Macromolecular Physics (U01433)

? Credit Points : 10 ? SCQF Level : 11 ? Acronym : PHY-4-MacrMol

Macromolecular Physics, or 'Soft Condensed Matter' is a relatively new and rapidly growing area of physics in which the School has a large research effort. The course will emphasise the basic physics of colloidal systems (microscopic particles suspended in a liquid), of polymers (large flexible 'macromolecules') and of surfactants (detergents). In many cases surprisingly simple models provide accurate descriptions of seemingly complex phenomena. For example the 'random walk' models both the Brownian motion of colloids and the shapes of polymer molecules and is used in the analysis of modern laser light, x-ray and neutron scattering experiments which provide information on the structure and dynamics of these intriguing systems.

Entry Requirements

? Pre-requisites : At least 70 credit points accrued in courses of SCQF Level 9 or 10 drawn from Schedule Q including Thermodynamics (PHY-3-Thermo) or equivalent. Prior attendance at Condensed Matter Physics (PHY-4-CondMatt) and Statistical Physics (PHY-4-StatPh) is desirable.

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Undergraduate (School of Physics), (School of Physics, Schedule Q)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 4th year

? Delivery Period : Semester 2 (Blocks 3-4)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 11 weeks

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Monday	09:00	09:50	KB
Lecture	Thursday	09:00	09:50	KB

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course it is intended that a student will be able to:
1)derive the properties of a random walk in 1, 2 and 3 dimensions and apply the concept of a random walk to different, also previously unseen, situations
2)explain Brownian motion in the framework of Einstein's approach and Langevin's approach
3)discuss the behaviour of interacting colloidal particles
4)derive the basic relationships describing static and dynamic light scattering
5)explain the differences between light, neutron and x-ray scattering and demonstrate an understanding of their advantages and disadvantages
6)discuss the properties of polymers and derive the main models to describe their behaviour
7)discuss the properties of surfactants and demonstrate an understanding of self-assembly
8)demonstrate a grasp of the order of magnitude of the central quantities and develop confidence with "intuitive" estimates as well as calculations based on concepts presented in this course