Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Department of Physics
Physics 8.04 February 5, 1997
Quantum Physics I, Spring 1997
Course Information
Lecturer:
Tomás Arias, Rm. 12-110, x3-6831 (muchomas@mit.edu).
Lecture: TR 2:30-4:00, 6-120
Office hours: T4:00-5:00
Recitation Instructors:
Craig A. Ogilvie, 26-413, x3-4184.
Sec. # 1: MW 10:00, 24-402
Sec. # 2: MW 11:00, 13-3101
Office hours: To be announced in recitation
Samir D. Mathur, 6-302, x3-4866 (mathur@mitlns.mit.edu).
Sec. # 3: MW 3:00, 2-135
Sec. # 4: MW 2:00, 2-139
Office hours: To be announced in recitation
Course Secretary:
Steve Malley, x3-4461 (smalley@mit.edu).
Textbooks:
Heisenberg The Physical Principles of the Quantum Theory (Dover
Publications, 1949).
Resnick and Halliday, Basic Concepts in Relativity and Early Quantum Theory, 2 
Ed. (Macmillan, 1992).
Gasiorowicz Quantum Physics, 2nd Ed. (Wiley, 1996).
References:
French and Taylor An Introduction to Quantum Physics (W.W.
Norton).
Eisberg and Resnick, Quantum Physics of Atoms, Molecules, Nuclei,
and Particles, 2nd Edition (Wiley).
Getting the most from the lectures:
Students generally get more out of a lecture if they have a sense of
the material to be covered and some questions already formed in their
minds. Selected short readings will be assigned at the top of each new
problem set. It is highly recommended that this reading be done, even
if cursorily, before attending the corresponding lecture.
Problem Sets:
Beyond the short readings and the lectures, the third element of the
learning process is working the weekly problem sets. Students should
feel free and are encouraged to discuss and ask conceptual and
practical advice on
the problem sets from the teaching staff and from each other. The
problem sets are meant to encourage discussion but also make up a
significant part of the grade. Therefore, after the discussion
process, students are to sit down and write up the solutions by
themselves. If you and your study partner end up using the same
sentences and variable names in your solutions, this is a sign that you are
collaborating too closely.
There will be ten problem sets, handed out after the Thursday lecture
each week except when there is a quiz the following week. The problem sets
are due eight days later at 5:00 PM sharp on Friday of the next
week. They are to be turned in to the appropriate problem set cubby
in room 4-334. Late problem sets absolutely will not be accepted and will
receive a grade of zero, unless a special arrangement for extenuating
circumstances (usually medical, verifiable with a note from the medical
center) has been made with Prof. Arias at least
twenty-four hours prior to the due date. Arrangements cannot be
made for this with the recitation instructors. To mitigate
unfortunate circumstances, the lowest one of your ten problem set
scores will be dropped in forming your problem set average.
Exams:
There will be two (2) one and one-half hour quizzes scheduled during
lecture time and a three hour final exam. The quizzes will be
closed-book and will take place on Thursday March 6, the day before
add date, and April 17, one week before drop date. There will also
be a final exam scheduled during the final exam period, May 19-May 23.
Grades:
The relative weighting of exams and problem sets will be as follows:
Problem Sets 30%
Quiz I (March 6) 20%
Quiz II (April 17) 20%
Final Exam 30%
The final distribution of grades (i.e., ``A,'' ``B'' or ``C''
centered) will be determined by the class's overall performance over
the semester.
Partial Credit:
Partial credit, particularly on exams, will be awarded generously only
in those cases involving minor algebraic errors. Incomplete physical
reasoning or simply writing down formulas without physical
justification will not result in credit for the problem in question.
Great pains have been taken to implement a system with uniform
grading; each problem will be graded by only one grader. Therefore,
awards of partial credit will not be adjusted on an individual basis
as it would be grossly unfair to the rest of the class to adjust the
credit of one student with out adjusting that of the entire class.
Granting partial credit to the entire class uniformly assures that the
system is fair.
Grading Corrections:
You are strongly encouraged to bring to our attention cases where
graders have miss-graded, including simple mistakes, not noticing
information which you provided in your solution, and not giving credit
for valid alternate solutions. To resolve these matters, please write
a brief explanation of the grading error and submit this written
explanation along with the paper to be corrected directly to your
recitation instructor. This must be done within two weeks of the
return of your problem set or quiz. Grades become final after
two weeks of being returned to you.
Written explanations such as ``The grader didn't see the rest of the
solution on the top of the next page,'' or ``I believe my alternate
solution to 3b) wasn't graded properly because ...'' will suffice but more
information may be provided if you feel it helps your case. If it is
a case of an alternate solution please be sure to write ``alternate
solution'' explicitly on your problem set.
Excused Absences:
Only the Dean can excuse a student from a
final exam. Excuses for the exams must be verified with
documentation from the medical center.
Good luck!!!
This semester you will study the intellectual underpinnings of one of the keystones of modern science, Quantum Theory. It is a pleasure for us to teach this course. We wish you all a productive, enjoyable and stimulating semester.