Instructor

Renate Wackerbauer,
Office Location: REIC 106                               Welcome !! and have a great semester !!
phone: 474-6108
e-mail: rawackerbauer@alaska.edu

Open Office hours

walk-ins are welcome, email is effective for straight-forward questions. additional recitation classes can be scheduled on request.... i am happy to meet !!! 

Course Info

Phys213X, 4 credits (3+1+0)

Prerequisites

Wrtg 111X, Phys211X, 212X, and Math 253X; or permission of instructor.

The Laboratory portion is integrated into the course, thus Phys213L needs to be taken as a co-requisite

Noyes Lab

Access to the Noyes Computer Lab (REIC 101) is provided to all students enrolled in a Physics course. Your polar express card lets you in.

Lectures

MWF 1 to 2 pm, REIC 207

Labs

Tentative course calendar

R 9:30am-12:30pm, REIC 253

All labs and reports must be completed to pass the lab portion of this class; passing the LAB portion is necessary for passing the course. Your lab manual provides the information about the laboratory component of this course. 

Questions about the lab should be directed to your teaching assistant (Keshab Pokharel), our lab supervisor Joe Storm (REIC 114; jhstorm@alaska.edu; 474-7857), or - as last resort - to me. 

Text

Required texts: 

For the optics portion we use OPENSTAX

Modern Physics, by K.S. Krane, Wiley Press (4th edition, 2020)

Supplementary readings: 

Quantum Physics, by R. Eisberg and R. Resnick, Wiley (1985) 

--This book represents a detailed introduction into modern quantum physics, including the history and experiments in QM. somewhat more theoretical as the required texts

There are many books on introductory modern physics in the library that almost all cover the material presented in the lectures. Please explore them to see different approaches to our topics.

Course Content 

Tentative course calendar

Geometrical and physical optics, elementary-level modern physics including special relativity, atomic physics, nuclear physics, solid-state physics, elementary particles, simple transport theory, kinetic theory and concepts of wave mechanics.

Course Goals

Modern physics refers to physics developed in the 20th century including the special theory of relativity, quantum mechanics, atomic and nuclear physics. Physics 213 starts with a review of optics. Waves are a fundamental concept in modern physics and allow us to nicely transition to the physics of the 20th century. Basic concepts of modern physics are explored. 

Student Learning Outcomes

Students gain an understanding in 

--how particle behavior in the microscopic world differs from the macroscopic world

--basic properties of light and optics and the relevance of these concepts for modern physics

--the two main theoretical advances, relativity and quantum mechanics, and their applications 

--the history of modern physics and its implications for society. 

Homework 

homework

Homework (11 assignments, each counting 100pts) will be assigned weekly (see link) and will be due by 1:00 pm on the following friday unless explicitly altered at the time of assignment. Late homework will not be accepted. Finished homework can be handed in at class or can be placed in my mailbox in the main office of the Physics Department. Selected homework solutions will be posted in the glass case in the Physics Department hallway. I HIGHLY appreciate it if you RECYCLE paper for your homework!

direct homework link: ffden-2.phys.uaf.edu/wacker/CLASS/213.html

Exams

Two one-hour in-term examinations and a two hour final examination will be held during the semester. In-term exams will be held in the classroom. Upon request, an additional review class may be scheduled before each exam. The exams will be closed books and closed notes. No calculators, computers, or communication devices are allowed.

Web Project

Explore the fun of modern physics in a web project. The topic can be an application of quantum mechanics in medicine, in nanotechnology, biology. It can be on relativity in astrophysics, the biography of a scientist in modern physics, the relevance or dilemma of a modern physics concept for society .... many other topics are possible, follow your own interest. 

The topic must be submitted for approval on Oct. 14. This includes the title, main literature source, and 5 possible keywords you could address in your project. 

The final project must be submitted on Nov. 18. It must consist of 6-8 web pages, an additional title page (title, your name) and an additional page with at least 3 references that you used. The physics should be well explained, and understandable to a typical high school senior. An introduction to web software and design will be given in class. 

The project will be graded both for presentation (40%) and content (60%). The content part includes "correct physics, level covered, how explained, how introduced, understanding, terms defined". The style part includes organization and structure, design, references given, figures referenced, writing style. 

Grading

The maximum score for each homework will be 100 points. Illegible work will not be graded. To pass the course with a grade higher than "F", you need 40% of the total credits. Grades A to D are assigned equal weight for total credits between 40% and 100%. So, A+ (>97.5), A(>87.5), A-(>85), B+(>82.5), B(>72.5), B-(>70), C+(>67.5), C(>57.5), C-(>55), D+(>52.5), D(>42.5), D-(>40). If this class is in your physics major you need at least a grade C- for passing the course and fulfilling prerequisites. For the final grade, homework, exams, etc. will be weighted as follows:

Course policies

Attendance at lectures is expected. Active class participation, questions are extremely welcome in the lectures. A missed exam will receive 0 credit unless the instructor is notified by email, phone, etc before the exam starts. Make-up exams will be individually scheduled with the student. 

Your instructor follows the University of Alaska Fairbanks Incomplete Grade Policy: “The letter “I” (Incomplete) is a temporary grade used to indicate that the student has satisfactorily completed (C or better) the majority of work in a course but for personal reasons beyond the student’s control, such as sickness, has not been able to complete the course during the regular semester. Negligence or indifference are not acceptable reasons for an “I” grade.”

Student Obligations

As students of UAF, you are bound by the policies and regulations of the University of Alaska, UAF rules and procedures, and the Student Honor Code. You are obligated to make yourselves familiar with all conditions presented in the UAF Catalog. Plagiarism on homework or on an exam will result in a failing grade.

Students should keep up-to-date on the university's policies, practices, and mandates related to COVID-19 by regularly checking this website: 

Further, students are expected to adhere to the university’s policies, practices, and mandates and are subject to disciplinary actions if they do not comply.

Student protection and services statement