Modern Physics

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Modern Physics

PHYS 260; Spring 2025

Course description:

An introduction to quantum and nuclear physics and the principles of special relativity. The objective is to explain the experimental basis for the transition from classical to modern physics.

Classroom: Science Building B326

The required textbook (which is free) for the course is listed under course materials, to the left. The optional textbook for the course is Modern Physics for Scientists and Engineers, fourth edition. (Thornton & Rex, 2013). You can find it here, along with other interesting books.

Copyright Information

Copyright information: Much of the content of this site and course (please see the top center of this page for the symbols) are licensed under the following Creative Commons license:

Attribution (BY): If you want to use my work, you must give me credit--but not in a way that suggests I endorse you or your use. Please link to this site and add the following to give me credit: "Credit: Matthew Civiletti".

No Derivatives (ND): You may copy, distribute, display and perform only original copies of my work. If you want to modify my work, you must get my permission first.

Noncommercial (NC): You may copy, distribute, display and perform my work only for strictly non commercial purposes. You may not post to Course Hero, or to any course material hosting site.

Course Logistics

We will meet in person on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:15 PM to 4:05 PM.
Each class will revolve around a topic; these are listed below under "Lecture Topics", which also specify the assignment due for each class.
Your final grade will be computed via the following weighted average:

1/3: Exam I
1/3: Exam II
1/3: Final Exam

The lowest exam will be dropped, but there are no makeup exams. There are homework and recitation problems, but they will not be graded; instead, 25% of the exam questions will come directly from the homework and recitations problems.