Relativity & Thermal Physics

Physics 9HB, Winter 2008

NOTE: Graded homeworks can be found in the 9HB hanging folder in 1118 Mathematical Sciences Building. (See the bin next to the copy machine.) The room is typically open during weekday business hours.

Instructor: Professor Jim Crutchfield (Physics and CSC)
Laboratory Supervisor: Randy Harris (Physics)
Discussion-Lab Assistant: Marcus Afshar (Physics)
Grader: Milan Nikolic (Physics)
WWW: 9HB Home Page

Catalog number: Physics 9HB (CRN 36479 or 36480)
Level: Lower Division
Units: 5
Lecture times: TuTh 1030-1150 AM
Location: 140 Physics/Geology
Crutchfield office hours: Wed 0300-0400 PM, 1109 Mathematical Scienes Building
TA office hours: 1100 AM-Noon Wednesdays, 436 Physics/Geology Building

Discussion/Lab sections:
Section A01: WF 9:00-10:50 AM 154 Roessler
Section A02: WF 1:10-03:00 PM 154 Roessler

This is a first introduction to relativity theory and thermal physics. Each will be covered in about 5 weeks, starting with relativity. As a result the introduction to each will be a bit brief, especially when compared to the depth and importance of the concepts. The advantage of this format, though, is that the course will give a concise overview of many exciting ideas.

Outline: (Course Syllabus [HTML] )

Audience: Potential majors in physics, chemistry, mathematics, computer science, engineering, and mathematical biology.

Prerequisites: Physics 9 or 9HA; Mathematics 21C (which can be taken concurrently)

Reference materials:

  1. Textbooks:
    • Six Ideas that Shaped Physics, Second Edition; Unit R: The Laws of Physics are Frame-Independent, Thomas A. Moore, McGraw-Hill, New York (2003). (ISBN 0-07-239714-4)
    • Six Ideas that Shaped Physics, Second Edition; Unit T: Some Processes are Irreversible, Thomas A. Moore, McGraw-Hill, New York (2003). (ISBN 0-07-239715-2)
  2. Course Reader.
  3. Lecture Notes.
  4. Laboratory Handouts (regularly updated).

Course Work (Grading):

  1. Assigned readings for each lecture.
  2. Weekly Problem Sets (30%).
  3. Mid-term Exam: In class, 14 February, Relativity (30%).
  4. Final Exam: 22 March, 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM, largely thermal physics (40%).
  5. Lab work modifies final grade:
    • High pass: Grade++
    • Pass: Grade = Grade
    • Low pass: Grade--
    • Fail: Grade = Fail (the course!)