Engineering Physics, PHY 1701, Physics Division, SAS, VIT-Chennai
Topics Details of the topics to be covered
Introduction to CAL- explanation of each of
the components & their weightage in credits
Planck’s concept (hypothesis)
Compton Effect
de Broglie Waves, Davisson-Germer
Experiment
Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, Wave
function
Properties of wavefunction, Schrodinger
equation - time dependent
Schrodinger equation - time independent
Particle in a 1-D box (Eigen Value and Eigen
Function)
Continuation of the above topic, Extension
of wavefunction and energy equations to 3-
D box (Qualitative)
Tunneling Effect (Qualitative), Scanning
Tunneling Microscope (STM)
STM, numerical problems from Modules
Revision of Module I & II, Numerical
problems from module II.
Introduction to nanomaterials
Properties of nanomaterials
Qualitative observations from blackbody radiation
spectrum, drawbacks of Wiens and Rayleigh-Jeans
equations (no derivation), Merits of Planck's hypothesis
to resolve the UV catastrophe, Planck’s equation (no
derivation).
Aim of the Compton experiment, Experimental
description and results, results analysis through wave
and particle nature of light; Eq. for change in photon
wavelength & its plot at different theta.
Wave-particle complementarity principle of light: de
Broglie proposition, derivation of de Broglie equation,
Experimental verification of matter waves (Davisson-
Germer experiment aim & results analysis with
diffraction equation and plots)
Consequence of wave nature of particle motion,
Uncertainty principle (statement, derivation of
momentum - position product eq., one/two numericals),
Concept of wave function and its physical meaning.
Five important properties obeyed by wave function,
equation of motion for de Broglie waves (Schrodinger
time dependent wave equation.)
Schrodinger time dependent and time- independent
wave equations derivation.
Extraction of wavefunction and energy of an electron
moving in 1-D box by applying equation of motion
(Schrodinger wave equation).
Continuation of the above topic (previous day),
extension of wavefunction and energy of an electron to
3-D box analysis (no derivation).
Tunneling effect concept and tunneling probability
equation, STM
Continuation: STM, Numerical problems on topics of
module I.
Numerical problems on the topics covered in Module II.
Definition of nanomaterials in terms of dimensions; what
will happen when object dimension is < 1nm and >100
nm. Classification of materials based on
dimension/geometry: nanoparticles,
nanowires/nanotubes, nanofilms/nanosheets.
Chemical, conductivity, magnetic,
thermal/thermodynamic, mechanical &
 Engineering Physics, PHY 1701, Physics Division, SAS, VIT-Chennai
Quantum confinement, Quantum well,
quantum wire & quantum dot
Carbon nanotubes
optical/electronic properties of nanomaterials (metals &
semiconductors); The reasons for above properties.
Electron confinement and its energy equation from
“particle in 1-D & 3-D box” in the previous module,
Definition of quantum well, quantum wire and quantum
dot and their respective drawings/figures. Energy levels
separation and density of states plot (qualitative).
CNT definition, basic structure of single wall CNT;
classification of CNT based on no. Of walls; mechanical,
conductivity properties of CNTs.