PHYS12073 Introduction to Modern Physics

This course aims to introduce students to the basic principles of quantum theory by looking at the development of modern physics in the early part of the century. This will focus on Einstein's theory of special relativity, Bohr's theory of the atom and an analysis of some of the fundamental experiments of the era. The development of quantum physics will be traced from the failure of the classical physics to account for these experimental results.

Text: Serway, R.A., Moses, C.J., & Moyer, C.A., Modern Physics. Halliday, D., Resnick, R., Walker, J., Fundamentals of Physics Extended, 5th ed., 1997.

References: Young, H.D., & Freedman, R.A. University Physics, 9th ed., Addison Wesley. Ohanian, H.C., Modern Physics, 2nd ed., Prentice-Hall, 1995. Krane, K.C., Modern Physics, 2nd ed., John Wiley, 1990.