index – phys38-probs-expts

Summary :
The course aims to give scientifically literate non-physicists an introduction to some of the key concepts of modern physics. These concepts help us to understand the universe from the very smallest to the very largest scales and also underpin much of modern technology.

Topics covered will include:

Quantum mechanics and the differences between classical and quantum physics.
The relativity principle from Newton to Einstein.
The structure of matter : from atoms to quarks.
Connections between the smallest and the largest scales : particle physics and cosmology.

Prerequisities :
None. However mathematics at roughly A-level standard will sometimes be assumed.

Module Assessment :
Successful completion of this module requires satisfactory performance in the following areas :

Practical write-ups. Information on lab work and write-up guidance are available here.
Vacation essay & presentation. Information available here.
End of course written test.

Module Materials :

Books :

There are no set texts for the course. However, the following books may be suitable for further reading :

“Physics for Scientists and Engineers, with Modern Physics”, Serway & Beichner. A book used by physics undergraduates but quite accessible nonetheless. Not recommended as a general read, but a good place to find lots more details if you are interested.
“The Quantum Universe”, Hey & Walters. An excellent introduction to the strange world of quantum mechanics.
“The Feynman Lectures on Physics”, R. P. Feynman. The first three lectures in Vol.III are an excellent and highly accessible introduction to quantum mechanics. The rest of the lectures are far too advanced.
“QED”, R. P. Feynman. A very readable introduction to the quantum theory of electromagnetism.
“The New Physics”, Ed. Paul Davies. Overview of the whole of modern physics. Slightly dated on particle physics & cosmology. Some good articles, some more obscure.
“The Particle Explosion”, Close et al. Lots of nice pictures and simple explanations.
“The Elegant Universe”, Greene. A recent popular account of string theory and cosmology. Rumoured to be very good.
“The Character of Physical Law”, R. P. Feynman. A more philosophical discussion of the progress of modern physics.

Lab Work :
Simple experiments will be performed in the lab after the first two lectures. The following scripts should be followed. The experiments are mainly qualitative and a detailed analysis of the results is not expected.

ssm_e1 E1 Double slit experiment & measuring the slit spacing of a diffraction grating.

ssm_e2 E2 Measuring the wavelength of laser light using a reflection grating.

ssm_e3 E3 Measuring the charge to mass ratio of the electron.

ssm_e4 E4 The photo-electric effect.

ssm_e5 E5 Measuring the Rydberg constant.

ssm_e6 E6 Scanning OPAL events

ssm_e7 E7 Measuring the speed of light

Vacation Essay :
Write a short essay (no more than 1000 words) on one of the following topics :

An unsolved problem in modern physics.
A new technology made possible by recent advances in physics.

For example, some possible titles could be :

“The origin of mass : the search for the Higgs boson”
“Quantum Computers”
“Particle Physics Detectors in Medical Imaging”

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SCM Scientific Measurement – 1st Year Physics Lab Experiments (QMUL):

SCM_1_Electrical_Measurements

SCM_2_Linear_NonLinear

Ex. 8 Astronomy

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MT3 Mathematical Techniques 3 (QMUL): Some problem sheets

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UCL Physics Brochure

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( PART 38 – Under Construction )

PART 38

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Links:

Main Lecture Notes index : 2B28 (PHAS2228) Statistical Thermodynamics (UCL), Mathematical Techniques 3 notes cont. (QMUL), 2B22 (2222) Quantum Physics slides cont. (UCL), sample Past Exam Papers from the M.Sci Physics degree(s), etc.

Degree Outlines : 2B22 Quantum Physics (UCL), 3C26 Quantum Mechanics, 3C43 Lasers and Modern Optics, 3C75 Principles and Practice of Electronics, ASTM116 Astrophysical Plasmas (QMUL), ASTM002 The Galaxy, ASTM052 Extragalactic Astrophysics, etc.

