Modern Essentials

Spring 2025

Exam Grades

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Fzyf5X8tl74k320pSklrHRDvUuKEqriylWgnjZTjHn4/edit?gid=0#gid=0

Old Canvas: https://canvas.cmu.edu/courses/32799

Path

  •  Sundays-Thursdays 7pm-9pm in WEH 7316

To Do

  • Syllabus
  • Book Calendar
  • Canvas
  • Prep Lecture 1
  • Meet TA
  • [ ] Use announcements from old canvas

Draft Schedule

Week Topics Dates
---- ------------------------------------------ -------------------
1 Big Picture / Foundations / The Interval Jan 13/15/16/17
2 The Interval / LTs -/22/23/24
3 Spacetime diagrams / Paradoxes / Doppler 27/29/30/31
4 Velocity Parameter / Relativistic Momentum Feb 3/5/6/7

Teaching in:

  • DH 1112 9-9:50 MWF
  • SH 238 10-10:50 H

Problem Ideas

(Should also ask chatGPT)

Relativity Kinemaitcs

Muons at sea level. How many muons survive at sea level assuming no time dialation with time dialation In MPL we have an experiment which stops the muon as measures thier lifetime to be 2.1 µs. What fraction of the muons reach the ground ?

Relativity Dynamics

  • Muon collider: Given Muon beam energy… Fraction of c moving / Lifetime in lab frame / Angle of electron Lab from given angles in rest frame ?
  • Muons at sea level. How many muons survive at sea level assuming no time dialation with time dialation

Quantum

  • Fly-By-Night harmonic oscillator / Hydrogen Chapter III.2
  • Fly-By-Night atomic physics Chapter III.4

Extra credit ideas:

  • QM: delta function molecules and solids
  • Units/Estimation problems
  • SR ideas: in chatGPT

Backlinks