PHYS 214 :: Physics Illinois :: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

James Scholar Credit

For those of you intending to use Physics 214 to satisfy your James Scholar requirement for an "honors" course, there are three things you must do:

  1. You must obtain an Honors Credit Learning Agreement from your college office. It must then be signed either by your PHYS 214 lecturer. The LAS James scholar program description can be found at http://www.las.uiuc.edu/students/honors/types/james/. Students in other colleges should consult their college office.

Choose a track

Please note, once you pick a track you cannot switch tracks!

Track A: Read the first three chapters from Richard Feynman's book QED and make connection with the topics we covered in class and compare and contrast the different approaches.

Track B: Read from articles (that we will provide) that discuss cutting-edge applications of quantum mechanics/optical phenomena. Here you will be asked to describe the particular application and address specific points that will be posted for each reading.

Assignments

The expected assignment length is 1.5 - 2 pages. One short page is not sufficient. It should be single-spaced, 12 point font (Times New Roman is preferred).

Turn in the three James Scholar assignments by the dates and times indicated next to each assignment (see below). The assignments will involve simple web-research, reading of articles or the book QED by Richard Feynman, and simple calculations. We hope you will find them thought-provoking, and that they give you a deeper appreciation for quantum phenomena and its implications/applications to some of the latest cutting edge research and technology.

Your assignments must be turned in electronically in PDF, TEXT, or Microsoft Word 2003 or later versions. Deposit each assignment https://my.physics.illinois.edu/courses/js-upload.asp by the dates given below.

A word of advice

If you find that you do not have time to do the JS work, just don't do it. You will only lose your JS standing. If you cheat, by copying or other method, you stand to lose a lot more. (Yes, we have caught JS cheaters recently.) Plagiarism is a violation of university academic integrity policies. If you are caught plagiarizing, you will be subject to disciplinary action.