Degree Modules Section 1 : Stellar Structure and Evolution (Penn State), ASTM115 Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics (QMUL), MTH6123 Mathematical Aspects of Cosmology 1-20, ASTM003 Angular Momentum and Accretion in Astrophysics 1-10, etc.

Some M.Sci Physics past exams :

Additional Lectures : 2B24 Atomic and Molecular Physics (UCL), 4966 Advanced EM Theory (QMUL), ASTM003 AM and Accretion in Astrophysics Lecture 11, 4C26 Advanced Quantum Theory (UCL), etc.

Part 1 : More RWFQ and GR lecture notes (UCL), ASTM001 Solar System dynamics, MAS347 Mathematical Aspects of Cosmology cont., C6 M.Phys option Theoretical Physics (Oxford), Quantum Field Theory extra notes, etc.

Part 2 : Waves and Modern Physics (Vanier College), ASTM001 Solar System (QMUL), Fields and Waves, Maths summary sheets, Dynamics of Physical Systems, Vibrations and Waves. – Main Waves Section

Part 2a

Part 3 : ASTM109 Stellar Structure and Evolution (QMUL), 3C74 Topics in Modern Cosmology cont. uncorrected (UCL), 2B29 EM Theory, 1B47 Classical Mechanics, SCM, etc.

Part 4 : 2B24 Atomic and Molecular Physics (UCL), Mathematical Techniques 1 (QMUL), MT 2 and MT 3, Nebulae to Stars (UCL), – main Mathematics Section

Part 5 : PHASG421 Atom and Photon Physics, 4C42 Particle Physics, Statistical Mechanics, 2B22 Quantum Physics extra notes, Celestial Mechanics book, misc Cosmology research papers and notes, etc.

Part 6 : More CMP, 3C25 Solid State Physics (UCL), Thermal and Kinetic Physics, Physical Dynamics, Electro-Optics notes, Statistical Mechanics, QMS Quantum Mechanics and Symmetry (QMUL), Mechanics, etc.

PART 16 : Space, Time and Gravity notes 5/10, RWQF Notes pt 2 cont. (QMUL), Calculus I incomplete, 2C1 Further Mathematical Methods (UMIST), 116C Mathematical Methods (UC Santa Clara), Mathematical Methods book (Univ. of Manchester), etc.

PART 17 : 6505 Mathematics (UCL), Statistical Mechanics (NYU), Space, Time and Gravity cont. (QMUL), MM09 Mathematical Methods and Physics short options (Oxford), 4211 Advanced Statistical Mechanics (RHUL), etc.

Part 18 : Sample astrophysics problems – ASTM108 Advanced Cosmology suppl notes and problems (QMUL), STG Space, Time and Gravity problems, etc.

Part 19 : MTH6123 Mathematical Aspects of Cosmology 2010 notes (QMUL), short notes on Tensors (Swarthmore College), Mathematical Physics (Imperial), Statistical Mechanics IV (Univ. of Heidelberg), 3C36 Cosmology and Extragalactic Astronomy (UCL), 3C35 Stellar Structure and Astrophysical Processes (UCL), PHY319 Quantum Mechanics A (QMUL), ME563 Intermediate Fluid Mechanics (U. Wisconsin), ASTM002 The Galaxy revision notes (QMUL), 1B02 Physics of the Universe partial notes (UCL), ASTM116 Solar Wind properties, etc. [Degree Outlines].

PART 20 : 3C34 Physics and Evolution of Stars (UCL), Heat and (Introductory) Thermodynamics (U.Vic), Quantum Physics (QMUL), Relativistic Waves and Quantum Fields – cont. Part 2d, etc.

Part 20a : Mathematical Methods (RHB), Lectures on Mathematical Methods (ND), IA Matrices notes (Cambridge), IA Algebra and Geometry. – Extra Maths Section

PART 21 : RWQF part 2/3 cont (QMUL), Electricity and Magnetism (UVic), Statistical Mechanics (Temple University), Geometric Optics (UVic), MTH4100 Calculus I cont. (QMUL).

