CCNY - University Physics III - PHYS 20900 - Fall 2026

Instructor:

• Prof. James Hedberg
• Marshak Science 423A
• jhedberg@ccny.cuny.edu

Course Web Page: https://hedberg.ccnysites.cuny.edu/PHYS209/

Class times:

• Lecture: Mondays & Wednesdays 10-11:40, In Person, MR 417-S

Office Hours:

• M & W 8-9 am

Required Textbook:

• Modern Physics Gary N. Felder & Kenny M. Felder

Other Books that might be useful

• OpenStax University Physics Volume 3

Other Materials:

• Computer

Course Description

Calculus-based study of the basic concepts of wave motion, physical optics, and modern physics. Topics include: Wave equation, Electromagnetic Waves, Dispersion; Interference, Diffraction, Polarization; Special Theory of Relativity; Particle properties of Waves, Photoelectric Effect, Compton Effect; Wave Properties of Particles, Wave-particle duality; The Nuclear Atom, Bohr Model, Franck-Hertz Experiment; The Schrodinger Equation, Harmonic Oscillator, Hydrogen Atom; Atomic Physics; Molecular Structure and Atomic Spectra; Structure of Solids, Conduction; Nuclear Physics, Nuclear Structure, Nuclear Force, Radioactivity. Prereq.: Physics 20700, Physics 20800 and Math 20300. Coreq.: None. 4 hr./ wk.; 4 cr.

Grading

• In Class: 40%
• Quizzes: 20%
• Midterms: 20%
• Final: 20%

In Class:

The format of this class will be modeled on the classical tutorial method. Students will be expected to a) do preparatory work before each class meeting, and b) demonstrate, defend, and discuss that work during the class meeting time. Achievements will be assessed based on the ability to do part b) as described above.

Homework

Homework will be assigned roughly bi-weekly. These will consist of both pencil and paper type theory work, as well as computational, i.e. code based tasks.

Midterms and Final

Midterm exams (2) will be held during class period. The final will be held during the college's final exam period (tbd).

Academic Integrity

The university has a published policy on academic integrity that may be found at: http://www.cuny.edu/about/administration/offices/la/Academic_Integrity_Policy.pdf Ignorance of this policy is no excuse. A student who cheats or plagiarizes may incur academic and disciplinary penalties, including failing grades, suspensions, or expulsion.

Policies specific for this course and some clarifications regarding what constitutes unacceptable academic dishonesty: For homework, you may work with classmates but you will be required to submit your own homework. Posting HW questions verbatim (word for word) to online homework helping sites or forums (Chegg, Yahoo answers for example) in the hopes of having someone else provide you with a solution is considered unacceptable behavior. This can and will lead to adverse actions including removal from the course.

Some relevant excerpts from the CUNY Academic Integrity Policy:

• 1.1 Cheating is the unauthorized use or attempted use of material, information, notes, study aids, devices or communication during an academic exercise. Example of cheating include:
  • Copying from another student or allowing others to copy work submitted for credit or a grade.
  • Submitting someone else's work as your own, including, but not limited to, material obtained in whole or in part from commercial study or homework help websites, or content generated or altered by digital paraphrasing tools.
  • Fabricating and/or falsifying data (in whole or in part).
• 1.2. Plagiarism is the act of presenting another person's ideas, research or writing as your own.
  • Copying another person's actual words or images without the use of quotation marks and footnotes attributing the words to their source.
  • Presenting another person's ideas or theories in your own words without acknowledging the source.
• 1.3 Obtaining Unfair Advantage is any action taken by a student that gives that student an unfair advantage in his/her academic work over another student, or an action taken by a student through which a student attempts to gain an unfair advantage in his or her academic work over another student.

Also, regarding AI generated content, as recommended by the University Faculty Senate, we will adopt the following clause: "Unauthorized use of AI-generated content on assignments or examinations unless an instructor for a given course specifically authorizes their use. Some instructors may approve of using generative AI tools in the academic setting for specific goals. However, these tools should be used only with the explicit and clear permission of each individual instructor, and then only in the ways allowed by the instructor."

Other Issues

Attendance Policy

Students are expected to attend every class session of each course in which they are enrolled and to be on time. The professor has the right to drop the student from the course for excessive absences. For this course, two weeks of unexcused absences will constitute an excess of absences. When a student is dropped from the course due to excessive absences, the Registrar will enter the grade of WU.

Incompletes

Incomplete (INC) grades are given following the CCNY guidelines. (In short, INC are not to be used as a way out when the end of the semester gets too busy. There will need to be a documented, extenuating circumstance to enter a INC agreement)

Communication

To stay within the guidelines of FERPA, we will only reply to your official CCNY or CUNY mail. Please do not use your gmail or other personal accounts to communicate regarding course activities. Also, be professional in your communications. Include your name, course number, and EMPLID if you expect administrative actions to be needed.

Disability Statement

In compliance with CCNY policy and equal access laws, appropriate academic accommodations are offered by the AccessAbility Center. Students who are registered with the AccessAbility office and are entitled to specific accommodations must arrange to have the Office notify the Professor in writing of their status at the beginning of the semester. If specific accommodations are required for a test, students must present the instructor with a form from the Accessibility Office at least one week prior to the test date in order to receive their accommodations.

Course Schedule