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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2015/2016

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Physics and Astronomy : Undergraduate (School of Physics and Astronomy)

Undergraduate Course: Classical Physics (PHYS08055)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Physics and Astronomy CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits10 ECTS Credits5
SummaryThis 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.
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)
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Students MUST NOT also be taking Classical and Modern Physics (PHYS08044) OR Modern Physics (PHYS08045)
Other requirements None
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2015/16, Not available to visiting students (SS1) 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 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 80 %, Coursework 20 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) 80% Written Exam and 20% Coursework
Feedback Not entered
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours & Minutes
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.
Reading List
None
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
Special Arrangements Open to Point of Entry 2 (PoE2) students from the School of Geosciences only.
KeywordsClPhys
Contacts
Course organiserDr Jamie Cole
Tel: (0131 6)50 5999
Email:
Course secretaryMrs Bonnie Macmillan
Tel: (0131 6)50 5905
Email:
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