PH1107 RELATIVITY & QUANTUM PHYSICS

This course aims to equip you with the basic concepts and problem solving skills for analysing objects moving close to the speed of light and particles exhibiting quantum behaviour. You will develop physical insights and analytical skills which are important for studying relativistic problems and quantum systems. These knowledge and skills lay the foundation for subsequent higher level courses. Course Content: 1.Foundation (FND): a.Wave properties b.Speed of Light c.Superposition, Diffraction and Interference d.Atoms and subatomic particles 2.Special Relativity (SR) a.Frames of Reference and Galilean Transformation b.Postulates of Special Relativity and Lorentz Transformation c.Length Contraction and Time Dilation d.Minkowski?s Space-time diagrams e.Resolving Paradoxes f.Relativistic Momentum, Kinetic Energy and Energy 3.Basic Nuclear Physics (BNP) a.Radioactive particles ( b.Nuclear Fission and Fusion c.Radioactivity d.Mass-Energy Equivalence e.Medical application and Dosage 4.Quantum Physics (QP) a.Blackbody Radiation b.Quantization of Physical Quantities c.Photoelectric Effect d.Compton Scattering and wavelength e.Pair Production/Annihilation f.Double Slit Experiment g.Davidsson-Germer Experiment h.Wave-Particle Duality i.Hydrogen Atom (Bohr?s Model & Atomic Spectra) 5.Basic Quantum Mechanics (BQM) a.Eigenvalues, Eigenfunctions and Operators b.Two level systems c.Schrodinger?s Equation and Wave function d.Probability (Density) e.Infinite and Finite Potential Well (Particle in a Box) f.Quantum Harmonic Oscillator g.Potential Barrier/Step h.Expectation Value and Uncertainty i.Heisenberg?s Uncertainty Principle j.Commuting Operators k.Hydrogen Atom l.Quantum Numbers, Degeneracy