Scan and upload your answers to Gradescope using the Gradescope tab in Canvas. You can use the scanner in Weniger 304F, or a scanning app on a cell phone, or make a pdf directly from a tablet computer; Gradescope offers advice and suggested apps at this URL. The preferred format is PDF. Photos or JPEG scans are less easy to read (and much larger), and should be used only if no alternative is available.

On Gradescope, you will be prompted to associate submitted pages with problem numbers by selecting pages on the right and questions on the left. You may associate multiple problems with the same page if appropriate.

If you have a problems with this process, please contact your instructor or teaching assistant.

  • Found in: Contemporary Challenges course(s)
Submit your video on Canvas. After you submit your video, complete the reflection questions for the course on Gradescope.
  • Found in: Quantum Fundamentals course(s)

In the "Quizzes" section of Canvas, please fill out the "Photo Permission Form" to indicate what information you'd like me to post about you on the Physics Department Website.

Faculty & Students use this site to learn who is taking Paradigms and to network.

  • Found in: Quantum Fundamentals course(s)
The question is meant to get you used to using the Canvas Discussion Board. Please go to the course Canvas page and find the Discussions tab on the left hand side. Find the Discussion titled Random and add one of the following:
  1. A random physics fact.
  2. One thing you like about physics.
  3. One question you have for Jeff.
  • Found in: Static Fields course(s)

Make sure that you have memorized the following identities and can use them in simple algebra problems: \begin{align} e^{u+v}&=e^u \, e^v\\ \ln{uv}&=\ln{u}+\ln{v}\\ u^v&=e^{v\ln{u}} \end{align}

  • Found in: Static Fields course(s)
The operator \(\hat{S}_x\) for spin-1 may be written as: defined by: \[\hat{S}_x=\frac{\hbar}{\sqrt{2}} \begin{pmatrix} 0&1&0\\ 1&0&1 \\ 0&1&0 \\ \end{pmatrix} \]
  1. Find the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of this matrix. Write the eigenvectors as both matrices and kets.
  2. Confirm that the eigenstates you found give probabilities that match your expectation from the Spins simulation for spin-1 particles.
  • Found in: Quantum Fundamentals course(s)
Consider a thin charged rod of length \(L\) standing along the \(z\)-axis with the bottom end on the \(x,y\)-plane. The charge density \(\lambda_0\) is constant. Find the total flux of the electric field through a closed cubical surface with sides of length \(3L\) centered at the origin.
  • Found in: AIMS Maxwell, Static Fields course(s)
Use the formula for a Taylor series: \[f(z)=\sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{1}{n!} \frac{d^n f(a)}{dz^n} (z-a)^n\] to find the series expansion for \(f(z)=e^{-kz}\) to second order around \(z=3\).
  • Found in: Static Fields, AIMS Maxwell course(s)
Two electrons are placed in a magnetic field in the \(z\)-direction. The initial state of the first electron is \(\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\begin{pmatrix} 1\\ i\\ \end{pmatrix}\) and the initial state of the second electron is \(\frac{1}{2}\begin{pmatrix} \sqrt{3}\\ 1\\ \end{pmatrix}\).
  1. Find the probabilty of measuring each particle to have spin-up in the \(x\)-, \(y\)-, and \(z\)-directions at \(t = 0\).
  2. Find the probabilty of measuring each particle to have spin-up in the \(x\)-, \(y\)-, and \(z\)-directions at some later time \(t\).
  3. Calculate the expectation values for \(S_x\), \(S_y\), and \(S_z\) for each particle as functions of time.
  4. Are there any times when all the probabilities you have calculated are the same as they were at \(t = 0\)?
  • Found in: Quantum Fundamentals course(s)

None

Ring Table

Attached, you will find a table showing different representations of physical quantities associated with a quantum particle confined to a ring. Fill in all of the missing entries. Hint: You may look ahead. We filled out a number of the entries throughout the table to give you hints about what the forms of the other entries might be. pdf link for the Table or doc link for the Table

  • Found in: Central Forces course(s)

Task: Draw a right triangle. Put a circle around the right angle, that is, the angle that is \(\frac\pi2\) radians.

Preparing your submission:

  • Complete the assignment using your choice of technology. You may write your answers on paper, write them electronically (for instance using xournal), or typeset them (for instance using LaTeX).
  • If using software, please export to PDF. If writing by hand, please scan your work using the AIMS scanner if possible. You can also use a scanning app; Gradescope offers advice and suggested apps at this URL. The preferred format is PDF; photos or JPEG scans are less easy to read (and much larger), and should be used only if no alternative is available.)
  • Please make sure that your file name includes your own name and the number of the assignment, such as "Tevian2.pdf."

Using Gradescope: We will arrange for you to have a Gradescope account, after which you should receive access instructions directly from them. To submit an assignment:

  1. Navigate to https://paradigms.oregonstate.eduhttps://www.gradescope.com and login
  2. Select the appropriate course, such as "AIMS F21". (There will likely be only one course listed.)
  3. Select the assignment called "Sample Assignment"
  4. Follow the instructions to upload your assignment. (The preferred format is PDF.)
  5. You will then be prompted to associate submitted pages with problem numbers by selecting pages on the right and questions on the left. (In this assignment, there is only one of each.) You may associate multiple problems with the same page if appropriate.
  6. When you are finished, click "Submit"
  7. After the assignments have been marked, you can log back in to see instructor comments.

