Undergraduate Course: Experimental Physics 2 (PHYS08058)
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 | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | This course is designed for pre-honours physics students. It provides an introduction to 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. The course consists of laboratory sessions to develop understanding, familiarity and fluency. |
| Course description |
Experimental Laboratory
Introductory lecture on research methods, keeping a lab book, and writing reports.
Two 3-week experiments chosen from Compound and Kater Pendula, Radioactive Decay, Atomic Spectroscopy, Michelson Interferometer and Geometric Optics.
One 3-week experiment on digital and analogue electronic circuits
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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2025/26, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 240 |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Lecture Hours 1,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 27,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
70 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
100% continuous assessment |
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Appreciate the relationship between experiment and theory as scientific techniques, and assess whether an experimental result (in conjunction with an estimated error) is physically reasonable
- 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, including analogue and digital electronics circuits, 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 in an appropriate, clear and logical written form (e.g., lab notebook, lab report), augmented with figures and graphs where appropriate.
- Take responsibility for learning by attending laboratory sessions, and completing coursework.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Physics,Practical,Experiment |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Stewart McWilliams
Tel: (0131 6)50 5273
Email: |
Course secretary | Ms Alexis Heeren
Tel:
Email: |
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