Unit information: Practical Physics 222 in 2020/21

Unit name	Practical Physics 222
Unit code	PHYS20026
Credit points	20
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	PHYS10005, PHYS10006, 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 consists of laboratory work and a laboratory conference presentation. It 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, an assessment viva for each experiment and a group presentation within a class conference structure.

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 and presenting experimental results in a conference setting.

Intended Learning Outcomes

After completing this unit, students should:

1. Be able to use apparatus appropriately in order to allow meaningful results to be obtained.
2. Understand some of the principles underlying the design of experiments.
3. Understand the significance of a laboratory notebook, and the measurement and interpretation of data.
4. Be able to present the results of an experiment in a manner appropriate to a professional physicist.
5. Able to collaborate with others in the presentation of experimental results in a conference setting.

Teaching Information

Content will be delivered through a combination of

• supervised laboratory sessions; students who either begin or continue 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
• asynchronous online materials, including narrated presentations and worked examples o independent practical activities

Assessment Information

Summative assessment will be through a mark for each of five experiments based on laboratory notebook and viva (60%, ILO's 1,2,3), formal write-up of two experiments (30%, ILO 4), and group presentation of one experiment (10%, ILO 5).

Reading and References

In the laboratory students will be directed to relevant books and papers which will depend on the experiments undertaken.