Physics 20 Class Schedule and Readings

Week  Topic  Lab(s) 
Reading 

Homework
3 Jan Thermal Energy, Temperature Lab #1: Temperature and Thermal Equilibrium
Discussion paragraph due Monday, January 10
Chapter C10 available at Schaffer Library Course Reserves
Chapter T1 from textbook
Chapter C11, Section 3 ( Schaffer Library Course Reserves )
Skim additional sections in C11.
Homework #1
complete by Friday, January 7
Solutions posted in N305 and at Schaffer Library Course Reserves
10 Jan Ideal Gases
Kinetic Theory of Gases
Equipartition of Energy
Quiz 1: Wed., Jan 13
Lab #2: Ideal Gas Laws
Formal writeup due on Tuesday, January 18
Checklist and Grading for Lab Report
Guide to Writing a Lab Report by Chad Orzel
Chapter T2 Homework #2
complete by Tuesday, January 11
17 Jan Gas Processes
Maxwell Distribution
Quiz 2: Fri., Jan 21
Class Exercise: Energy and Velocity Probability Distributions
Due on Monday, January 24
Maxwell Distribution Simulations

Click here to download MBolz program from Textbook website
Chapter T2
Chapter T3
Chapter T7.1
Homework #3
complete by Wednesday, January 19
24 Jan Heat Transfer Mechanisms
Radiation
Quiz 3: Fri., Jan 28
Lab #3: Stefan-Boltzmann Law
Formal report Due Monday, Feb 7
Heat Transfer Mechanisms , including Conduction, Convection, Radiation links. Also see these links:
Thermal Conductivity
Blackbody Radiation Curves

Mean Free Path

Energy Transfer in the Sun
Homework #4
complete by Wednesday, January 26

Homework #5
complete by Tuesday, February 1
 31 Jan Macrostates & Microstates
Entropy
Hour Exam 1: Wednesday, February 2
Formula Sheet
Class Exercise: Microstates
Textbook Chapters T4-T6 Homework #6
complete by Wednesday, February 9
 7 Feb Entropy
Heat Engines
Quiz 4: Friday, February 11
Lab #4: Heat Engine
Due Tuesday, Feb 15
Textbook Chapters T8-T9

Animation of Carnot Cycle
Otto Engine Animation
Diesel Engine Animation
Other Engine Animations
Homework #7
complete by Wednesday, February 16

Term Project Instructions and Topics
Download SSH Client Software from Union
14 Feb  Geometric Optics
Quiz 5: Fri., Feb 18
Observational Lab (Weather Permitting) Electromagnetic Radiation
Chapter 01-05

Hyperphysics Light and Vision links to Color, Reflection, Refraction, Mirrors and Lenses

Optics Bench Applet

See how the eye uses red, green, and blue cones to perceive color in Mixing colors and paints

Take a look through a compound eye at View through a Bee's Eye
Pinhole Photography Gallery

Homework #8
complete by Friday, February 25
 
21 Feb  Optical Systems
Aberrations
Physical Optics
Quiz 6: Fri., Feb 25
Lab #5: Telescope Optics
Refracting Telescope Applet
Ray Diagrams for Mirrors (Beware different sign convention for object!)
Spherical Mirror Equation
Image Formation in Lens and Ray Diagrams for Lenses
Lens with Positive Focal Length
Lens with Negative Focal Length
Lens-Maker's Equation
Table of Indices of Refraction

Optical Instruments including:
Simple Magnifier
Camera and Eye
Accommadation in Camera and Eye
Vision Defects
Astronomical Telescope
Compound Microscope

Aberrations

Handouts: "Irradiance" and "Superposition of Waves"

Optional Applets:
Interference of 2 sources
Homework #9
complete by Tuesday, March 1
28 Feb Physical Optics
Hour Exam 2: Wed., Mar 2
Formula Sheet for Hour Exam 2
Lab #6: X-ray Diffraction Through Crystals
Bragg's Law Applet
Bragg's Law Description (See also this part for insight into the use of filters in your lab.)

Writeup due Friday, March 11
See Interference and Diffraction Links at Hyperphysics
Rayleigh Criterion for Resolution
Diffraction Gratings
 
 7 Mar Polarization
Modern Techniques for Imaging Microscopes
Astronomy Web Page Talks

Quiz 7: Friday, March 11 (optional)
Web Talk Links:
Alex: Solar Power
Charlie: Stellar Evolution
Sam: Semiconductor Devices
Mike: Greenhouse Effect
Jay: Sunspots
Matt: Hurricanes
Josh: Supernovae
Luther: Adaptive Optics
Types of Polarization
Producing Polarized Light I
Producing Polarized Light II
Birefringence
Optical Activity

Imaging Molecules and Atoms
Wave Nature of Electron
Particle Tunneling
Electron Microscope Image Gallery
NIST STM
IBM STM Image Gallery
AFM Image Gallery
Homework #10
complete by Wednesday, March 9

Email comments to me about Imaging Molecules and Atoms Module
14 Mar Final Exam: Thursday, March 17, 1:00 - 3:00 PM, N328
Formula Sheet for Final
     

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Last Updated: March 15, 2005