Physics 300 At a Glance...

How to interpret the contents of each cell in the syllabus:

Readings:

G = Griffiths
K = Knight - Physics for Scientists and Engineers

Chapter reading for that class

class topic

pre-class homework problems to be handed in at beginning of class

SR: Chp 2

Reading Lorentz on the Michelson-Morley Experiment

seminar lecture

Michelson-Morley Applet

Introduction to the course

Principle of Relativity

K 37.1- 37.3

2

 R2 
Synchronization

Translation of Einstein's June 1905 paper

Working with spacetime diagrams

Synchronization

The Nature of Time

spacetime diagram (simple)

K 37.1- 37.7
7

The Metric Equation

photon clock

Spacetime diagrams II

K 37.1- 37.7

9

The Metric Equation

K 37.1- 37.7

12

Proper Time

spacetime applet
twin paradox applet

K 37.1- 37.7

Muon Decay - The Rossi Hall Experiment

Minkowski Diagrams Applet

16

Muon Decay

Muon Decay Applet

Appearance of Moving Clocks

(paper about moving clocks)

Kinematics and Transformations

link to hyperbolic graph paper (courtesy Thomas Moore)

K 37.1- 37.8

19

IS Conference

21

Lorentz Contraction, Aberration and Doppler Effect

Major Assignment #1

synchClock

Lorentz Contraction

Mass-Energy Equivalence

'c' - the Cosmic Speed Limit!

problem

barn - pole

26

Four-Momentum

28

K 37.1- 37.10

Four-Momentum

K 37.1- 37.10

30

Conservation of 4-momentum

K 37.1- 37.10

3

SR: Chp 6,7
Mass-Energy

light-inertia applet

K 37.1- 37.10
5

Wrapping up loose ends

Major Assignment #2

K 37.1- 37.10
7

Thanksgiving

No Classes

10

E1
Electrostatics
Knight Chp 26,27
(pgs 787-849)

Key Concepts:

• how to define electric field
• field model
  12

E2
Electric Fields
Knight Chp 26,27
(pgs 787-849)

19

Key Concepts:

• continuous charge distributions
• the Diploe
• capacitors

VPython Demos

line of charge
charged ring-1
ring - central axis
disk1
disk2

Electric Fields and Potentials

Applets of Interest:

• nice applet showing field lines and equipotentials

Maple Programs of Interest:

• a very simple MapleV analysis of a charge inkdrop moving between charged plates.

Continuous Charge Dist.
Knight Chp 26,27
(pgs 787-849)

17

VPython Programs of interest:

• H20 molecule calc (simple demo of vector math)

• a charged ring
• a charged disk
• a finite line of charge

Gauss' Law.

Knight Chp 28
(pgs 850-880)

19

E4

The Electric Potential

Major Assignment 3

Knight Chp 29
(pgs 881- 910)

link to 3d electrostatics applet

21

Loose Ends with Fields and Potentials

Potential and Field

Knight Chp 30
(pgs 911-940)

Currents and Conductors

Knight Chp 31
(pgs 941-997)
26

Currents and Conductors

Knight Chp 31
(pgs 941-997)

28

Using VPython to illustrate moving charges in E and B fields

E-dipole

Cyclotron

Link to aurora page in Astronomy lectures

Magnets and Currents

Knight Chp 33.1- 33.4
(pgs 998-1033)

KCVS applets:

• motion in magnetic field
• motion in magnetic/electric fields
• Cyclotron

Major Assignment 4

31

Magnets and Currents

2

Magnetic Fields

Currents Create Magnetic Fields
Knight Chp 33.6- 33.10
(pgs 998-1033)

VPYTHON demos 

• B_Long Wire
• Wire _r
• B_Loop
• Loop_r

• the solenoid
• current carrying wire
• toroid

Induction

Knight Chp 34
(pgs 1041-1083)

7

Induction

9

Remembrance Day

(no classes)

11

Induction

Induction

Induction

18

Electromagnetic Waves

Knight Chp 35
(pgs 1084-1113)

Knight Chp 35
(pgs 1084-1113)
23

travelling waves applet

Knight Chp 35
(pgs 1084-1113)

Major Assignment 5

25

December

Unit E Exam during seminar period

Knight Chp 35
(pgs 1084-1113)
TBA

28

Knight Chp 35
(pgs 1084-1113)

Poynting's Theorem

30

Knight Chp 35
(pgs 1084-1113)

Wrap-up

Exam blueprint

1

4

Final Exam scheduled for:

December 11, 2013
9:00 - 11:30 in Room L113