework grade will be dropped. The deadline for each homework assignment is typically in the beginning of the class one week after it is assigned. Be advised not to wait till the last minute and use the office hour frequently. It is your responsibility to hand-in your homework before the deadline. Late homework will miss 10 % of points per day, and accumulative.

Bonus Homework: We will have one bonus homework, which will be hands out in the last week of the class. The due day will be on the final exam day right at the beginning of the exam. No late submission is allowed for the bonus homework.

Quiz:Quiz will be a short conceptual question asked in lecture through polleverywhere, but not every lecture. The quiz will not be included in grading, but will be counted for attendance. The time for the quiz will be based on the progress of the lecture. So be sure to attend the lecture to take the quiz. The quiz will be conducted through Polleverywhere, please see below about how to sign it up correctly.

Attendance:Attendence will be counted with the quiz through the Polleverywhere. The attendance will be calculated based on the total number of votes made through the Polleverywhere through the semester (include both Quiz and Think About It). It is your responsibility to make sure you are in the polleverywhere system (by checking with me) and your vote is successfully inputed every time.

Register your cell phone number at http://www.polleverywhere.com
We will use cell phones or laptops for Q/A and other in-class interactions/practices. Register your cell phone or laptop. We will interactively discuss conceptual topics, and you will be able to vote on the answers to questions using your cell phones (or laptops). To register:
  • Go to http://www.polleverywhere.com
  • Create an account. I need to be able to determine who you are, so use your uwyo email address to register, and your FULL name
  • De-select "I am an educator"
  • Select "United States" (not "United States - Education")
  • Once your account has been created, register your cell phone number (ignore this if you will use a laptop).
  • Go under "Settings" to add the number (with your area code). Follow instructions to certify your cell number.
  • Please allow me to see your name: Under "Settings" choose "Voter Registration". Select "Register as a voter". On the next page you should enter my email ("tchien@uwyo.edu").
  • Go to http://www.polleverywhere.com/teyu
  • Bring your cell phone or laptop to each class.
  • Standard text messaging rates may apply.
Disability Statement:If you have a physical, learning, or psychological disability and require accommodations, please let me know as soon as possible. Contact University Disability Support Services in SEO, room 330 Knight Hall.

Academic honesty:Academic dishonesty is defined in University Regulation 802, Revision 2 as “an act attempted or performed which misrepresents one’s involvement in an academic task in any way, or permits another student to misrepresent the latter’s involvement in an academic task by assisting the misrepresentation.? And there are rules and procedures to handle such cases, and serious penalties will be imposed. Note that a student who copies and a student who let’s another student copy are both covered by the university rules.

Grading
  • Exams: 50% (mid-term and final, 25% each)
  • Homework: 40%
  • Attendance: 10%
  • Total: 100%
  • Scale: A: (> 90%); A-: (86.66-89.99%); B+: (83.33-86.66%); B: (80-83.33%); B-: (76.66-79.99%); C+: (73.33-76.66%); C: (70-73.33%); C-: (66.66-69.99%); D+: (63.33-66.66%); D: (60-63.33%); F: (< 60%)
Early Alert:In late March, you can view a progress report in WYOWEB for your classes. When you click on the Students tab in WYOWEB, you will see Quick Links on the left side bar, go to EARLY ALERT grades. You will see either a P for pass, or a D or F grade for each of your courses. If you have withdrawn from the class you will see a W. Be sure to talk to your instructor if you have a D or F grade. Remember, this is a progress report—not a final grade! This is an ideal time to visit with your instructor and/or your advisor to talk about your options and avenues for support in the class (call 766-2398 for the Center for Advising & Career Services).

General expectations
  • Attend and participate in each lecture and do homework on time.
  • You are required to read each chapter before and after it is discussed in class.
  • Live up to your responsibility to understand the material presented. If you have difficulty of understanding it, please get good use of office hours.
  • Take notes during lectures as appropriate.
  • Complete reading assignments and homework.
  • Be ready for exams.
  • Work in compliance with the university code of academic honesty.
  • Ask questions. There are no stupid questions.
  • Have fun.
Schedule:
DateTopicReading (chapter, section)Homeworks, and other Notes
January
WEEK 1
M 23Introduction - Setting Up the Stage. [register for Poll Everywhere]syllabus; Set up the stage
W 25Relativity 1Chapter 1, Sections 1-1 to 1-3; Chapter 1
WEEK 2
M 30Relativity 1Sections 1-4, 1-5, and 1-6
February
W 1Relativity 2Section 2-1, Chapter 2HW 1 hands out
WEEK 3
M 6Relativity 2Sections 2-2, 2-3, and 2-4poll everywhere assessment begins
W 8Relativity 2Section 2-5HW 1 due; HW 2 hands out
WEEK 4
M 13Quantization of Charge, Light, and EnergySections 3-1, and 3-2, Chapter 3
W 15Quantization of Charge, Light, and EnergySections 3-3, and 3-4
WEEK 5
M 20The Nuclear AtomChapter 4, Sections 4-1, and 4-2, Chapter 4HW 2 due; HW 3 hands out
W 22The Nuclear AtomSections 4-3, 4-4, and 4-5
WEEK 6
M 27The Wavelike Properties of ParticlesChapter 5, Sections 5-1, and 5-2, Chapter 5
March
W 1The Wavelike Properties of ParticlesSections 5-3, 5-4, 5-5, and 5-6HW 3 due; HW 4 hands out
WEEK 7
M 6The Wavelike Properties of Particles; The Schrödinger EquationSections 5-7, 6-1, and 6-2HW 5 hands out
W 8Review LectureChapters 1 through 5HW 4 due
R 9Mid-TermChapters 1 through 5; Midterm SolutionsPlace: STEM 195, 5-7pm.
WEEK 8
M 13No Lecture - Spring Break
W 15No Lecture - Spring Break
WEEK 9
M 20The Schrödinger EquationChapter 6, Sections 6-3, 6-4, and 6-5HW 5 due
W 22The Schrödinger EquationSection 6-6; Chapter 6HW 6 hands out
WEEK 10
M 27Atomic PhysicsSections 7-1, 7-2, and 7-3; Chapter 7
W 29Atomic PhysicsSections 7-4, 7-5, 7-6, 7-7 and 7-8HW 6 due; HW 7 hands out
April
WEEK 11
M 3Statistical PhysicsSection 8-1
W 5Statistical PhysicsSections 8-2, and 8-3HW 7 due
WEEK 12
M 10Statistical PhysicsSections 8-4, and 8-5HW 8 hands out
W 12Molecular Structures and SpectraSections 9-1, 9-2, and 9-3
WEEK 13
M 17Molecular Structures and SpectraSections 9-4, and 9-5HW 8 due
W 19Molecular Structures and SpectraSection 9-6HW 9 hands out
WEEK 14
M 24Solid State PhysicsSections 10-1, 10-2, and 10-3
W 26Solid State PhysicsSections 10-4, 10-5, 10-6 and 10-7HW 9 due
May
WEEK 15
M 1Solid State PhysicsSections 10-8, and 10-9Bonus HW hands out
W 3Review LectureChapters 6-10
WEEK 16Final Week
F 12Final ExamChapters 6-10Place: EN 3111, 10:15 am - 12:15 pm; Bonus HW due


Any comment/suggestion, please contact TeYu Chien