The University of Hong Kong

Department of Physics
PHYS2265 Modern Physics
2017 Fall Course Outlines

Course title: PHYS2265 Modern Physics

Course website: You may find it in Moodle after successful enrollment

Aim: This course covers the foundation of modern physics in one semester. It
serves as a core course for students who are planning to take physics,
astronomy, or mathematics/physics as major. It also serves students who
intend to take physics as minor. Both conceptual ideas and mathematical
treatment in modern physics are emphasized.

Instructor: Prof. H. F. Chau

(Office: Room 520, CYM Physics Bldg;
Tel: 28591925; E-mail: hfchau@hku.hk)

Tutorial Instructor: Dr. Judy F. K. Chow

(Office: Room 104C, CYM Physics Bldg;
Tel: 22194265; E-mail: judychow@hku.hk)

Tutors: Mr Joseph Ng (E-mail: u3503418@hku.hk) and Mr Xian Wenduo (E-mail:

TBA) for grading homework

Prerequisites: PHYS2265: Pass in PHYS1250 Fundamental physics or PHYS1050

Physics for engineering students

Classes: This course consists of 36 hours of lectures plus 8 hours of tutorials and 6
hours of laboratory work. The arrangement for the tutorials and laboratory
will be announced in the first teaching week. As most of the concepts in
this course are highly abstract and counter-intuitive, students are
strongly encouraged to attend the tutorials and to spend a substantial
amount of time in solving problems on their own.

Laboratory work: Students taking this course need to conduct two experiments in Physics
Laboratory HOC203 which would contribute 15% of the final grade of this

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 course. The details about the registration of laboratory will be announced
in the first teaching week.

Evaluation: One two-hour written examination 50%

Tests 25%
Laboratory work 15%
Assignments 10%

Assignment: There will be about five assignments. Please drop your assignment into the
assignment box on the first floor of CYM physics building. No late
assignment will be accepted.

Textbook: R. Harris: Modern Physics (Pearson, 2014, 2nd edition)

References: (1) K. Krane: Modern Physics (John Wiley & Sons, 2012, 3rd edition)
(2) R. A. Serway, C. J. Moses, and C. A. Moyer: Modern Physics (Brooks
Cole, 2004, 3rd edition)
(3) P. A. Tipler and G. Mosca: Physics for Scientists and Engineers
Extended Version (Freeman, 2008, 6th edition)
(4) R. Eisberg and R. Resnick: Quantum Physics of Atoms, Molecules,
Solids, Nuclei, and Particles (John Wiley & Sons, 1985)

Prior Knowledge: It will be beneficial if students have prior knowledge in:

 Mechanics: Circular motion and angular momentum
 Electromagnetism: Magnetic force and magnetic dipole
 Waves: Travelling waves, standing waves, and wave equations
 Mathematics: Complex numbers and differential equations

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 Teaching Plan (Lecture Only)
Week Date Topics
3 Sep Introduction
1 The Birth of Modern Physics [1]
6 Sep
Wave Properties of Particles [1]
10 Sep Wave Properties of Particles [2]
2
13 Sep Wave Properties of Particles [3]
17 Sep Wave Properties of Particles [4]
3
20 Sep Particle Properties of Waves [1]
24 Sep Particle Properties of Waves [2]
4 Particle Properties of Waves [3]
27 Sep
The Schrodinger Equation [1]
1 Oct No Class
5 The Schrodinger Equation [2]
4 Oct
Solutions of Time-Independent Schrodinger Equation I [1]
8 Oct Test 1
6
11 Oct Solutions of Time-Independent Schrodinger Equation I [2]
22 Oct Solutions of Time-Independent Schrodinger Equation I [3]
8
25 Oct Solutions of Time-Independent Schrodinger Equation II [1]
29 Oct Solutions of Time-Independent Schrodinger Equation II [2]
9 Solutions of Time-Independent Schrodinger Equation II [3]
1 Nov
Structure of the Atom [1]
5 Nov Structure of the Atom [2]
10 Structure of the Atom [3]
8 Nov
The Hydrogen Atom [1]
12 Nov The Hydrogen Atom [2]
11
15 Nov The Hydrogen Atom [3]
19 Nov Many-Electron Atoms [1]
12
22 Nov Many-Electron Atoms [2]
26 Nov Test 2
13 Many-Electron Atoms [3]
29 Nov
Revision