There are four known forces which explain all physical behavior which
has been observed. Two of these, gravity and electromagnetism, account
for most of our everyday experiences and are discussed throughout the
physics curriculum. In this course, we examine subatomic phenomena,
where the other two forces, the weak nuclear force and the strong
nuclear force (also known as quantum chromodynamics) become important
players. We will see how these forces lead to radioactive decay and
to the large energy released by nuclear fission and fusion. We will
discuss the experimental techniques used to obtain knowledge of the
fundamental particles and the behavior of these forces. This knowledge
has been put together to form a "Standard Model" of particle physics.
Text: Nuclear and Particle Physics
by W. S. C. Williams, Oxford University Press, 1991
Syllabus
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Last Updated: January 7, 2008