Modern Physics

Ever wonder about some of the abstract physics topics that plagued scientists like Einstein and Bohr? Modern Physics touches on numerous topics that have concerned scientists throughout the past. Relativity, time dialation, wave-particle duality, superconductivity, nuclear fission and nuclear fussion are all subjects discussed in Modern Physics.

This class offers the opporunity to see just how complex nature truely is. Ideas that contradict common sense are shown to accuratly predict how the world works. The class also effectivly alters one's view of the subatomic particles. One can enjoy this class if they can maintain an open mind.

General Relativity

Wave-Particle Duality

The backbone of any class that tries to model light or subatomic particles and their intereactions with the environtment must tackle the topic of wave-particle duality. This topic reaches far into the math that represents the world around us. However, this topic is not easy to accept. For it is the idea that a small particle, perhaps an electron, is not an object to hold. Wave-particle duality suggests an electron acts less like a tenis ball and more like a wave.

The reason for the adjustment is an experiment. Nearly two centuries ago (1802) Thomas Young performed a "two slit" interference experiment. That experiment showed how light sources could intereact with each other and "cancel" light much like how speakers out of phase can interfer and cancel sound. The results could only be explained via wave behavior.

Since then, wave theory has evolved to include any subatomic particle. An adaptation between the subatomic world and the environment we know was resolved by Louis de Broglie with his equation l = h/p, where l is a wavelenght, p is momentum and h is Planks constant. This formula not only helps to describe actions of subatomic particles, it shows that any object with mass and velocity has a wavelength...even people. Fortunately, since h is extremely small, (6 x 10^-34), the wavelength of a human is far to small to measure.

Theoretical Mechanics

Topic 1: Theo

Topic 2: Theo

Statistical Mechanics

Topic 1: StatMech

Topic 2: StatMech

Quantum Mechanics

Though the mere mention of quantum mechanics may strike terror in the hearts of students, though Jeopardy once related roofs, halos, and quantum mechanics as "things over my head," this branch of physics if very eye-opening.

This class focuses on building on the topics introduced in Modern Physics and on the mathematical representations of such topics. The class begins by rediscuvering an arbitrary elementary particle. The "discoveries" extend to qplicaitons such as free particles, potential wells, eighenstates, and spin. Frequently, the gorge between the physics and the math is hard to cross, but once accomplished, the student grasps the fundamentals for an extremely reward experience.

Eigenstates

To consider egenstates, one must first recall some chemistry. Electrons are found in vairous energy levels of an ataom. THese energy states describe the condition of the electron (i.e. energy, ability to interact, probably location). To discuss these energy states, one "measures" it. That measurement disturbs the system.

To get around that disruption, we introduce eigenstates. An eigenstate is an energy state that has not been projected onto a postition (or any other) space. That is, for us to concepualize an energy state, we project that state onto a space so as to quantify it. Eigenstates eliminated that primary projection.

In effect, eigenstates help with the math in quantum mechanics. Much of quanum mechnics is learning new approaches using math such as eigenfunctions, dirac notation, and Fourier transforms.

Spin

By far, one of the most exciting portions of Quantum Mechanics is spin. The substance of quantum mechanics is the belief that all of nature is quantized. That is, at some fundamental level, nature cannot be broken down any further. For example, the elementary charge is a quantum number.

So if an electron can host a fundamental value, how do we distinguish between electrons in an atom? Part of the answer is eigenstates. Anoterh part is spin. Sin suggests that particles are spinning and that the spinning can have one of two values.