Module Identifier PH05010  
Module Title LABORATORY PHYSICS 1  
Academic Year 2003/2004  
Co-ordinator Dr Andrew Evans  
Semester Semester 1  
Other staff Professor Keith Birkinshaw  
Pre-Requisite GCSE Mathematics or equivalent  
Co-Requisite None  
Mutually Exclusive Not available to students on 3 year BSc (Hons) or 4 year MPhys schemes  
Course delivery Practical   11 x 3 hours  
Assessment
Assessment TypeAssessment Length/DetailsProportion
Semester Assessment Course Work: Two error workshops (20%) and and eight experiments (80%) 

Learning outcomes

After taking this module students should be able to:

Brief description

This module on Laboratory Physics is an introduction to experimental physics. Emphasis is placed on the training of students to use basic instruments, perform simple error calculations and critically assess results in order to draw reliable conclusions. Experiments are designed to reflect theoretical topics covered in other modules - hence experiments cover properties of matter, forces and mechanics as well as other realms of basic physics.

Content

A number of experiments are available. These are divided into four blocks. Students will be expected to carry out two experiments in both groups 3 and 4 and a minimum of two experiments in any other group to be chosen by the individual students. At the end of each experiment, students will produce a laboratory diary and report which will be marked and returned as soon as possible to provide suitable feedback.

The experiment blocks are as follows:
1. Electricity and magnetism.
2. Oscillations and waves.
3. Mechanics and forces.
4. Properties of matter.

Transferable skills

Each student is expected to give a five minute talk on one of the experiments that has been carried out.

Reading Lists

Books
A department handbook will be issued at the beginning of the module

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 3