PART 21a : MT1 Mathematical Techniques 1 extra notes (QMUL), Dynamical Systems (Cambridge), Atomic Spectra (Sheffield), Cosmology Lecture notes 2010 (Imperial), Gamma Functions recap, Future Cosmos special 2002, WMAP 1st Year preliminary results paper 2003, some Quantities, Units and Constants (rough uncorrected) quick reference, etc.

PART 22 : 3C25 Solid State Physics extra notes (UCL), Stellar Atmospheres (U.Vic), Statistical Mechanics revision and CMP, B3 Stellar Structure and Evolution (Oxford), 2112 Equations of Stellar Structure – recap (UCL), Laplace’s Equation recap.

PART 23 : RWQF cont. Part 2a (QMUL), 3C01 Electromagnetic Theory (UCL), PHY2201 Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics (University of Exeter), Physics of Waves (Harvard), MTH4100 Calculus I cont. (QMUL), UL Intercollegiate MSci Handbook (1999)

PART 31 : Extra MSci Physics and Astrophysics Past Exam Papers and Problems – cont. [ 2012 Degree Outlines ]

PART 31A : Extra Cosmology Notes – Introductory Cosmology Notes by Prof. B. J. Carr (QMUL) , Relativity and Gravitation (RG)

PART 32 – PHAS3136 Cosmology I (UCL), Electricity and Magnetism Ch. 6, Solar Physics (2011 notes), etc.

PART 33 : 2201 Electricity and Magnetism (UCL), Cosmology II (UCL), Extra lecture notes – Condensed Matter Physics, Tensors

Part 34 : 2B72 (2B21) Mathematical Methods II (UCL), 1B70 (1B40) Physics Laboratory Practical Skills I – Errors in Data Analysis notes only (UCL), 3C74 Topics in Modern Cosmology extra background notes (UCL), more

Part 35 – 1B45 Mathematical Metheds 1 (UCL), Quantum Mechanics (University of Maryland), 2246 Mathematical Methods 3 (UCL), CMT Advanced Condensed Matter Theory (Univ. of Zurich), 3C26 Quantum Mechanics (UCL), Advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics, Statistical Physics Part 2 (Cambridge University), 3C24 Summaries and Table (UCL) – cont. from XPart 15, Some UCL past Exam papers, more.

PART 36 : 6502 Mathematics for Physics (UCL), Mathematical Methods 2 (UCL), Mathematical Techniques 2 (QMUL), IB Mathematical Methods 1 (Cambridge University), B3D Pure Mathematics (UCL) overlaps 1B71 Mathematical Methods 1, Fluid Mechanics (QMUL), Maths and Physical Constants and Formulae, more – [ Under Construction ]

Part 37 : 2B24 (0023) Atomic and Molecular Physics new notes (UCL), 6403 Advanced Linear Algebra (UCL), 3135 Physics of Stars and 2112 notes (UCL), Foundations of Mathematical Physics (KCL), B3D Pure Mathematics (UCL), PROBLEMS1B71 (1B45) Mathematical Methods 1 – Some Problems and Exams (UCL), 2B72 (2B21) Math Methods 2 – Problems and Exams (UCL), ASTM109 Stellar Structure and Evolution – Problems and Exams (QMUL).

Main Cosmology Section : 3C74 Topics in Modern Cosmology, C358 Cosmology (UCL), ASTM108 Cosmology (QMUL), C348 Mathematics for General Relativity (UCL), Intro to Tensor Calculus (KCL), ASTM041 Relativistic Astrophysics (QMUL), etc.

( To be done in the future? – 2005 exam Monopoles question and the MB Distribution and v_rms for 1B28. Other mathematical derivations from the lectures).

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Please note: This site is NOT an official course Website. This material is for references purposes only.

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Old Msci Physics and Astrophysics Lecture Notes PART 38 – Sample Probs & Labs