SYLLABUS of Physics 414, Relativity

TERM:                                                   Spring, 2010

COURSE:                                              Physics 414r, 001

TITLE:                                                   Advanced Modern Physics, Relativity

Schedule:                                             10:50 – 12:05, TT, EMCS240

CREDIT:                                                3

Faculty:                                                 Ling jun Wang; 425-5248

Office Hours:                                       TT, 12:05 – 1:05; Wed. 9:00 – 1:00

PREREQUISITES                                phy341, math 245,255, or approval of the department head

COURSE DESCRIPTION:                 Special relativity and conceptual general relativity. Emphasis on the relation of the assumptions and predictions of the theories to the experimental evidence. Consequences of the theories illustrate the nature of physics and its applications in modern science. On demand. Prerequisites: Physics 341; Mathematics 245, 255; or approval of the instructor. Cumulative limit of 9 hours.

ATTENDANCE POLICY:                    The attendance is mandatory. There is a 5 points penalty in a full scale of 100 points of the semester total for each unexcused absence. More than 25%  absence will be the ground for a grade F.

MAKE-UP POLICY:                            If a student cannot take a test at the scheduled time, he or she should notify the instructor and get approval for a make-up at least 24 hours in advance, or, in case of emergency, a copy of the police report or registration record from a hospital emergency room is required for arranging a make-up test.  There will be no more than one make-up test.

EVALUATION:                                 Three Tests @ 22% =  66%

                                                Final Exam                  34%

            Course grade is assigned as follows:

            90-100             80-90               70-80               60-70               <60

               A                     B                     C                     D                    F

TEXTBOOK:                                         Introduction to Special Relativity by Robert Resnick  1968 John Wiley and Sons, Inc. ISBN 0471717258

ADA STATEMENT:                             Attention: If you are a student with a disability (i.e., physical, learning, psychiatric, etc) and think that you might need assistance or an academic accommodation in this class or any other class, please contact the Office for Students with Disabilities at 425-4006 or go to the office- 102 Frist Hall.

Schedule (subject to change):

            1/7 – 1/28        Chapter 1: The Experimental Background of the Theory of Special Relativity

                                    Chapter 2: Relativistic Kinematics, Sections 2.1 to 2.5

            2/2                   First Exam

2/4 – 2/16        Chapter 2: Relativistic Kinematics, Sections 2.6 to 2.8

                        Supplementary Topic A, The Geometric Representation of Space-Time

                        Supplementary Topic B, The Twin Paradox

2/18                 Second Test

2/23 – 3/4        Chapter 3, Relativistic Dynamics

3/8 – 12           Spring Break

3/11                 Third Exam

3/16 – 4/8        Chapter 4, Relativistic Electromagnetism

4/13 – 4/15      Supplementary Topic C, The General Relativity       

            4/20                             Reading Day

4/22     Thursday, 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Final Exam (Comprehensive)