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Required Textbooks:

1) Understanding the Properties of Matter, Second Edition, by Michael de Podesta (available at no cost, online)
AND
2) Solid State Physics, Second Edition (ISBN: 9783527412822), by Philip Hofmann, with supplementary notes from Philip Hofmann's homepage. – Hofmann includes material relevant to the mechanical properties of solids that is not in the alternative texts I've considered. I encourage you to build up your own library of texts within the major, to have and to hold (and to annotate): never sell them!


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Outline: (A detailed Schedule of Discussions is also available)

For each of the "basic" states of matter we will examine:

• Mechanical Properties
• Thermal Properties
• Sound Propagation
• Electrical Transport
• Optical Properties
• Magnetic Properties

Finally, we will discuss Phase Transformations between these states of matter, and will generalize those concepts to deal with transitions into many other possible states of matter:

Highly Recommended Reference Materials include your texts from previous coursework in the physical sciences (i.e., Physics and/or Chemistry)

"Classic" References from the library (occasionally useful as supplements):

i) Gases, Liquids, and Solids: and other states of matter, by D. Tabor (e.g., for the "survival equation" associated with the kinetic theory of gases, leading to a formal derivation of the mean free path)

ii) A former student, Dan Haeger, now of Apple Computer, writes: "If anyone wants a good book for band theory introduction I'd suggest Davies, The Physics of Low-dimensional Semiconductors: an introduction. The first three chapters give a really good primer."

iii) Hammond's The Basics of Crystallography and Diffraction, a pretty good intro to x-ray diffraction, crystallography, reciprocal space, etc.

iv) Physical Chemistry, by Peter Atkins and Julio de Paula (which has often been used as the text for P-CHEM, and offers an introduction to classical thermodynamics and phase transformation concepts)

Because of the density of information associated with this course, it is imperative that you not lag behind in your reading. The following course requirement has been designed to aid in this regard:

By 9:00am on the morning of each class meeting, you are expected to post a "note of status" to the class discussion page on Piazza. This is simply a list of (three or so) questions or comments you have regarding the material to be covered in class. I want you to really analyze whether or not you understand the reading. The depth of your considerations, as reflected in your status notes and in your classroom participation, will account for 10% of your final course grade.

If the material in your primary text is not clear at any point, it is your responsibility to seek out clarifying materials (either from your intro-level texts or other references) and to share insights with the rest of the class during our meetings. Please come to the course meetings prepared for lively discussion.

Grading:

• Status Notes, Preparation, & Participation........10%
• OneNote: Lab Notebook + Homework.............30% (total)
• Quizzes and Midterm .......................................48% (total)
• Final Exam .......................................................12%