Table of Contents and Preface
Physics 120 - Modern Physics and Mechanics is an introductory course for honours
science and engineering science students at Simon Fraser University.
The content of this version of
PHYS 120 is not current - the modern physics material was deleted after about 2005.
The course begins with an 11 lecture survey of modern physics, from particle
physics to cosmology. Click on the following links for the full text.
Table of Contents and Preface
Chapter 1 Atoms, Nuclei and Particles
Chapter 2 Interactions I
Chapter 3 Energy, Momentum and Mass
Chapter 4 Bound Systems
Chapter 5 Interactions II
Chapter 6 Nuclear Fission and Fusion
Chapter 7 A Quick Tour Through the Cosmos
Chapter 8 The Expanding Universe
Chapter 9 The Big Bang Model
Chapter 10 The Early Universe
Chapter 11 Origin of the Elements
Appendix A Review of Kinematics
Appendix B Scattering Experiments
Appendices C - E Data Summaries and Answers to Problems
Copies of Boal's lecture notes are available on-line. These notes should not be used as a substitute for attending lectures! But if you are occasionally stuck in Vancouver's worsening traffic, use the notes to catch up on the material you miss when you are late for class.
Thanks to Adrie Boal for typing and illustrating the lectures.
Lecture 1 - Introduction
Lecture 2 - Probability, cross sections, masses
Lecture 3 - Fundamental interactions
Lecture 4 - Particle classifications
Lecture 5 - Energy, momentum and mass
Lecture 6 - Bound systems
Lecture 7 - Interactions in reactions and decays
Lecture 8 - Fission and fusion
Lecture 9 - A quick tour of the cosmos
Lecture 10 - The expanding universe
Lecture 11 - The Big Bang model
Lecture 12 - The early universe
Lecture 13 - Review (no text)
Lecture 14 - Kinematics in one dimension
Lecture 15 - Slopes and areas
Lecture 16 - Motion in two and three dimensions - I
Lecture 17 - Motion in two and three dimensions - II
Lecture 18 - Dynamics
Lecture 19 - Friction
Lecture 20 - Work, kinetic energy
Lecture 21 - Conservative forces
Lecture 22 - Conservation of momentum
Lecture 23 - Rotational kinematics
Lecture 24 - Circular motion with variable speed
Lecture 25 - Angular momentum and torque
Lecture 26 - Moments of inertia
Lecture 27 - Rotational work and energy
Lecture 28 - Statics
Lecture 29 - Rotational dynamics
Lecture 30 - Oscillatory motion and pendula
Lecture 31 - More on oscillations
Lecture 32 - Standing and travelling waves
Lecture 33 - Superposition of waves
Supplementary lectures
Supp. lecture 1 - Galilean relativity
Supp. lecture 2 - Lorentz transformation
Supp. lecture 3 - Rods and clocks
Supp. lecture 4 - Energy and momentum
Supp. lecture 5 - Particle in a box
Supp. lecture 6 - Fermi gas and neutron stars
