UNM Physics 262 Fall 2006

M Dec 18

Here is the summary gradesheet for the class, posted anonymously by CPS number. On the whole, they aren't too dissimilar from the earlier projections. The final exams have been graded and may be picked up in my office (Room 26, P&A building). I'll be in today until at least 4 p.m. I expect to be in most other days this week as well on a catch-as-catch-can basis. The extra credit portion of everyone's grade has increased because on the earlier gradesheet I erroneously counted only 0/1 for CPS incorrect/correct responses instead of 0/1/2 for CPS no/incorrect/correct responses.
I know each and every one of you put a lot of effort into this course, and I'm proud of you for that. The subjects we covered are very difficult and sometimes counterintuitive. For those of you continuing your physics studies, this is just the tip of the iceberg of a fascinating journey. For those of you for whom this is a terminal physics course, I hope you have learned that even the most bizarre phenemona can be tackled with a rational problem-solving approach. Best wishes to you all and have a happy holiday season.

M Dec 11

I've had some e-mails asking me, "What resource materials are allowed for the final exam?" To remind everyone what I said in class, I'm writing it down here. You can bring a SINGLE 8.5" x 11" piece of paper, with writing on both sides if you so desire, to the exam. You may also bring a ruler, but rulers will be provided if you don't have one. The same goes for pens/pencils---extras will be available at the exam if yours breaks for some reason. What you cannot use during the exam is either a calculator or a cell phone. If you use either one of these on the final, you will get a zero for the exam. The exam consists of eight questions surveying the entire course, one of which I announced on the last day of class. My best recommendation for studying is to do practice problems, especially in the areas you had a hard time with during the midterm exams.

F Dec 8

Here is an outline review of the main topics we discussed in the course. We will go over it in class today.

Th Dec 7

The solutions to exam 3 are now available on the course website. Please take the time to review the solutions to all actual and sample exams as well as all the problem sets as you prepare for the final exam. I reposted a few of them recently to correct some type-os here and there so you may want to download the most recent versions.

Th Dec 7

Here is a summary gradesheet, histograms, and detailed problem set gradesheet for the course, posted by CPS number. Please verify that all the individual information is complete and correct. To arrive at a total current grade, I assumed a grade on the final exam equal to the average of the first three midterms. Exams will be returned in class tomorrow.

Th Dec 7

Graded problem set 12 has been returned to your mailbox outside the lecture hall and exam 3 has been graded. I will post an anonymous complete list of grades for the entire course so far soon with an estimate of final grades, assuming that final exam performance is equal to the average performance of the three midterm exams. Solutions to exam 3 will be posted soon as well.

W Dec 6

Here are some links to quantum well and tunneling demos. STM images from nobel.org, a Java Applet from France and a Java Applet from Colorado.

M Dec 4

During final exam week, I will be holding extended office hours. They will be in my P&A office, room 26 at the following times: Monday 12-2 p.m., Wednesday 12-1 p.m., Thursday 2-4 p.m. If you have any questions, please take the opportunity to stop by.

Th Nov 30

Solution Set 12 and a repost of Solution Set 11 (with corrections) are now on the course website to assist you in studying for the midterm exam. Please take the time to read through them, and more importantly to do the sample exam.

T Nov 28

I reposted the sample midterm exam 3 and the corresponding solutions because they contained some mistakes that I corrected real-time during the review session. I guess that's what happens when I rush a write-up over a couple of slices of pizza at Saggio's. Everything should be correct now.

Su Nov 26

Here is a listing of the grades for exams 1 & 2 and problem sets 1-9, posted anonymously by CPS number. Please check your records and let me know if there are any incorrect entries.

Su Nov 12

Problem set 10 clarification: Because the normal to the Earth's surface is taken to be radially outwards in problem 10.3 a, the flux of the Sun's radiant power striking the Earth is negative. The minus sign should be associated with the power itself, not the area you are asked to calculate in this problem. So please report a positive area for this question. I reworded the problem so that the minus sign was pulled out of the integral to make this point clearer.

Th Nov 9

In my haste to cut and paste data from the two columns of my spreadsheet containing the exam 2 grades in four side-by-side columns so that it would conveniently be all on one page, I accidentally shifted the grades relative to the CPS numbers by two after CPS number 31. I have reposted the grade table in a long two page document without making any attempts to make it look nice. Just be sure to read on to page two if you don't see your CPS number on the first page.

