This course will be offered annually in Winter Term.

Special relativity, quanta of light, atomic structure and spectral lines, quantum structure of atoms and molecules, nuclei and elementary particles.

Prerequisites: Mathematics 1001, Physics 1050 (or 1020 and 1021), and Physics 1051 (or 1054). Math 1001 and Physics 1051 may be taken concurrently. (However, it is not recommended  that these courses be taken concurrently.)
Lectures: Three hours per week.
Laboratory: Three hours per week.

The term "Modern Physics" usually refers to the rapid conceptual developments of 20th century physics. This is a contrast to all of the physics before 1900 - the, so-called "classical physics" of mechanics, electricity, magnetism, heat and sound - which has changed very little since the late 19th century.

NOTE: This is a second-year physics course. The amount and quality of the work required is greater than in first year. On the other hand, the topics covered are much more interesting and the rewards for your labour are correspondingly higher. While problem solving is stressed in the assignments this is not a mathematics course; there is a substantial (and fascinating!) historical and philosophical component to the material. Those wishing to get the most from the course should not neglect this aspect.

Instructor: Dr. Douglas Forbes Office: AS 3028 (new building) Phone: 637-6295 E-Mail: dforbes at grenfell dot mun dot ca Texts: Modern Physics (7th Edition), Kenneth Krane An Introduction to Error Analysis (2nd Ed.), John R. Taylor (required for 2nd year and above laboratory work)

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