Undergraduate Course: Classical Physics (PHYS08055)
Course Outline
| School | School of Physics and Astronomy |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | This course is designed for pre-honours direct entry Geophysics students. It provides an introduction to classical dynamics, waves and special relativity. It serves both as a preparation for further study in Geophysics-based degree programmes.
The course consists of lectures to present new material, and workshops to develop understanding, familiarity and fluency.
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| Course description |
Classical Physics (20 lectures)
*Revision of elementary statics & dynamics (4 lectures)
-Statics forces, resolution of forces into components. Force diagrams. (1)
-Laws of motion in two and three dimensions: Newton's Laws in vector form. Conservation of linear momentum. (1)
-Concept of reference frames, relative motion, laws of motion in this notation.(1)
-Force/Work relation, conservation of energy (kinetic and potential), dynamic and static friction. (1)
*Further dynamics (8 lectures)
-Centre-of-mass of points and solid bodies (1)
-Linear momentum of system of particles, centre-of-mass frame, elastic collision in centre-of-mass frame. (1)
-Full dynamics in one-dimension: use of differential equations, Rocket equations, friction, air resistance etc). (2)
-Rotational motion, torque, angular acceleration and angular momentum of set of particles. (2)
-Moment-of-inertia of sets of particles and rigid bodies, central axis theorem, angular equations of motion, energy relations. (2)
*Oscillations & waves (8 lectures)
-Linear restoring force, SHM in 1-dimension, displacement, velocity, acceleration,energy in undamped oscillations. The pendulum. (1)
-Damped SHM, types, characteristic time, frequency shift. (1)
-Forced damped SHM, resonance behaviour (1)
-Wave on a string, wave-equation, travelling waves, group and phase velocities, energy transfer by waves. (3)
-Superposition principle, interference, beats, standing waves and applications of practical systems, Doppler effects, links to Fourier series. (2)
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Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2015/16, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Lecture Hours 22,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 20,
Summative Assessment Hours 2,
Revision Session Hours 2,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
52 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
80 %,
Coursework
20 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
80% Written Exam and 20% Coursework |
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
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| Main Exam Diet S1 (December) | Classical Physics (PHYS08055) | 2:00 | | | Resit Exam Diet (August) | Classical Physics (PHYS08055) | 2:00 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course it is intended that student will be able to:
* State the basic principles of classical dynamics, special relativity and elementary quantum mechanics and the regimes in which the different theories apply;
* Apply these principles in conjunction with elementary mathematical techniques to solve simple problems in classical, relativistic and quantum mechanics;
* Present a solution to a physics problem in a clear and logical written form;
* Assess whether a solution to a given problem is physically reasonable;
* Locate and use additional sources of information (to include discussion with peers where appropriate) to facilitate independent problem-solving.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Special Arrangements |
Open to Point of Entry 2 (PoE2) students from the School of Geosciences only. |
| Keywords | ClPhys |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Jamie Cole
Tel: (0131 6)50 5999
Email: |
Course secretary | Mrs Bonnie Macmillan
Tel: (0131 6)50 5905
Email: |
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