Research Methods in Physics (U04263)

? Credit Points : 10 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : PHY-3-ResMeth

This course allows students to gain experience and acquire the general research skills essential for academic and research study, whilst at the same time extending and consolidating their knowledge of physics. These skills are key foundations for project work later in the degree programme and valuable in life beyond undergraduate study; in research, industry or business.

Entry Requirements

? This course is not available to visting students.

? Pre-requisites : Physics 2A: Forces, Fields and Potentials (PHY-2-A); Physics 2B: Waves, Quantum Physics and Materials (PHY-2-B); Foundations of Mathematical Physics (PHY-2-FoMP) or Applicable Mathematics 4 and Mathematical Methods 4 (MAT-2-am4/mm4) or MP2A: Vectors, Tensors and Fields (PHY-2-MP2A) and MP2B: Dynamics (PHY-2-MP2B). This course is compulsory for students undertaking a programme taught wholly within the School, and may also be taken by those doing a joint degree involving Physics.

Subject Areas

Home subject area

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

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

? Delivery Period : Full Year (Blocks 1-4)

First Class Information

Date	Start	End	Room	Area	Additional Information
24/09/2008	09:00	12:00	Lecture Theatre 6301, JCMB	KB

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Wednesday	09:00	13:00	KB

? Additional Class Information : Workshop sessions periodically throughout the year with additional support classes as needed.

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students should be able to

? Create a succinct summary of a previously-studied topic in introductory Physics
? Give a scientific presentation, using appropriate visuals
? Use the literature and the web to find, and evaluate, scientific information
? Determine what it is that they do not yet know, but need to know in order to carry out a task
? Use bibliographic search engines to find relevant scientific papers, their cited papers and their citations.
? Evaluate information critically from different sources, and use this to inform a scientific argument or overview
? Present such an argument or overview as a piece of scientific writing
? Be competent in the use of MAPLE as a tool for symbolic algebra manipulation and problem-solving
? Work independently and as part of a collaborative team
? Manage their time and studying in the context of other courses and demands
? Reflect on the development of their own skills: identify strengths, weaknesses and strategy for enhancement.

Assessment Information

Reseach a topic and presentation exercise - 20%
Review of a scientific article - 25%
Solving Mathematical problems with Maple - 25%
Scientific writing - 30%