What are the challenges of taking a second-year intro modern physics course?

[bmrick]

So my options for upper divisions this semester were pretty limited. I'm a physics major and the only upper divisions I've taken are intro thermal physics and math models. So this semester I ended up with electromagnetic theory one and modern physics. The first day of modern physics I was pretty lost. I'm not familiar at all who the wave nature of light, let alone with the wave nature of matter. Should I drop the class and finish e and m first or should I ride out modern physics? I'm not so much concerned about the grade as I am concerned that educationally d be better served doing some private study in e and m or general relativity or something

 

[JLR]

Why not just stick with modern physics and do some "private study" in modern physics?

 

[bmrick]

Because on day one my teacher was talking about the wave equation which I'm not at all familiar with. He said the course is more geared towards a pre quantum study than it is towards a historical account of modern physics. I'm worried that I'm going to be bogged down in mathematics that I don't understand because I don't have any preliminary education in the mathematics or theories that lead to modern physics. I don't want to just pass the class I want to understand what going on

 

[JLR]

If you don't have the required math under your belt then how were you allowed to enroll in it to begin with? Prereq's should have prevented you from enrolling to begin with. The mathematics in modern physics isn't that bad really. You have to get used to using complex numbers a bit, but nothing you shouldn't be able to handle. There is a lot to take in conceptually though... very dense. If you have all your calc's under your belt and D.E. you should do fine with some supplemental reading as needed. Even if you have your math down you should still expect to have your head buried in the book due to the amount of info you have to take in. Is this reason to drop the course though? It isn't going to change anytime soon. If you do drop the course though out of survival in a school sense then spend time studying on your own so it isn't such a shock come next semester or whenever you take it again. Other than that the ball is in your court.

 

[bmrick]

I need some work on differential equations but I can handle that. I was just worried that the course expected me to already understand a lot about waves and the wave nature of matter. No there aren't any prerequisites, but I found out today that the statistical mechanics course I've been allowed to enroll in, a 400 level course, is going to end up developing on quantum mechanics at some point. My advisor said it would be fine, the course teacher, however, was rather concerned. So I don't trust my schools recommendations for prerequisites, which is why I've turned to this community.

Could you perhaps explain to me a bit what modern physics is about? Wiki says it's the physics derived from considering matter and energy to be the same v thing. My professor said that the class is less about modern physics and more about preparing one for quantum, so there's that.

 

[JLR]

Modern physics is a lot to do with QM and particle physics and the such. I can't speak for your advisors, but if their anything like my colleges, they don't have a clue about the program requirements. Best to stick to any advice and recommendations BY the professors and instructors that teach the courses. If the teacher is concerned you might want to take heed. However, you also might want to pick his/her brain as the next step. The teacher may be concerned about your progress through the course given your circumstances but that doesn't mean you can't do it still. If you really want to take it find out what he/she would suggest that would put you on par to succeed in the course. If not..., I'm not saying don't, but don't set your self up to fall on your face either. It may just take a little extra work on your part. So use your better judgement. If your still not comfortable afterwards, hey, the class will be there at a later date.

"There is no education like self education."

 

[bmrick]

Alright thanks JLR, I think for now I'm just going to ride it out. If before the drop date I find myself memorizing math instead of learning math\ physics because it's too advanced, then I'll drop.

 

[jtbell]

What textbook are you using in your Modern Physics course? Also, you presumably have had the standard two-semester intro physics course which covers mechanics, E&M, etc. Which book did you use for that?

A second-year intro modern physics course is often the place where students get introduced to wave equations of the form $\psi = A \cos (kx - \omega t)$ (real) and $\psi = A e^{i(kx - \omega t)}$ (complex), and it's often the first physics course where they have to use complex numbers. I covered that stuff in the intro modern course that I taught for many years. If that's what you're dealing with, then you'll just have to buckle down and get comfortable with them. It's common for physics courses to introduce new math that they need. My intro modern course was also where many students had to use partial derivatives for the first time, and I spent some time specifically on that.

Some schools have a separate "waves" course. You might check and see if you have one of those at your school.