COURSE SYLLABUS
Fall 2009
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COURSE SYLLABUS Fall 2009 |
CONTENTS
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"The telephone pole was approaching fast. I was attempting to swerve out of its path when it struck my front end." [Supposedly from a letter to an auto insurance company.]
"As a consequence of its motion the clock goes more slowly that when at rest."
"Experience has led to the conviction that, on the one hand, the principle of relativity holds true and that on the other hand the velocity of transmission of light in vacuo has to be considered equal to a constant c."
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Text:
None required. Course materials are available on-line. There are texts dealing with special relativity in the Plough Library that can be referred to for additional information.
Instructor: Dr. John Varriano
Office Hours:
Goals:
Topic Prerequisites:
Outline:
Grading:
Homework:
Absences:
Office: 108 Science Bldg.
Phone: 3439 (office) 685-9551 (home)
Check my posted schedule for official office hours. Feel free to come by at other times to see if I am in.
1. To deepen your understanding of the Special Theory of Relativity by examining its origins and its development.
2. To successfully apply the theory in the analysis of time and length effects, high speed particle dynamics, and high speed Doppler shifts.
3. To learn how to make and use a space-time diagram, a visual tool used to understand and apply the theory.
4. To investigate and learn the implications of the theory with regards to yet observed effects such as time travel.
5. To improve your mathematical skill and your analytic reasoning skill, both which are needed to be a successful physicist.
6. To deepen your appreciation of Nature.
- basic algebra, trigonometry, calculus, matrix multiplication
- Newtonian kinematics and dynamics (laws of motion, momentum conservation, energy conservation)
There are thirteen modules to complete in the course with corresponding homework assignments. There are also two tests in the course, one covering kinematics and one covering dynamics. Each module has a corresponding PowerPoint presentation available from the course web page. The homework assignments and due dates are also posted on the page. The course is designed so that a module and its assignment are completed each week. You can work ahead if you wish to do so.
Module Topic Assignment 1 Newtonian Relativity HW Set 1 2 Light and Newtonian Relativity HW Set 2 3 Special Relativity HW Set 3 4 Relativity of Time, Simultaneity and Length HW Set 4 5 Relativity of Velocity and Acceleration HW Set 5 6 Aberration and Doppler Shift of Light HW Set 6 7 Space-time HW Set 7 8 More with Space-time Diagrams Test 1 9 Momentum HW Set 9 10 Energy HW Set 10 11 Relativistic Particles HW Set 11 12 Paradoxes HW Set 12 13 Time Travel Test 2
Each test will contribute 25% to your final grade. The remaining 50% of your final grade will come from the collected homework problems. Your final letter grade will be determined using the following scale:
Collected homework problems will be assigned as shown in the above course outline. Each set is designed to highlight points discussed in the module presentations or to further investigate points that may have been only briefly mentioned in the presentations. I feel that you will get the most out of this course by performing the homework sets for each module in a timely fashion. Each problem in a set is worth 10 points. Late problems will be accepted but will be subject to a 5% penalty for each day that they are late. After 5 days, the penalty will not exceed 25% and a problem can be turned in up to the last day of class. If a particular problem is turned in on time but receives less than an 7, then it can be resubmitted once up to two weeks after its original due date for a maximum of 7 points.
Attendance is not mandatory at our weekly meetings but strongly encouraged. We will go over any questions that you may have during these times.