Unit information: Practical Physics 201 in 2020/21

Unit name	Practical Physics 201
Unit code	PHYS29010
Credit points	10
Level of study	I/5
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24)
Unit director	Dr. Chris Bell
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	PHYS10006, PHYS10005, PHYS10004 or equivalent.
Co-requisites	None.
School/department	School of Physics
Faculty	Faculty of Science

Description including Unit Aims

Physics is a discipline which has observation and experimental validation at its heart. This unit is laboratory work, and continues the development of key experimental skills, the use of various standard pieces of apparatus and analysis of data. The experiments allow for student input into design and measurement. Transferable skills are included by having formal write-up of experiments and an assessment viva for each experiment.

Aims:

To enable further familiarity with the techniques of experimental physics including experimental design, use of appropriate apparatus, collection and analysis of data. To give experience of report writing.

To receive credit for this unit, students must make a reasonable attempt at every aspect of the teaching and assessment, including any pre- and post-laboratory work, practical experiments, formal reports and workshop activities. Failure to do so may result in credit being withheld, even if the overall mark is above the pass mark for the unit.

Supplementary or resit assessment of this unit is only possible through engagement in the following academic year.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Able to use apparatus appropriately in order to allow meaningful results to be obtained. Understand some of the principles underlying the design of experiments. Understand the significance of a laboratory notebook, and the measurement and interpretation of data. Able to present the results of an experiment in a manner appropriate to a professional physicist.

Teaching Information

The unit will be tauight through:

• supervised laboratory sessions; students who either begin orcontinue their studies in an online mode should note that it is likely they may be required to complete practical work or alternative activities in person, either during the academic year 2020/21 or subsequently, in order to meet the intended learning outcomes for the unit, prepare them for subsequent units or to satisfy any accreditation requirements
• independent practical activities

Assessment Information

Mark for each experiment based on laboratory notebook and viva, formal write-up of one experiment.

Reading and References

To be advised.