Module Identifier | PH15720 | |||||||||||||||||
Module Title | INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTATIONAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PHYSICS | |||||||||||||||||
Academic Year | 2006/2007 | |||||||||||||||||
Co-ordinator | Dr Martin C Wilding | |||||||||||||||||
Semester | Semester 2 (Taught over 2 semesters) | |||||||||||||||||
Other staff | Dr Xing Li, Mr Clive A Willson, Dr David P Langstaff | |||||||||||||||||
Pre-Requisite | Normal entry requirements to Year 1 physics | |||||||||||||||||
Co-Requisite | None | |||||||||||||||||
Mutually Exclusive | PH15510 | |||||||||||||||||
Course delivery | Lecture | 12 Hours. | ||||||||||||||||
Practical | 48 Hours. | |||||||||||||||||
Other | 36 Hours. Computational workshops | |||||||||||||||||
Assessment |
|
1. keep a laboratory diary
2. write laboratory reports using a word processing package
3. determine the causes and minimize the effect of experimental uncertainty
4. present a value of a physical measurement together with its associated error
5. use and appreciate the limitations of simple laboratory instruments
6. use MathCad to perform basic computational exercises in physics
7. apply the above skills to the performance of basic experiments in physics
Introduction to computational physics using MathCad.
Basic error analysis.
Keeping laboratory diaries and writing reports.
Students will be expected to perform experiments in two of the three general areas shown below. The choice will be determined by degree scheme of the student.
1. Analogue and digital electronics.
2. Fundamental constants and radioactivity.
3. Astrophysics
Problem_solving | This is developed in the computational physics side of the module. Students will attend weekly problem solving workshops. | ||
Research skills | Students will be expected to research the background to experiments. | ||
Communication | Students will keep laboratory diaries and write reports on experiments | ||
Team work | Students will generally do experiments in groups of two and we would encourage co-operation in the solution of modeling problems | ||
Information Technology | Mathematical modeling is depent on the use of computers. In the experimental physics, students use Excel and Easyplot to analyse data and will be expected to word precess their lab reports | ||
Application of Number | In essence, physics is based on the use of mathematics and experimental physics on the manipulation of number. Application of number is a central part of this module | ||
Personal Development and Career planning | Not addressed | ||
Subject Specific Skills | Design and performance of experiments. Analysis of experimental uncertainty. |
This module is at CQFW Level 4