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A Short Internet Course in Modern Physics


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A Short Internet Course in Modern Physics



These web pages are intended to help new QuarkNet teachers and other interested people learn some of the basics of Modern Physics from introductory material through High Energy Physics (HEP). Please forward any suggestions to improve this website or requests for further information to Ken Cecire, a member of the QuarkNet staff.


Lesson 1: Pre-Modern Physics

  • A Physics Course for Teachers
    This site contains the lecture notes for Physics 581 at the University of Virginia, a course designed specifically for teachers by Dr. Michael Fowler. You will find not only very clear notes on classical physics but also worked, downloadable examples of how to investigate physical phenomena using MS Excel 97 -- a very useful skill for the QuarkNet Lead Teacher Institute and for teacher/student research.


    Lesson 2: Quantum Mechanics

  • Intro to Quantum Mechanics
    This provides a good conceptual review of the principles of Quantum Mechanics. These principles are important to understanding the behavior of subatomic particles and the field theories (Quantum Electrodynamics and Quantum Chromodynamics) which govern them.



    • Lesson 3: Relativity

  • The Relativity Channel
    Relatvity is important to understanding particle lifetimes and how particles behave in an accelerator. Following the links in "The Relativity Channel" gives you a good introductory minicourse in relatvity.

  • The Light Cone
    This is another thorough introduction to relativity. It is designed for the PHY 105 class at Syracuse University and follows what the author, Rob Salgado, calls a "pseudo-historical development" of the theory of relativity and the concept of spacetime.


    Lesson 4: HEP and the Standard Model

  • QuarkNet Bibliography
    The QuarkNet Bibliography has links and information on theoretical and experimental HEP as it exists today. It is a must for new QuarkNet teachers.



    Lesson 5: The Cutting Edge in HEP

  • The Official String Theory Web Site
    This gives a good, sometimes quirky, always interesting generalist's introduction to String Theory and Supersymmetry. The author is planning a web course in the future, so stay tuned.

  • Neutrino Mass
    There is now evidence that neutrinos, originally predicted by the Standard Model to be massless, do indeed have mass and the ability to "oscillate" between different states. This article gives a brief description of this evidence and what it might mean.

  • The Higgs Boson
    This page gives a short overview of Peter Higgs' theory for how particles get mass.


    To comment on this web page or to request more information on Education and Outreach by the Hampton University Particle Physics Group, please use the contact information below.

    E-Mail: cecire@jlab.org
    Tel: (757)728-6533
    Fax: (757)728-6946
    Contact Person: K. Cecire, HU

    Last Updated: March 2000