Download Concepts of Modern Physics Presentations

SPH4U: Concepts of Modern Physics Presentations
Guidelines:
You will choose a topic in modern physics from the list below. Each topic is a basic concept or
idea in modern physics (related to quantum mechanics, general relativity, particle physics, or
theories of everything)
You will be allotted 10 minutes to present a summary of your topic, highlighting the significance
of the main concepts related to your topic, and you will then field questions from the class. You
may use the chalkboard or the projector (powerpoint, youtube, other animations) to aid in your
presentation, but this is not mandatory. You will then post your summary on the Modern Physics
class wiki: rosedalemodernphysics.wikispaces.com
You will be assessed based on the clarity and accuracy of your presentation, and on how well
you answer questions and stimulate discussion.
Presentations will be given at the beginning of Thursday and Friday classes.
Modern Physics Topic Sign-up and Presentation Schedule
Date
Name
September 12
Topic
JJ Thomson, Plum Pudding Model
Ernest Rutherford, Gold Leaf Experiment
26
Photoelectric effect – problems with classical
theory
Max Planck, Planck’s postulate and constant
October 2
Niels Bohr – atomic model with energy levels
18
10
Werner Heisenberg, Uncertainty Principle
16
Photography and CCDs (charge coupled
devices)
Louis De Broglie, matter waves
24
November 6
Erwin Schrodinger, Wave Equation
20
Wave functions and quantum numbers
28
Electron microscopes
December 4
Quantum tunneling
Date
Name
January 8
Topic
Scanning tunnelling microscopes
16
Radioactivity and radiocarbon dating
22
Wolfgang Pauli, Pauli Exclusion
Principle
Bosons and Fermions
30
Quarks
February 6
Transistors and microelectronics
12
Lasers – basic principles and applications
20
Richard Feynman, Quantum
Electrodynamics (QED)
Schrodinger’s Cat, Quantum mechanics
and the nature of reality
Quantum entanglement
26
March 6
26
Aprils 2
10
Quantum computing
General Relativity – basic ideas
16
Arthur Eddington, Experimental
Evidence for General Relativity
Paul Dirac, matter and anti-matter
24
The Standard Model
30
The Steady State Theory
The Big Bang Theory
May 8
String Theory
Dark Energy
14
Higgs Boson – recent developments
Topics List:
1. Photoelectric effect – energy quantization
2. Light as a particle (photons), Planck’s constant
3. Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle
4. Photography and CCDs
5. De Broglie’s matter waves
6. Schrodinger’s wave equation
7. Electron microscopes
8. Wave functions, quantum numbers
9. Quantum tunneling
10. Scanning tunnelling microscopes
11. The Standard Model
12. Radioactivity and radiocarbon dating
13. Pauli Exclusion Principle
14. Bosons and fermions
15. Transistors and microelectronics
16. Lasers – basic principles
17. Niels Bohr, atomic model
18. Schrodinger’s cat
19. Richard Feynman, Quantum Electrodynamics (QED)
20. Quantum computing
21. Experimental Evidence of General Relativity (Arthur Eddington)
22. Paul Dirac and anti-particles
23. Steady State vs. Big Bang
24. Ernest Rutherford, Gold Leaf Experiment
25. Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and the Higgs Boson