Physics 124: Particles and Waves
Instructor: Prof. Doug Gingrich
Office: Centre for Subatomic Research, room 208
Office Hours: 2:30-4:00 Tuesdays and Thursdays
Phone: 492-9501
e-mail: gingrich@ualberta.ca
web: http://www.phys.ualberta.ca/~gingrich/phys124/phys124.html
Marker: Somanath Misra
Office: P-636
Phone: 492-7835
e-mail: smisra@phys.ualberta.ca
Lectures: Section B1, 12:30-13:50 Tuesdays and Thursdays, room V121
Required Textbook: “Physics” by Cutnell & Johnson, 5th Edition (Wiley)
Course Prerequisites: Physics 20 (or equivalent) and Pure Mathematics 30. Physics 30 is strongly recommended. For waiver of prerequisites see Janet Couch, P-417. Note: credits may be obtained for only one of PHYS 101, 102, 108, 124, 144, or EN PH 131.
Grade Distribution:
15% Assigned Problems
20% Laboratory
20% Mid-term Exam
45% Final Exam
Assigned Problems: 10 problems sets, each consisting of 5 problems from the textbook, will be assigned throughout the semester. The problem sets are due on 4:30 pm Thursdays. Late submissions will not be accepted. Please put them in the box that is marked PHYS 124 in the V-wing (south east). Do not put them under my door or in my mailbox. Solutions will be posted in the glass cabinet in the V-wing (south east).
Laboratory: A 50% minimum in the lab component of the course is required to pass the entire course. Labs begin the week of January 13. Lab manuals are available from the bookstore. Notebooks are not needed. It is important to make up missing labs (see instructions in the lab manual). The schedule of experiments and the section numbers are posted on the second floor of the Physics Building and are also available on the web at http://polaris.phys.ualberta.ca. Students who do not know their lab section should telephone registration at 492-5500. Students repeating the course and having obtained at least 65% in the lab may be eligible for a laboratory exemption. Students must request an exemption (and obtain it in writing) through the Physics Department General Office within the first two weeks of the commencement of the term.
Mid-term Exam: 13 February in lecture room at 12:30-13:50. Probably covers chapters 1-7.
Final Exam: 2:00-4:00pm, 16 April. In Pavilion, rows 14, 16, 18. The final exam will cover all the material presented in the lectures. The exam will be 2 hours long. Students who miss the final exam because of serious incapacitating illness or severe domestic affliction can take the Deferred Final Exam. Note that students who miss a final examination must formally apply to their faculty office for a deferred final within two days of the final examination. Applications based on minor or inconsequential ailments or circumstance will not be approved. See the University Calendar.
Tutorial Sessions: 9:00-12:00 Thursday in room V126. Starts January 13 until April 9.
Course Outline:
Chapter 1 (all sections) Introduction and Mathematical Concepts
Chapter 2 (all sections) Kinematics in One Dimension
Chapter 3 (all sections) Kinematics in Two Dimensions
Chapter 4 (all sections) Forces and Newton’s Laws of Motion
Chapter 5 (all sections) Dynamics of Uniform Circular Motion
Chapter 6 (all sections) Work and Energy
Chapter 7 (all sections) Impulse and Momentum
Chapter 8 (sections 1-5 only) Rotational Kinematics
Chapter 9 (all sections) Rotational Dynamics
Chapter 10 (sections 1-6 only) Simple Harmonic Motion
Chapter 16 (all sections except 4) Waves and Sound
Chapter 17 (sections 1-3 only) Principle of Linear Superposition and Interference
Chapter 25 (sections 1-2 only) The Reflection of Light
Chapter 26 (sections 1-3 only) The Refraction of Light
Chapter 27 (sections 1,2,5,7 only) Interference and the Wave nature of Light
Chapter 29 (all sections) Particles and Waves
Chapter 30 (all sections) The Nature of the Atom
Chapters 1 and 2 are meant to be a review.
Course Goals: