Title: Modern Physics - General Introduction Difference between topics covered in modern physics and other parts of Physics

Slide 1:

  • Physics is the study of nature and its fundamental laws
  • Traditional physics covers classical mechanics, electromagnetism, and thermodynamics
  • Modern physics includes quantum mechanics and relativity
  • The main difference lies in the scale of phenomena being studied

Slide 2:

  • Classical physics deals with macroscopic objects and their motion
  • Modern physics focuses on microscopic particles and their behavior
  • Classical physics observes objects at speeds much slower than the speed of light
  • Modern physics studies particles at high speeds and near the speed of light

Slide 3:

  • Classical physics describes gravity with Newton’s law of universal gravitation
  • Modern physics includes Einstein’s general theory of relativity for gravity
  • Classical physics uses Maxwell’s equations to explain electromagnetic phenomena
  • Modern physics examines the wave-particle duality of light and other electromagnetic radiation

Slide 4:

  • In classical physics, objects have definite positions and velocities
  • Modern physics introduces uncertainty with Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle
  • Classical physics uses deterministic equations to predict the future behavior of systems
  • Modern physics incorporates probability and statistical methods to describe quantum systems

Slide 5:

  • Classical physics assumes that time is absolute and universal
  • Modern physics treats time as relative and dependent on the observer’s frame of reference
  • Classical physics works well for everyday phenomena and macroscopic systems
  • Modern physics is necessary to understand the behavior of subatomic particles and phenomena at high energies

Slide 6:

  • Classical physics is based on classical mechanics and Newton’s laws of motion
  • Modern physics builds upon classical physics but extends it to extreme scales and speeds
  • Classical physics is sufficient for most engineering applications and daily life
  • Modern physics is crucial for the development of technologies like transistors, lasers, and nuclear power

Slide 7:

  • In classical physics, gravity is a force acting between two objects
  • In modern physics, gravity is understood as the curvature of spacetime caused by mass and energy
  • Classical physics can explain the motion of planets and objects in our everyday life
  • Modern physics provides a deeper understanding of the universe’s structure and evolution

Slide 8:

  • Classical physics assumes that there are separate laws for different kinds of phenomena
  • Modern physics seeks to find a unified theory that explains all phenomena in a single framework
  • Classical physics is deterministic at macroscopic scales
  • Modern physics introduces probabilistic behavior at the microscopic level

Slide 9:

  • Classical physics is based on classical measurements and observations
  • Modern physics requires advanced experiments and techniques to probe quantum phenomena
  • Classical physics uses continuous variables (e.g., position, velocity)
  • Modern physics deals with discrete variables (e.g., energy levels, quantum states)

Slide 10:

  • Despite the differences, classical physics and modern physics complement each other
  • Both fields are essential for understanding the physical world at different scales and speeds
  • The study of classical physics provides a foundation for approaching modern physics concepts
  • Modern physics challenges our intuitions and pushes the boundaries of our understanding

Slide 11:

  • Quantum Mechanics
    • Wave-particle duality
    • Uncertainty principle: ∆x∆p ≥ h/2π
    • Schrödinger’s equation: Ψ(x, t) = Ae^(i(kx - ωt))
  • Examples:
    • Double-slit experiment
    • Particle in a box

Slide 12:

  • Relativity
    • Special theory of relativity
      • Postulates: constancy of the speed of light, relativity principle
      • Time dilation: Δt’ = Δt√(1 - (v^2/c^2))
      • Length contraction: L’ = L√(1 - (v^2/c^2))
    • General theory of relativity
      • Curvature of spacetime and gravity
      • Einstein’s field equations: Rμν - (1/2)gμνR = 8πGTμν
  • Examples:
    • Time dilation in GPS satellites
    • Gravitational lensing

Slide 13:

  • Quantum Electrodynamics (QED)
    • Theory of the electromagnetic interaction and quantum phenomena
    • Quantum field theory approach
    • Feynman diagrams: visual representation of particle interactions
    • Examples: electron-positron annihilation, photon absorption/emission

Slide 14:

  • Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD)
    • Theory of the strong nuclear force
    • Quarks and gluons as elementary particles
    • Color charge and confinement
    • Examples: proton-proton collisions, quark-gluon plasma

Slide 15:

  • Standard Model of Particle Physics
    • Unification of electromagnetic, weak, and strong nuclear forces
    • Elementary particles: quarks, leptons, gauge bosons, and Higgs boson
    • Symmetry-breaking and particle mass generation
    • Examples: Higgs boson discovery at the Large Hadron Collider

Slide 16:

  • Particle Accelerators
    • Large Hadron Collider (LHC)
      • Circular accelerator with a circumference of 27 kilometers
      • Used to probe fundamental particles and high-energy collisions
    • Linear accelerators (linacs)
      • Used for accelerating particles in a straight path
    • Examples: Fermilab, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

Slide 17:

  • Applications of Modern Physics
    • Electronics and solid-state physics
      • Transistors and integrated circuits
      • Quantum tunneling in electronic devices
    • Nuclear power and energy
      • Nuclear fission and fusion reactions
      • Radioactive decay and radiation
    • Medical imaging and therapies
      • X-rays, CT scans, PET scans, radiotherapy

Slide 18:

  • Cosmology and Astrophysics
    • Big Bang theory and cosmic microwave background radiation
    • Dark matter and dark energy
    • Black holes and gravitational waves
    • Stellar evolution and nucleosynthesis

Slide 19:

  • Quantum Computing
    • Utilizes quantum superposition and entanglement properties
    • Quantum bits (qubits) as the basic unit of information
    • Potential for exponentially faster computation
    • Examples: IBM Quantum, Google Quantum

Slide 20:

  • Future Directions in Physics
    • Grand unified theories (GUTs)
    • Supersymmetry and new particles
    • String theory and multidimensional physics
    • Quantum gravity and the nature of spacetime

Slide 21:

  • Quantum Entanglement
    • The phenomenon where two or more particles become linked together
    • Changes in one particle’s state are instantly reflected in the other, regardless of distance
    • Example: Bell’s theorem and EPR paradox

Slide 22:

  • Bose-Einstein Condensate (BEC)
    • State of matter where a group of bosons occupy the lowest quantum state
    • Extremely low temperatures are required for the formation of BEC
    • Examples: Superfluidity and superconductivity

Slide 23:

  • Nuclear Fusion
    • Process where two light atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus
    • The release of large amounts of energy
    • Example: The Sun’s energy production through fusion of hydrogen nuclei

Slide 24:

  • Particle-Wave Duality
    • The behavior of particles can exhibit both wave-like and particle-like properties
    • Example: Diffraction and interference of electrons

Slide 25:

  • Photons and Wave-Particle Duality
    • Photons are particles of light
    • They exhibit both wave-like properties (e.g., interference) and particle-like properties (e.g., photoelectric effect)
    • Example: The dual nature of light, as observed in double-slit experiment

Slide 26:

  • Feynman Diagrams
    • Graphical representations of particle interactions in quantum field theory
    • Used to calculate probabilities of different processes
    • Example: Electron-positron annihilation, electron-electron scattering

Slide 27:

  • Dark Matter and Dark Energy
    • Dark matter: Unseen matter that doesn’t interact electromagnetically, but affects gravitational forces
    • Dark energy: Unknown form of energy responsible for the accelerating expansion of the universe
    • Examples: Observations of galaxy rotation curves, cosmic microwave background radiation

Slide 28:

  • Quantum Tunneling
    • Phenomenon where particles penetrate barriers that classical physics predicts to be impenetrable
    • Allows for the study of radioactive decay and scanning tunneling microscopy
    • Example: Alpha decay of atomic nuclei

Slide 29:

  • Quantum Teleportation
    • The transfer of quantum states from one location to another
    • Achieved by using entanglement and classical communication
    • Example: Quantum teleportation of individual photons

Slide 30:

  • Future Developments in Modern Physics
    • Development of quantum computing technologies
    • Exploration of new particles and interactions at high-energy colliders
    • Progress in understanding dark matter and dark energy
    • Advancements in understanding the fundamental nature of space and time