Undergraduate Course: Practical Physics (PHYS08048)
Course Outline
| School | School of Physics and Astronomy |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
| Home subject area | Undergraduate (School of Physics and Astronomy) |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | This course is designed for pre-honours physics students. It provides an introduction to computer programming, data analysis and experimental laboratory techniques. It serves both as a preparation for further practical work in physics-based degree programmes, and as a stand-alone course for students of other disciplines, including mathematics, chemistry, geosciences, computer science and engineering. The course consists of laboratory sessions and workshops to develop understanding, familiarity and fluency. |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
Students MUST have passed:
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | No |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course it is intended that student will be able to:
- Appreciate the relationship between experiment, theory and computation as scientific techniques
- Explain the importance of reproducibility of scientific work, and the role that laboratory notebooks and quantitative statements of confidence in results play in achieving this
- Apply standard practical techniques (e.g., routine handling of common laboratory equipment, linear least-squares fitting and writing short, procedural computer programs) as directed in a lab script to achieve a stated goal
- Present a record of an experiment or computation in an appropriate, clear and logical written form (e.g., lab report, fully documented computer code), augmented with figures and graphs where appropriate.
- Assess whether an experimental result (in conjunction with an estimated error) or output from a computer program is physically reasonable
- Locate and use additional sources of information (to include discussion with peers where appropriate) to resolve practical problems that arise in the experimental and computational physics laboratories
- Take responsibility for learning by attending laboratory sessions and workshops, and completing coursework
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Assessment Information
30% Programming/Computer skills
20% Data analysis
50% Experimental laboratory |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | PP |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Prof Malcolm Mcmahon
Tel: (0131 6)50 5956
Email: |
Course secretary | Miss Jillian Bainbridge
Tel: (0131 6)50 7218
Email: |
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