Modern Physics I

1. Explain the structure of the atom and its constituents.
2. Describe various atomic models and their limitations.
3. Calculate the relative atomic masses of elements.
4. Explain the principles of operation of mass spectrometers.
5. Calculate transition and excitation energies from hydrogen spectra.
6. Explain the concept of wave-particle duality.
7. Explain the stability of nuclei and radioactive decay processes.

13 weeks, about 30 hours in total. Yours will differ.

1. Week 1Module 1: Basic structure of an atom and atomic models

   • Unit 1: The atom, its structure and charge quantization · 2 hours

     Define an atom and its constituents.. Explain the structure of an atom and the location of protons, neutrons, and electrons.. Understand the concept of charge quantization and its implications..

2. Week 2Module 1: Basic structure of an atom and atomic models

   • Unit 2: Mass spectra · 2 hours

     Explain mass spectra and its principle of operation.. Define isotopes and calculate the relative abundance of isotopes.. Calculate the relative atomic masses of elements using mass spectrometry data..

3. Week 3Module 1: Basic structure of an atom and atomic models

   • Unit 3: Atomic models · 2 hours

     Describe the various atomic models, including J.J. Thomson's plum pudding model and Rutherford's model.. Compare and contrast the different atomic models.. Understand the historical development of atomic theory..

4. Week 4Module 1: Basic structure of an atom and atomic models

   • Unit 4: Bohr's model of an atom · 2 hours

     Outline Bohr's theory of the hydrogen atom.. Explain the concept of allowed orbits and energy levels.. Understand the Planck's energy equation and its application to atomic transitions..

5. Week 5Module 1: Basic structure of an atom and atomic models

   • Unit 5: Hydrogen Spectra · 2 hours

     Calculate the energy of any given orbit and the transition energy.. Understand the concept of hydrogen spectra and spectral lines.. Solve problems related to energy transitions and wavelengths of emitted radiation..

6. Week 6Module 2: Structure of the nucleus and electronic configuration

   • Unit 6: Magnetic Moment · 2 hours

     Explain magnetic dipole moment and its significance.. Define angular momentum of an atom and its relationship to allowed orbits.. Understand the concept of moment of momentum..

7. Week 7Module 2: Structure of the nucleus and electronic configuration

   • Unit 7: Electron Spin · 2 hours

     Understand the concept of electron spin and its quantum number.. Explain how electron spin contributes to the magnetic properties of atoms.. Differentiate between spin up and spin down states..

8. Week 8Module 2: Structure of the nucleus and electronic configuration

   • Unit 8: Pauli Exclusion Principle · 2 hours

     State the Pauli Exclusion Principle and its implications for electronic configuration.. Explain Hund's rule and its role in filling degenerate orbitals.. Write the electronic structure of elements using the aufbau method..

9. Week 9Module 2: Structure of the nucleus and electronic configuration

   • Unit 9: X – Spectra · 2 hours

     Describe the modes of X-ray production.. Understand the energy spectra of X-rays and the factors affecting their quality.. Explain the origin of K-series and other X-ray spectral lines..

10. Week 10Module 2: Structure of the nucleus and electronic configuration

    • Unit 10: Wave – Particle Duality · 2 hours

      Explain the concept of wave-particle duality of matter.. Understand De Broglie's equation and its significance.. List the particle and wave properties of matter..

11. Week 11Module 3: Radioactivity and binding energy of nuclei

    • Unit 11: Nuclear Structure · 2 hours

      Define binding energy, mass defect and atomic mass unit.. Calculate the binding energy of the nucleus in joules and electronvolts.. Determine the mass defect of a nucleus..

12. Week 12Module 3: Radioactivity and binding energy of nuclei

    • Unit 12: Nuclear Stability · 2 hours

      Explain what makes a nucleus stable or unstable.. List the properties of stable and unstable nuclei.. Describe how nuclei acquire stability..

    • Unit 13: Radioactivity · 2 hours

      Explain what is meant by radioactivity.. State the fundamental radioactive decay law.. Explain what is half-life and calculate the half-life of radioactive elements..

13. Week 13Module 3: Radioactivity and binding energy of nuclei

    • Unit 14: Radioactive series · 2 hours

      Understand the concept of radioactive decay series.. Identify the types of particles emitted in radioactive decay.. Explain why nuclei undergo radioactivity..

    • Unit 15: Accelerators and detectors · 2 hours

      Describe the principles of operation of accelerators and detectors.. List different types of accelerators and detectors.. State one important use of accelerators..