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AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY- BANGLADESH [AIUB]

Dhaka, Bangladesh
Faculty of Science
Department of Physics

COURSE OUTLINE

I. Course No.: PHY 2103


Course Title: MODERN PHYSICS
II. Nature: Core Course for COE & EEE
Prerequisite: PHY 1203 PHYSICS 2
III. Credit Hours: 3
IV. Academic SPRING 2009-10
Semester:
V. Campus and Room:
Instructor SECTION Day Time Room

VI. Course Description:

Special theory of relativity; Planck’s quantum theory of light, Photoelectric effect & Compton
scattering; Wave-particle duality, De Broglie’s hypothesis and Heisenberg’s uncertainty
principle; Quantum mechanics, particle in a box, Schrodinger equation and its applications;
Atomic excitation and the laser, three level and four level laser; Nuclear energy and
radioactivity, binding energy, nuclear fission & fusion; Nuclear power plants, nuclear fuel,
moderator, control rod, coolant, radiation shielding containment structure, Cherenkov radiation;
Health physics, units of radiation, effect of radiation on human, annual limit on intake (ALI);
Free electron model of metals; Intrinsic and doped semiconductors, Fermi level and carrier
concentration, semiconductor statistics.
VII. Course Objective:

• The major goal of this course is to instill in the student an appreciation of the concepts
and methods of twentieth-century physics popularly known as “Modern Physics”.

• Few aspects of contemporary science - indeed, of contemporary life - are unaffected by


Modern Physics. Students of EEE and COE are increasingly finding need for Modern
Physics in their disciplines to broaden their perspective as they prepare for career
paths.
• Relativity and quantum ideas are considered first to provide a framework for
understanding the physics of atoms and nuclei.

• Wherever possible, important subjects are introduced on an elementary level, which


would enable even relatively unprepared students to understand what is going on from
the start and also would encourage the development of physical intuition in students in
whom mathematics inspires no terror.
• Exercises, included at the end of each topic, are on all levels, from the quite easy to
those for which real thought is needed.

• It is expected that students, by solving these problems, will gain a better understanding
of the concepts they support.
• Experimental tests of phenomena are discussed throughout. Applications of basic
phenomena are used extensively.
VIII Topics to be Covered:
Time Frame
in Topics Teaching
lecture hours Strategy(s)
Special theory of relativity, Einstein’s postulates, the Lorentz transformation, Complete
6
time dilation, length contraction, relativistic momentum and energy, invariant
lecture notes
mass, mass-energy equivalence, relativistic Doppler effect.
with
Planck’s quantum theory of light and energy quantization in blackbody
6 illustrations,
radiation, Photoelectric effect & Compton scattering.
covering each
Wave-particle duality, De Broglie’s hypothesis and matter waves, topic, are
4
Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle and wave packets.
supplied
Quantum mechanics, particle in a box, the time independent Schrodinger through VUES.
5
equation and its applications, finite potential well, harmonic oscillator, time
dependent Schrodinger equation. Extra tutorial
classes are
Midterm Examination
arranged to
Atomic physics, The Rutherford-Bohr model of the atom, energy levels and solve the
4
spectra, atomic excitation, quantum theory of the hydrogen atom, many
electron atoms and the exclusion principle, the laser, three level and four problems at
level laser. the end of
Nuclear energy, nuclear stability and radioactivity, decay rates and half-lives, each chapter,
6
mass defect and nuclear binding energy, energy due to fission, fissile and to gain a better
fertile material, nuclear chain reaction, time scales of nuclear chain reaction,
effective multiplication factor, energy due to fusion, different types of fusion understanding
reactions. of the concepts
they support.
Nuclear power station, different parts of nuclear power plants, fuel rod,
6
enriched uranium, moderator, control rods, coolant, containment structure,
radiation shielding Health physics, types of radiation, units of radiation,
annual limit on intake (ALI), biological effect of radiation on human body.

Free electron model of metals, Fermi-Dirac distribution, Fermi energy and the
5
significance of the concept of the Fermi surface, Concept of energy bands in
solids, density of states for electrons in a band, the hole, electrical
conductivity. Band structure of semiconductors, intrinsic and doped
semiconductors, Fermi level and carrier concentration in an intrinsic
semiconductor, impurity states, semiconductor statistics, electrical
conductivity.
Final Examination

IX. Course Requirements:

1. Must appear at least at two quizzes before the midterm examination and also before
the final term examination.
2. Must attempt and solve problems individually in the class on a regular basis to form an
idea about their performance in the course.
3. Must appear at the Midterm and the Final term examination.
4. Students must have 80% attendance to pass the course.
5. No make-ups for the missed examinations and class quizzes.
6. Anyone adopting unfair means in any of the examinations will be severely punished.

X. Evaluation:

Midterm Quiz (Best Two) 40


Class attendance 10
Class performance 10
Midterm Exam. 40
Total 100

Final Quiz (Best Two) 40


Class attendance 10
Class performance 10
Final term Exam. 40
Total 100
Grand 40% of Midterm + 60% of Final Term
Total

XI. Textbooks / Reference Materials:

1. Concept of Modern Physics – A. Beiser


2. Modern Physics - K. Krane
3. Generation of electrical energy -
4. Elementary Solid State Physics - M. Ali Omar
5. Electrical Engineering Materials – A. J. Dekker

XII. Internet Access:

INTERNET ACCESS IS REQUIRED:

The VUES website will be used throughout the course for the posting of announcements,
lecture notes, questions, assignments and test marks. Students can access the website
through their University account.

Dr. Mayeen Uddin Khandaker


Department of Basic Science, AIUB

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