  • Found in: AIMS Maxwell course(s)
This homework question is a chance to introduce yourself to the instructional team and practice uploading hand-drawn text/figures to gradescope.
  1. What name do you prefered to be called by? If you want, please share your pronouns.
  2. If the pronunication of your name is possibly confusing, can you describe how I should pronounce your name?
  3. Which physics classes have you completed (high school and university)? Are you taking any physics classes concurrently with this class?
  4. What major(s) are you considering?
  5. In this class, what is something you are looking forward to?
  6. What concerns do you have about this class?
  7. Sketch a quick drawing/diagram representing a hobby/passtime/interest that you like to pursue.
  • Found in: Contemporary Challenges course(s)

A particle in an infinite square well potential has an initial state vector \[\left|{\Psi(0)}\right\rangle = A\big(\left|{\phi_1}\right\rangle -\left|{\phi_2}\right\rangle +i\left|{\phi_3}\right\rangle \big)\]

where \(|\phi_n\rangle\) are the energy eigenstates. You have previously found \(\left|{\Psi(t)}\right\rangle \) for this state.

  1. Use a computer to graph the wave function \(\Psi(x,t)\) and probability density \(\rho(x,t)\). Choose a few interesting values of \(t\) to include in your submission.

  2. Use a computer to calculate the probability of measuring the particle to be near the middle of the well (within 1% on either side) as a function of time. Include both your symbolic result and a graph in your submission.

  3. Choose another location in the well, different from the location above. Use a computer to calculate the probability of measuring the particle to be near your chosen location (within 1% on either side) as a function of time. Include both your symbolic result and a graph in your submission.

  4. Are there any locations in the well where the probability is independent of time? Explain how you determined your answer.

  5. The time dependence for a wave function like this is complicated. Write a lengthy description in words about the major features of this wave function and its probability density, how they change in time, and why they change the way they do. Comment on any interesting features you noticed that you have not already discussed in the questions above and describe any additional things you learned from the process of solving this problem.

  • Found in: Quantum Fundamentals course(s)
Use the formula for a Taylor series: \[f(z)=\sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{1}{n!} \frac{d^n f(a)}{dz^n} (z-a)^n\] to find the series expansion for \(f(z)=\cos(kz)\) to second order around \(z=2\).
  • Found in: Static Fields, AIMS Maxwell course(s)

None

The Path
You are climbing a hill along the steepest path, whose slope at your current location is \(1\over5\). There is another path branching off at an angle of \(30^\circ\) (\(\pi\over6\)). How steep is it?
  • Found in: Gradient Sequence sequence(s) Found in: Vector Calculus I course(s)
A spin-3/2 particle initially is in the state \(|\psi(0)\rangle = |\frac{1}{2}\rangle\). This particle is placed in an external magnetic field so that the Hamiltonian is proportional to the \(\hat{S}_x\) operator, \(\hat{H} = \alpha \hat{S}_x \doteq \frac{\alpha\hbar}{2}\begin{pmatrix} 0 & \sqrt{3} & 0 & 0\\ \sqrt{3} & 0 & 2 & 0\\ 0 & 2 & 0 & \sqrt{3} \\ 0 & 0 & \sqrt{3} & 0 \end{pmatrix}\)
  1. Find the energy eigenvalues and energy eigenstates for the system.
  2. Find \(|\psi(t)\rangle\).
  3. List the outcomes of all possible measurements of \(S_x\) and find their probabilities. Explicitly identify any probabilities that depend on time.
  4. List the outcomes of all possible measurements of \(S_z\) and find their probabilities. Explicitly identify any probabilities that depend on time.
  • Found in: Quantum Fundamentals course(s)
First complete the problem Diagonalization. In that notation:
  1. Find the matrix \(S\) whose columns are \(|\alpha\rangle\) and \(|\beta\rangle\). Show that \(S^{\dagger}=S^{-1}\) by calculating \(S^{\dagger}\) and multiplying it by \(S\). (Does the order of multiplication matter?)
  2. Calculate \(B=S^{-1} C S\). How is the matrix \(E\) related to \(B\) and \(C\)? The transformation that you have just done is an example of a “change of basis”, sometimes called a “similarity transformation.” When the result of a change of basis is a diagonal matrix, the process is called diagonalization.
  • Found in: Quantum Fundamentals course(s)

None

The Cube
Find the angle between the diagonal of a cube (connecting opposite corners) and the diagonal of one of its faces (connecting opposite corners of one square face).
  • Found in: Vector Calculus I, Surfaces/Bridge Workshop course(s)
Consider a phase transformation between either solid or liquid and gas. Assume that the volume of the gas is way bigger than that of the liquid or solid, such that \(\Delta V \approx V_g\). Furthermore, assume that the ideal gas law applies to the gas phase. Note: this problem is solved in the textbook, in the section on the Clausius-Clapeyron equation.
  1. Solve for \(\frac{dp}{dT}\) in terms of the pressure of the vapor and the latent heat \(L\) and the temperature.

  2. Assume further that the latent heat is roughly independent of temperature. Integrate to find the vapor pressure itself as a function of temperature (and of course, the latent heat).

  • Found in: Thermal and Statistical Physics course(s)
A 100W light bulb is left burning inside a Carnot refridgerator that draws 100W. Can the refridgerator cool below room temperature?
  • Found in: Thermal and Statistical Physics course(s)