Class 15, 2/26/04

Highlights:
* Quick overview of preview of this class, and Class 14

* R1: Particle/wave property of light
    **  Energy of a photon
            E = h x frequency (neu),   as was put forward by Planck in 1900.
    **  Momentum of a photon
            p = E/c = (h x frequency)/c, as later proven by experiment;
    **  Next use the relation  c =  (frequency) x (wave length), the momentum of the photon can be written as
            p = h/ (wave length),  or (wave length) = h/p.
* N1: Particle/wave property of massive particle
    ** In the 1920s, de Broglie proposed that particle should have wave properties too ! He was subsequently proven right by experiments. Not only that, electron microscope was made based upon the wave property of electron.
    **  The de Broglie equation:
            (wave length of a massive particle) = h/p, where p is the magnitude of the momentum of a massive particle,

             p = m v ~ M v , for [(v/c)^2] << 1 ( " ~ " denotes "approximately equal to"; and " << " denotes "much less.")
   
* N2: Electron microscope (See HW8, SA8.2)
        ** Converting electric potential of a electron to its kinetic energy. The unit of electric potential energy is denote by electron charge e and volts V, 
            1 eV = 1.6 x 10^-19 kg m^2 s^-2
,  see Appendix A of TB1.

* N.3 Our Star
    ** Brief history of the Sun
    ** How it shines; Fig. 15-7.
        *** Professor Hans Bethe of Cornell U got the Nobel Prize in 1967 for his contribution to the understanding of star energy
    ** "Tag of war" between gravitational pull and nuclear fusion energy push out ---- gravitational/fusion pressure balance or equilibrium.
        *** See Fig. 15.8.
    ** Fusion vs fission, Fig. 15.5;
    ** Layers of the Sun, Fig. 15.4;
    ** Studying Sun by Doppler effect: Fig. 15.9.

* N.4, (back to some math)
    ** Pythagoras thm in Euclidean space, which our flat 3-dimensional space is,
            r^2 = x^2 + y^2 + z^2 .
    ** The length-squared of a directional line (a vector),  r^2, is invariant under coordinate change. (e.g., Distance from Davis to Manhattan does not change under coordinate change or rotation. Although, its projections in each direction (x, y, z) changes when different coordinates are used.
    ** Pythagoras thm also apply to momentum
            p^2 = (p_x)^2 + (p_y)^2 + (p_z)^2,
          which also invariant under spatial coordinate change.
    ** In our (3+1)-dimension spacetime, the Minkowski space, Pythagoras thm is generalized to Minkowski thm
        *** (Invariant length in Minkowski)^2 = (invariant length in 3-space)^2 - (ct)^2 = r^2 - (ct)^2, which is invariant not only under coordinate change in space, but also time change caused by relative constant motion.
        *** Similarly Minkowski thm also apply to momentum-energy, i.e.,
                p^2 - (E/c)^2 = an invariant under coordinate change in spacetime, due to rotation or relative constant motion.

            Bonus challenge: A simple calculation will reveal this invariant quantity. This is a bonus challenge to student. Whoever first derives this result and e-mail to Professor Chau will get 1.0 bonus.



 ****** Below was posted before the class. *****************  

Reminder:
* Look forward to receiving your answers to "Questionnaires after Quiz 2" before Thursday, 2/26/03, midnight. Please keep the Subject of the e-mail as is.
* Quiz 2 & HW6 rebuttal due next Tuesday. Please follow the procedure of sending Professor Chau an e-mail first (please remember to put in Subject "10B; Rebuttal xxx.") and give her the full graded set (either sliding under her office door or handing to her right after the class.).

Announcement:
* Please see revised Reading Assignments on the web.
* In view of the coming Quiz 3, Thursday, 3/4/04, next week, the immediate reading assignment is less than usual, as listed below.
Week-8 (2/26-3/4 )
TB1:
  · Partial Our Star; Read p.496-508 & summary pages (i.e., 15.1 to 15.3 and summary pages of  TB1).
  · Fig. 7.20 on p.186 and its explanations; Fig. 11.8 on p. 304 and its explanations.
TB2:
  · Pp.263-p.282, Chpt 11 of TB2.

Preview of class:
* Wave property of particles with mass;
* More about uncertainty relations in Quantum Mechanics;
* Starting new chapters listed above.


Sigu-up items:

Sign-up item, Class 15, 2/26/04

(1) Initial.