SIF1004 / SMES1203 : Modern

Physics
(2 credit hours)
Muhammad Imran Mustafa Abdul Khudus
B.Sc. Physics (Imperial College London)
M.Sc. Physics (University College London)
Ph.D. Optoelectronics (ORC, University of Southampton)

email: m.imran.mustafa@um.edu.my
Overview
• Prerequisites: None
• Assessment (SIF1004 & SIX1004 / SMES1203)
• 40% / 30% - Continuous assessment (Quiz, tests, etc.)
• 60% / 70% - Final examination
• Reference books:
• Young and Freedman, University Physics
• Kenneth S. Krane, Modern Physics
• Arthur Beieser, Concepts of Modern Physics
• Stephen S. Thornton, Modern Physics for Scientists and Engineers
• To be updated
 Special
theory of
relativity

Cosmology
Quantum
and
Theory
astrophysics

SIF1004
Modern
Physics
Particle Atomic
physics matter

Nuclear
Physics and
Radioactivity
No. Topic Details
1. Special theory of relativity Galileo-Newtonian relativity, Michelson-Morley experiment, Special theory of
relativity postulates; Lorentz transformation, Lorentz contraction, time dilation
Relativity of Mass, Momentum and Energy, 4-vector time-position: 4-vector,
velocity 4-vector, momentum 4-vector and momentum–energy.

2. Quantum Theory The need for quantum theory, Duality of Particle-Wave, Wave Function,
Heisenberg uncertainty, Time independent Schrodinger equation, Examples in 1-
D: zero free particle and infinite square well potential.

3. Atomic matter Summary of atomic structure and the physics of periodic table, Types of Atomic
Bonding, Van de Waals bond, X-ray spectrum and atomic number, Crystal
structures, basic concept of phonons , Introduction to electron conduction in
conductor, semiconductor and insulator.

4. Nuclear Physics and Radioactivity Structure and characteristics of nucleus, binding energy, Nuclear forces.
Radioactivity, Conservation Laws, Q-value, natural Radioactivity Series, Nuclear
reactions, nuclear reactor and technology

5. Particle physics Elementary particles and forces

6. Cosmology and astrophysics Introduction to Big-Bang theory, structure and evolution of stars and galaxies
What is Modern Physics?

“Modern” + “Physics”?
 ‘Classical’ Physics
(pre-1900s)
• Greek scholars (e.g. Artistotle)
• Knowledge of nature
• Hence, meta-physics • Mechanics → forces, motion
• Thermodynamics → heat,
temperature
• Electricity and magnetism →
charge, currents
• Optics
φυσική(?) telescopes
→ light, lenses,
• Atomic and nuclear → radioactivity,
atomic power
• Quantum mechanics → basic
structure matter
• Particle physics → basic structure
of matter
• Condensed matter → solids and
liquids, computers, lasers
• Relativity, Cosmology → universe,
life!
‘Modern’ Physics
Major subfields of Physics
• Classical Physics (pre 20th century)
• Mechanics → forces, motion
• Thermodynamics → heat, temperature
• Electricity and magnetism → charge, currents
• Optics → light, lenses, telescopes

• Modern Physics (20th century)

• Atomic and nuclear → radioactivity, atomic power
• Quantum mechanics → basic structure matter
• Particle physics → basic structure matter
• Condensed matter → solids and liquids, computers, lasers
• Relativity, Cosmology → universe, life!
The 'architects' of modern physics
From specific to general
• Usually we start from some known but specific theory and try to
generalize it
• a new (general) theory will yield the old (restricted) theory as a
special approximation
• E.g. when backtracking to your younger age, the difficult math you
learnt in the University must reduce to that of simple arithmetic
knowledge that you learnt in primary school
• E.g. the relativity and quantum theories must yield to classical physics
when applied to large-scale objects moving at speeds much lower
than the speed of light
Example
• Special case: The parabola motion of projectile on Earth is a special
case of the more general case of elliptic motion of satellite around
the Earth
• General case: The mathematical description of satellite has to reduce
to parabolic motion of projectile on Earth surface when the length
scale reduces from that of Earth size (~6000 km) to that of a short
distance (say, ~ 100 m)
Another example
• Ray optics vs wave optics, both describing the propagation of light
• Geometrical optics/ray optics: only rectilinear propagation, reflection,
refraction, valid only when l /d <<1 or l <<d
• Wave (physical) optics: more general (diffraction, interference, also
rectilinear propagation), more comprehensive, valid up to l ~ d
wave optics ray optics (no wave phenomena)
First up: Special Relativity!