| Instructor: | Steven R. Cranmer (email, web page) |
| Instructor's Office: | Duane Physics D111 (main campus), LASP/SPSC N218 (east campus) |
| Course Times: | Spring 2023, Tues./Thurs., 11:00 am to 12:15 pm |
| Location: | Duane Physics, Room D142 |
| Office Hours: | Mondays 1:30-2:00, and Fridays 1:30-2:00 (in-person or Zoom) |
| Syllabus: | See the most up-to-date PDF version. |
Summary
This course covers the topics in modern physics that are required for upper-level astrophysics and planetary science courses, including quantum mechanics, electromagnetic spectra, atomic and nuclear physics, and thermodynamics, in the context of astrophysics, planetary, and space sciences. We also introduce key topics from beyond first-year calculus (such as vector functions, partial derivatives, multiple integrals, and differential equations) needed to support these topics.
Course Material
The primary "required readings" are my lecture notes, which will be posted on Canvas as the semester progresses. Other resources for this course include:- A list of other online books and lecture notes that supplement my own material.
- Handout: useful math/physics formulae & constants that you're free to use for any work in this course (revised for spring 2023).
- Here are some detailed guidelines & example topics for the final project.
Schedule
Below is a detailed schedule that will list the material covered in each class session, links to electronic copies of any handouts and problem sets, and various course deadlines.
- Tues., January 17:
Introductory lecture. Overview of course syllabus.
Vectors and coordinate systems.
- Handout: syllabus
- Lecture notes (01) for course intro, vectors, coordinates, and differential equations.
- Homework 1 assigned, due Thurs., January 26.
- Thur., January 19: Vectors, coordinate systems, and basic differential equations.
- Tues., January 24: Vectors, coordinate systems, and basic differential equations.
- Thur., January 26:
Gravitational dynamics and orbits.
- Homework 1 due.
- Homework 2 assigned, due Fri., February 10.
- Tues., January 31: Gravitational dynamics and orbits.
- Thur., February 2: Gravitational dynamics and orbits.
- Tues., February 7: Introduction to Einstein's relativity.
- Thur., February 9:
Introduction to Einstein's relativity.
- Homework 2 due (Fri., 2/10).
- Tues., February 14: Partial and vector derivatives; multiple integrals. Review for midterm.
- Thur., February 16:
In-class Midterm Exam 1.
- Homework 3 assigned, due Fri., March 3.
- Tues., February 21: Partial and vector derivatives; multiple integrals.
- Thur., February 23: Partial and vector derivatives; multiple integrals.
- Tues., February 28: Partial and vector derivatives; multiple integrals.
- Thur., March 2:
Gases, plasmas, and thermodynamics in astronomy.
- Homework 3 due (Fri., 3/3).
- Homework 4 assigned, due Fri., March 17.
- Tues., March 7: Gases, plasmas, and thermodynamics in astronomy.
- Thur., March 9: Gases, plasmas, and thermodynamics in astronomy.
- Tues., March 14: Gases, plasmas, and thermodynamics in astronomy.
- Thur., March 16:
Light and its interaction with matter.
- Homework 4 due (Fri., 3/17).
- Tues., March 21: Light and its interaction with matter. Review for midterm.
- Thur., March 23:
In-class Midterm Exam 2.
[March 27-31: Spring Break, no classes.]
- Tues., April 4:
Light and its interaction with matter.
- Homework 5 assigned, due Tues., April 18.
- Thur., April 6: Class cancelled.
- Tues., April 11: Light and its interaction with matter.
- Thur., April 13: Atoms and an introduction to quantum mechanics.
- Tues., April 18:
Atoms and an introduction to quantum mechanics.
- Homework 5 due.
- Thur., April 20: Atoms and an introduction to quantum mechanics.
- Tues., April 25: Understanding astronomical spectra.
- Thur., April 27: Understanding astronomical spectra.
- Tues., May 2:
Nuclear physics: radioactivity, fusion, fission.
- Final Project due.
- Thur., May 4:
Nuclear physics: radioactivity, fusion, fission.
[Fri., May 5: Reading Day, Final Exam Week: May 6-10.]