Th Nov 9

Here is a histogram of the (scaled) scores on the relativity midterm exam. Here is a more detailed grade listing, posted anonymously by CPS number. Midterm exams will be returned in class on Friday. Also, remember that there is a problem set assigned this week, Problem Set 10.

M Nov 6

Here is a selected history of the photoelectric effect. Much is left out, but some highlights are there.

M Oct 23

I added the diagram to problem 8.2 and fixed a minus sign error in problem 8.1b this weekend, along with a couple of spelling errors. Everything else with Problem Set 8 is fine.

M Oct 16

Two minor type-o corrections for Problem Set 7: In problem 7.1 a, it now correctly says that 8c is equal to the distance traveled by the Enterprise in the original IRF divided by the proper time passed on the Enterprise, rather than the proper time passed on the Enterprise divided by the distance it travels as measured in the original IRF. Sorry for the confusion! Also, in problem 7.3 b, event 5 should be "Light from event 4 reaches Arthur," not "Light from event 3 reaches Arthur." Event 3 is itself light reaching Arthur, so clearly there was a type-o here.

Th Oct 12

I updated Problem Set 7 with a few corrections: Now the problem numbers are correct, a type-o in a number in the first table of problem 7.4 has been corrected, and the hyperbola diagram for you to trace over for problem 7.4 has been added.

W Sep 27

Here is a link to Einstein's famous E = mc^2 paper from 1905. Here it is in English. The title of the paper is "Does the inertia of a body depend on its energy content?" and was published exactly 101 years ago today.

Su Sep 24

Some students have asked me how their problem set scores stand in relation to the overall class performance. Here is a PDF of a histogram of problem set grades for the course so far, based on the first three problem sets. With the lowest grade dropped (as will be the course-end policy, stated below), the median is 60% whereas without the lowest grade dropped, the median is 49%. The corresponding means are 54% and 46%. From the overall look of the histogram, I'd say that if you are doing 45% or better on your best two problem sets, you are keeping pace. In any event, homework is only a small portion of your overall grade so don't fret too much about this. Some of you have extra credit of up to 5% to add to your overall grade as well.

F Sep 22

Here is an egregious link to some freaky optical illusions generated using spatial frequency filters, the kind you get using the diffraction ideas we talked about in class. Watch out for freaky cat-lady!

Th Sep 21

The practice optics midterm solutions are now posted. To get the most value out of this resource, spend the time going through the sample midterm yourself before looking at the solutions; don't just check after you work each problem.

Th Sep 21

I've posted a sample exam for you use to help you prepare for the optics midterm. I'll post solutions before the weekend. For those attending the review on Sunday, please work through these so we can talk about them.

W Sep 20

I've posted notes on reflection and transmission and coherence that are not in the textbook but were covered in lecture. I've also posted the first page of the first midterm exam (on optics) which contains the instructions for the exam. If you read them ahead of time, you'll save yourself some time on exam day!

M Sep 18

I've posted the next (short) Problem Set 5 early in case you'd like extra time to work on it. It is only two problems and is due on W Sep 27, after the exam.

T Sep 14

Here's a link to a Wave Applet to help you visualize some of the concepts we will be talking about.

W Sep 13

Homework Extension: Problem set 3 is now due on F Sep 15. Problem set 4 assigned today is still due on W Sep 20.

Th Sep 7

Part (e) of question 3.6 in Problem set 3 has been simplified.

M Sep 4

As mentioned in class, I will be holding special office hours this week because of the holiday. My office hours will be in Regener Hall 114 on Tuesday, Sep 5, from 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

T Aug 29

Notes from Lecture 4, covering the proof that EM waves are transverse and have orthogonal E and B fields posted. (See below.)

M Aug 28

Summary of all of physics circa 1905 posted. (See below.)

T Aug 22

TA office hours and SI session moved to RH 111. Ph 262L dates corrected to W/Th. Explicit extra credit formula added. Problem set 1 has been posted to this website (see below).

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Course description

General course information

Instructor

Teaching Assistant

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Prerequisites and corequisites

Grading

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Syllabus

Electromagnetic waves

Geometric and Physical Optics

Special relativity

Quantum mechanics

Lectures and Problem sets