The quest to understand the most basic parts of our world has led to many
models over several millennia from the Greek idea of atomos to the
standard model of particle physics. This course will introduce our
best understanding of particles, nuclei, and their interactions. We will
also discuss some of the outstanding questions that we do not yet know
their answers.
By the end of this course you should have a more complete understanding
of the historical and current models of nuclear and particle physics. You
should be able to read any general audience article in the popular press
and not only follow it, but realize that you know more than the author
has presented.
The course will consist of discussions, lectures, demos, and perhaps a
few out of class, optional activities. We will use the text, but not
cover all topics. In addition, some topics not included in the book
will be covered. The specific topics covered will be at least partially
driven by YOUR interests and questions. So, please ask questions!
Class Meetings: The Tuesday and Thursday course meetings will be in UPL 109. Times are 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM.
Textbook: We will be using Nuclear and Particle Physics - An Introduction, 2nd Edition, by B.R. Martin and published by Wiley.
Class Participation: Class participation includes asking
and answering questions, both in class and via discussion board. If
you do not actively participate in class, your performance (and grade)
on homework and exams will suffer and you are unlikely to do well. It
is expected that everyone will be engaged in the class.
Pre-class Preparation: It is expected that you
will have read the appropriate sections of the book prior to class.
The schedule is on the course calendar (available from the main
course website).
Some of the homework questions (see below) will be related to the upcoming material and
will test that you have read the chapter.
Homework: Homework will be assigned weekly (or thereabouts) and will include
problems from the text as well as problems
from other sources. Discussion of homework problems is encouraged,
however everyone must do and turn in their own work. Each of you is
responsible for understanding the solution and submitting your own individual
answers.
Participating in a closed online group is considered unauthorized group work
and is a violation of
FSU's Honor Code (see item 3).
The solutions for the problems from the text
are in the back of the book. For these problems, you must provide
a more complete answer than the one in the back. Just copying the
steps presented there will result in 0 points earned.
Homework is due by 11:15am on the due date (usually Tuesday).
Late homework will not be accepted.
Exams: There will be one mini‐exam, one midterm exam,
and one final exam. The problems on the exams will differ slightly from
those in the homework. There will be more calculations on the homework
and more explanations on the exams. Exams will offer some choice of
problems and each problem will be graded on a 10-point scale. The class
periods before the midterm and final exams will be used for review.
The review will be driven by your questions. I will not attempt to
cover everything that could be on the exam, nor will I give a synopsis
of the exam.
The use of any electronic device other than a calculator on a quiz or
exam is a violation of the Honor Code. Requested formulas will be posted
for the entire class before quizzes start. A formula sheet will be provided
for the midterm and final exams.
Paper/Project: One semester is too short to fully
explore all topics related to particle and nuclear physics. Therefore,
you are responsible for selecting a topic that is of interest to you
and producing a project that goes beyond what we cover in class.
You have a fair bit of freedom in your choice of the project. It can
be a paper, but it could also be a video/podcast, an oral presentation,
an animated movie, etc. You can use your imagination. It will be 25%
of your grade, so it must be a significant project. More information
will be given during class. All projects will be due by 5pm on April
14, 2017.
Class Absences: Active participation is critical to the class;
however, absences may occur. In general, there are four acceptable excuses for
missing class: illness or medical emergency, religious holiday, family emergency,
and approved university activity. To receive an excused absence, you must
provide a signed paper note explaining why you were absent, what work you missed,
and what you will do to make it up. Documentation for absences should be
stapled to the note. You are not penalized for excused absences. Advance notice
is required for religious holidays and approved university activities. Advance
notice for other emergencies would be greatly appreciated. Unexcused absences
will result in grade adjustments.
Learning Environment: The goal of the course is for you to learn
physics. There are many resources to help you learn, including your book, your
classmates, your instructor, and the class web page.
You should take advantage of as many of these as you need in order to learn the
material. If, at any point during the course, you feel your performance is
slipping, immediately seek assistance. Please don't wait until
the day before the midterm or final to ask for help. I am available to help during
class, office hours, and other hours by appointment. Please send e-mail or call my office to
make sure I am available during non-office hours.
This is a college course and we expect an appropriate learning
environment. If you use your cell phone for a call, texting, or web
browsing you will be asked to leave the classroom, and you will not get
credit for being present that day. Using a cell phone for any purpose
during a quiz or exam is considered a violation of the academic honor
policy (see below).
University
Attendance Policy:
Excused absences include documented illness, deaths in the family and other
documented crises, calls to active military duty or jury duty, religious holy
days, and official University activities. These absences will be accommodated
in a way that does not arbitrarily penalize students who have a valid excuse.
Consideration will also be given to students whose dependent children
experience serious illness.
Academic
Honor Policy: The
Florida State University Academic Honor Policy outlines the University’s
expectations for the integrity of students’ academic work, the procedures
for resolving alleged violations of those expectations, and the rights and
responsibilities of students and faculty members throughout the process.
Students are responsible for reading the Academic Honor Policy and for living
up to their pledge to “. . . be honest and truthful and . . . [to] strive
for personal and institutional integrity at Florida State University.”
(Florida State University Academic Honor Policy, found at http://fda.fsu.edu/Academics/Academic-Honor-Policy.)
Americans
With Disabilities Act: Students
with disabilities needing academic accommodation should: (1) register with and
provide documentation to the Student Disability Resource Center; and (2) bring
a letter to the instructor indicating the need for accommodation and what type.
This should be done during the first week of class.
This
syllabus and other class materials are available in alternative format upon
request.
For more
information about services available to FSU students with disabilities, contact
the: Student
Disability Resource Center, 874 Traditions Way, 108 Student Services Building,
Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-4167, (850) 644-9566 (voice),
(850) 644-8504 (TDD), sdrc@admin.fsu.edu, or online at http://www.disabilitycenter.fsu.edu/
Syllabus
Change Policy: Except
for changes that substantially affect implementation of the evaluation
(grading) statement, this syllabus is a guide for the course and is subject to
change with advance notice.