Minor Modern Physics
This minor is open to TU Delft students from CT, EE, LR, MST, MT, TA, TI, TW and WB. Students from LST and programmes at other universities will only be admitted after a personal consultation with the coordinator of the minor.
During your engineering studies, you have learned to apply various physics theories to engineering practice: most probably, you have been exposed to Newtonian mechanics (statics and dynamics), electromagnetism and thermodynamics. This is what we call ‘classical physics’, which is based on theories developed before 1900 and describes almost all of the physics that is needed to understand the visible nature around us and that is relevant for engineering applications.
From the beginning of the 20th century, we saw the development of various important new insights, concepts and theories in physics. The theories of statistical physics, atomic and subatomic physics, and quantum mechanics describe and account for the fact that nature is not continuous and not deterministic. The theories of special and general relativity describe the nature of the universe at very large distances and very high velocities, where the concepts of time and distance no longer have a fixed meaning. All of this is now called ‘modern physics’. It is this modern physics that you will be introduced to in this minor programme. You will also be exposed to the science attitude, which is different from the engineering attitude. Whereas the focus in engineering is on problem solving and design, the focus in science is on basic understanding and knowledge generation through research.
It is our explicit choice not to discuss modern physics as it is discussed in popular media. As fun as popular books, magazines or TV shows may be in discussing relativity, black holes or quantum computers, they only talk about physics. They do not speak the language of physics, which comprises rather abstract theories expressed in mathematical formalisms. In this minor programme, you will learn to understand and speak the language of physics.
- Understand the theories of modern physics, such as quantum mechanics, relativity, physics of living matter and statistical physics.
- Learn to understand and speak the language of physics.
- Learn and apply the science attitude, the basic understanding and the generation of knowledge through research.
What will you learn in the minor?
“Anybody who is not shocked by quantum theory has not understood it.” (Niels Bohr)
Do you have a special talent for physics and mathematics, and do you want:
- To be shocked by the intuitive, 'unreal' world of quantum mechanics?
- To discover what entropy means on a microscopic scale?
- To gain insight into the properties and measurements of a Higgs particle?
- To understand the consequences of Einstein’s theory of special relativity for space and time?
- To find out about physical processes in living systems?
In that case, the Modern Physics minor will satisfy your curiosity. The minor covers 20th- and 21st-century physics, with courses on elementary particle physics, quantum mechanics, statistical physics, thermodynamics and transport phenomena in living systems, theory of relativity, biophysics and physics of radiation technology. The minor concludes with a group-based final experimental project in one of the Applied Physics departments.
Max. number of participants:
Min. number of participants:
Number of contact hours
Average of 20 hours a week
Modes of instruction
Lectures, tutorials, practicals, and an experimental and integrating final project.
TN2612 Theory of Relativity (3 ECTS):
Understanding the anti-intuitive consequences of Einstein’s special relativity theory for space and time.
TN2893 Introduction to Methods in Physics and Mathematics (4 ECTS):
Setting up and executing an experiment, interpreting measurement data, analysing errors, and writing a research report and a condensed mathematics course for physicists.
TN2305 Quantum Mechanics for the minor (4 ECTS):
Introduction to the general concepts and basic mathematical formalism of quantum mechanics.
NB2011 Thermodynamics and Transport (3 ECTS):
The thermodynamics and transport of energy and mass in living cells.
TN2625 Statistical Physics for the minor (4 ECTS):
How the statistical approach leads to an understanding of physical phenomena in classical and quantum mechanics
TN2402 Literature Research in groups (4 ECTS):
Reading and understanding scientific articles about modern physics.
TN2993 Experimental and Integrating Final Project (5 ECTS):
Performing scientific research in a multidisciplinary team and writing an appropriate report on the basis of the formulation of a problem in the field of physics/applied physics.
Elective course (3 ECTS):
TN1651 Introduction to Biophysics (English):
Introduction to the molecular biology of a cell and concepts in biophysics.
TN1851 Radiation Science and Technology (Dutch!):
Introduction to the field of nuclear science and technology.
TN2811 Introduction to Elementary Particle Physics (Dutch!):
Introduction to the standard model of elementary particles: quarks, leptons, neutrinos, Higgs particles and knowledge of subatomic physics, charge on an electron, electrostatics, relativistic mechanics.
Exams and reports
Composition of final mark for minor
All courses and practicals are graded seperately, no final grading
“It’s very cool to be thrown in at the deep end of quantum mechanics in the very first week of the minor.”
“The enthusiasm of the lecturers was infectious.”