Instructor:  Dr. C.D. Ross Office:  Stevens 104
Office telephone:  434-395-2587    e-mail: rosscd@longwood.edu
 

Office Hours:  TR 11:00-1:00

Course Description:  A study of special relativity and elementary quantum mechanics.  Prerequisite:  Physics 101, 102 or 201, 202.  Prerequisite or corequisite:  Mathematics 261.

Texts:  Six Ideas That Shaped Physics, 2nd edition, Thomas Moore, McGraw-Hill.  Unit R: The Laws of Physics are Frame-Independent (ISBN 0-07-239714-4)  and Unit Q: Particles Behave Like Waves (ISBN 0-07-239713-6).
 

Course Objectives: To enable students to understand the physics of objects at the atomic and subatomic level and at relativistic speeds.
 

Course Schedule:

M. Aug. 30-       Special Relativity (Unit R Chapters 1-10)
M. Oct. 4
 

F.   Oct. 8-         Quantum Mechanics Part 1 (Unit Q Chapters 1-5)
W. Oct. 27       

F   Oct. 29 -       Quantum Mechanics Part 2 (Unit Q Chapters 6-11)
F. Nov. 19
 

M. Nov. 22 -        Quantum Mechanics Part 3 (Unit Q Chapters 12-15)
F. Dec. 10

Test 1: Wednesday October 6 (R1-10)

Test 2: Wednesday November 3 (Q1-5)

Test 3: Wednesday December 1 (Q6-11)
 

Final Examination:  Friday December 17, 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
 

Course Requirements:

(1)  Three tests; (2) Final exam; (3) Homework problems as assigned.
Assignments are due at 11:00 a.m. on the due date.  Late homework will not
be accepted unless due to an excused absence.  Format for problems will be
discussed in class.  (4) One 1000-word writing assignment.
 

Grading:  Your grade for the semester is calculated from the formula
below:
Point total = Highest test (25%) + Next highest test
score (25%)  + Final Exam (25%) +
Homework (20%) + Writing Assignments (5%).

Each segment of your grade will be prorated to the appropriate percentage.  For example, if your highest test scored is a 90, this would go into the formula as a 22.5 (i.e. 90% of 25).  Your final grade is determined according to
the following scale:

A+ 98 and above; A 94-97; A- 90-93; B+ 88-89; B 84-87; B- 80-83; C+ 78-
79; C 74-77; C- 70-73; D+ 68-69; D 64-67; D- 60-63; F+ 58-59; F 54-57; F-
53 and below
 

Homework:  Homework will be assigned each class period.  The pace of this class is very fast and it will be your reponsibility to come to class prepared.   Homework problems are challenging and are graded more on effort than on initial "correctness".  The manner in which this will be done will be discussed on the first day of class.  You are also responsible for reading each assigned chapter before class.  If you do not do this, you will get very little from this course.  The text and the homework are probably different from what you are used to, but to learn what I expect you to learn you must come to class having attempted the homework and having read the chapter.
 

Attendance Policy:  All assignments are expected to be handed in on time
and all tests taken at the assigned time unless prior arrangements have been
made.  Exceptions may be made in the event of a certifiable emergency.  If
you miss more than 25% of the class meetings you will receive a final grade of
F for the course.  This includes excused and unexcused absences and there
are no exceptions to this rule.  It is your responsibility to sign the attendance
sheet.  Signing for anyone else is an honor offense. If you are chronically late to class (i.e. more than twice), you will be marked absent for each subsequent incident of tardiness.

Honor Code:  Students are expected to live by the Longwood University Honor
Code. If you are found responsible by the Honor Board for an Honor Code violation in this class you will receive a grade of F.

Other Requirements:  Each student must have a calculator capable of
performing trigonometric and logarithmic operations.  You must have a pen with ink in some color other than red, blue or black (preferably green or purple).  You must come to class properly attired; in particular, you must wear shoes.  If you sleep in class, you will be told to leave.

Bibliography:  You may want to refresh your memory on some topics by
looking back in an introductory physics text.

Students with Special Needs:  If you have a condition which requires special
attention or accomodation, please discuss your situation with me.

Note:  This is a writing intensive class.  All students will take at least two writing intensive courses beyond courses required for General Education.  Students with an average grade of D or F on written work must be referred to the English Proficiency Committee for testing and possible placement on communication condition.

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Ernest Rutherford (1879-1955)