PHY 3106
Modern Physics
Class Times: Tuesday & Thursday, 9:30-10:45 a.m. VH 133
Office Hours: Tuesday & Thursday, 2:00-3:30 p.m. CP 209

Instructor Prerequisites Text Objectives Grading Assignments Quizzes

Instructor:
Name: Dr. Pete Markowitz
Office: CP209
Phone: 305-348-1710
Email: markowit@fiu.edu

Department Home Page: http://www.fiu.edu/physics
Instructor Home Page: http://www.fiu.edu/~markowit

Prerequisites:
The pre-requisites are having passed both Physics II with Calculus (PHY 2049) and Calculus II (MAC 2312) with a grade of C or better (or permission of the instructor. That's me!).

We will be using Blackboard for course management. You will need to use your FIU email account for all class emails. If you do not regularly log into your FIU account, you will need to set the forwarding (or start checking it regularly).

Textbook: Modern Physics, by Raymond Serway, Clement Moses and Curt Moyer, 3rd edition, published by Cengage Learning (2005), ISBN 0534493394. [Previous editions are probably also acceptable; please check with the instructor.]
You will also need an iClicker for the weekly quizzes.

Course Objectives:

PHY 3106 provides a first, theoretical foundation for special relativity and quantum mechanics. We will look at relativistic systems (i.e., systems moving quickly), and how to write the equations of motion consistent with Einstein's Postulates. We will also introduce Schroedinger's Equation, and give an introduction to Quantum Mechanics. In the Spring term, Advanced Modern Physics will let us apply that understanding to physical systems.

Course Format:
This course is primarily classroom based, however the grading is internet-based (i.e., Blackboard ).   Solutions to homeworks will be available within Blackboard .  You will be able to check your grade at any time using the recorded grades in Blackboard and the letter grade rubric below.

You will need an iClicker for the weekly quizzes.

Blackboard and e-mail will also be used throughout the course to facilitate communications between the instructor and students. For that purpose, you will need to use your official FIU email. If you were registered for teh course before the start of Fall classes, you should already have received a welcome email from me.

Grading:
We will have two in-class mid-terms plus a cumulative final for the course.    Grades are based on (random, weekly) conceptual quizzes, in-class whiteboard problem solving, the weekly assigned homework, mid-term examinations, and the (cumulative) final exam:

Letter grades are approximately based upon the following scale:

Assignments:
New reading and homework assignments will be added each week.  Note that they may cover more or less than one chapter.  These weekly assignments will be updated throughout the term.  Students are encouraged to work with others on the homeworks, however all the work turned in must be the student's own.

Quizzes:
Part of your grade will be based upon weekly quizzes. The quizzes will be short answer, primarily conceptual and will be random (although approximately once a week). Quizzes will be given within the first 5 minutes of class; no makeups or extra time will be allowed for anyone who is late to class or absent from class. Quizzes will be based on previous lectures, the readings due that day for class, and examples from homeworks previously due. We will be using iClickers for the quizzes!

Homework:

Homework problems must be neatly done, with each problem begun on a fresh page. Multiple problems on the same sheet or sheets with multiple solutions to the same problem will not be accepted. No pages with scratched-out work will be accepted -- if you spoil the page, begin with a clean sheet. Problems will not be accepted if the solutions are scribbled sideways, upside down, or at the edge of another problem. There should not be multiple columns on a single page. Paper does not need to be ruled, but cannot be torn out of a notebook.

Homework assignments normally are due at the start of class on the due date (e.g., 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays).  As of 9:31 a.m., homework not turned in is late. Late homework will continue to be accepted for one week (7 days) for 50% credit. Homework assignments will not be graded or accepted if they are past due by more than 7 days. No credit or grading of homework turned in later than 7 days will be provided. Solutions will be linked from the Blackboard course page at that time. No make-up for missing homework is possible.
   
 
 

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