Quantum Physics and Relativity

PHYS10121 Quantum Physics and Relativity 10 Semester 1 Undergraduate Level 1 Jeffrey Forshaw Unit coordinator Brian Cox Unit coordinator Department of Physics & Astronomy 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' First part HE study/Bachelors ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 5.0 Quantum Physics and Relativity Quantum Physics and Relativity <ol><li>To explain the need for and introduce the principles of the Special Theory of Relativity</li><li>To develop the ability to use the Special Theory of Relativity to solve a variety of  problems in relativistic kinematics and dynamics</li><li>To explain the need for a Quantum Theory and to introduce the basic ideas of the  theory</li><li>To develop the ability to apply simple ideas in quantum theory to solve a variety of  physical problems</li></ol> On completion successful students will be able to:<ol><li>Define the notion of an inertial frame and the concept of an observer</li><li>Define relativistic energy and momentum, and use these to solve problems in mechanics</li><li>Perform calculations using four-vectors</li><li>Use the Bohr formula to calculate energies and wavelengths in the context of atomic hydrogen</li><li>Perform calculations using the Lorentz transformation formulae </li><li>State the principles of Special Relativity and use them to derive time dilation and length contraction</li><li>Use the ideas of wave-particle duality and the uncertainty principle to solve problems in quantum mechanics</li><li>Perform calculations using the quantum wave- function of a particle moving in one dimension, including making use of the momentum operator</li></ol> Relativity<ul><li>Galilean relativity, inertial frames and the concept of an observer</li><li>The principles of Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity</li><li>Lorentz transformations: time dilation and length contraction</li><li>Velocity transformations and the Doppler effect</li><li>Spacetime and four-vectors</li><li>Energy and momentum with applications in particle and nuclear physics</li></ul> Quantum Physics<ul><li>Basic properties of atoms and molecules. Atomic units. Avogadro’s number</li><li>The wavefunction and the role of probability</li><li>Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle and the de Broglie relation</li><li>The momentum operator and the time-independent Schrödinger equation: the infinite square well</li><li>Applications in atomic, nuclear and particle physics: energy levels spectra and lifetimes</li></ul> 0 Other 10% 1 Written exam 90% Feedback will be offered by tutors on students’ written solutions to weekly examples sheets, and model answers will be issued. N Recommended textDynamics and Relativity - Jeffrey Forshaw, Gavin Smith – Wiley – 2009 - <o:p></o:p>Sears and Zemansky's university physics : with modern physics - Young, Hugh D., - Pearson Education Limited – 2020 - ISBN: 9781292314815<o:p></o:p>Supplementary texts:Why does E=mc²: (and why should we care?)   Cox, Brian; Forshaw, J. R. - Da Capo – 2010 - ISBN: 0306819112<o:p></o:p>The quantum universe: everything that can happen does happen - Cox, Brian; Forshaw, J. R. -Penguin - 2012    - ISBN: 0141968036<o:p></o:p>Relativity: special, general and cosmological - Rindler, Wolfgang - Oxford University Press – 2006 - ISBN: 0198567324<o:p></o:p> Assessment written exam 1.5 Lectures 22 Tutorials 6 0 70.5 * 10% Tutorial Work/attendance