Elements of Modern Physics
PHYS-40028
Join us to uncover how modern physics continues to drive innovation and deepen our understanding of the world around us.
Explore the fascinating shift from classical physics to the groundbreaking theories of the 20th and 21st centuries in this dynamic course.
Elements of Modern Physics introduces key concepts and discoveries that have reshaped our understanding of the universe. Topics include relativity, quantum mechanics, atomic and molecular physics, nuclear physics, particle physics, solid-state physics, astrophysics, and cosmology.
This course also highlights practical applications in technology, medical physics, and energy, while discussing the interdisciplinary impact on fields like chemistry, biology, medicine, and computer science. Additionally, students will examine the philosophical implications of modern physics, such as the shift from classical determinism to the probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics.
Course Highlights:
- Relativity
- Photons and Matter Waves
- All about Atoms
- Conduction of Electricity in Solids
- Nuclear Physics
- Energy from the Nucleaus
- Quarks, Leptons and the Big Bang
Course Benefits:
- Explain the core postulates of relativity
- Explore key principles of quantum mechanics, including wave-particle duality, uncertainty, and superposition
- Solve problems using the Schrödinger equation
- Explain Atomic Structure by describing the quantum mechanical model of the atom
- Analyze atomic and nuclear structures, radioactivity, and their applications in medicine, energy, and technology.
- Analyze factors affecting nuclear stability and solve problems involving radioactive decay
- Understand the Standard Model and identify the fundamental particles
- Examine the structure of solids, energy bands, semiconductors, and advanced materials like superconductors and graphene
Course Typically Offered: Online, every quarter
Prerequisite: Previous knowledge in Classical Mechanics and Thermodynamics, Electricity and Magnetism, and basic understanding of Wave Physics and Optics. Proficiency in algebraic manipulations and trigonometric identities, differentiation and integration, multivariable calculus for concepts like gradients and divergence, matrices, eigenvalues, and eigenvectors (useful for quantum mechanics), dot and cross products, vector fields, and flux integrals, and ordinary and partial differential equations for solving physical problems.
Course Information
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This course is entirely web-based and to be completed asynchronously between the published course start and end dates. Synchronous attendance is NOT required.
You will have access to your online course on the published start date OR 1 business day after your enrollment is confirmed if you enroll on or after the published start date.
Textbooks:
Fundamentals of Physics: Extended, 11th Edition 11th
by Halliday, Resnick, Walker
ISBN / ASIN: 9781119306856
You may purchase textbooks via the UC San Diego Bookstore.
Policies:
- No refunds after: 4/7/2025
Schedule:
Instructor:
Dragan Nikolic
Dragan Nikolic is a scientist at Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where he conducts research and technology development of planetary surface instruments. His current focus is developing advanced aerosol inlets for mass spectrometers to be used in aerobot exploration of Venus cloud decks. He published 72 articles in peer-reviewed journals and 30 conference proceedings, holds three patents, published three textbooks and six scientific reports, and has given 35 invited talks at international conferences and workshops. He is a member of the American Physical Society, Canadian Association of Physicists, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, MENSA, American Chemical Society, and previously served as Editor for the XXVI International Conference on Photonic, Electronic, and Atomic Collisions.
Dragan holds an MSc in plasma physics from the University of Belgrade (Serbia) and a Ph.D. in atomic physics from Stockholm University (Sweden). He received the Michael Idvorsky Pupin Award in 2004 and upheld Professional Physicist Certification from the Canadian Association of Physicists since 2010.