- UCAS course code
- F305
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Master of Physics (MPhys)
MPhys Physics
Join a physics Department of international renown that offers great choice and flexibility, leading to master's qualification.
- Typical A-level offer: A*A*A including specific subjects
- Typical contextual A-level offer: A*AA including specific subjects
- Refugee/care-experienced offer: AAA including specific subjects
- Typical International Baccalaureate offer: 38 points overall with 7,7,6 at HL, including specific requirements
Fees and funding
Fees
Tuition fees for home students commencing their studies in September 2025 will be £9,535 per annum (subject to Parliamentary approval). Tuition fees for international students will be £36,500 per annum. For general information please see the undergraduate finance pages.
Policy on additional costs
All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).
Scholarships/sponsorships
The University of Manchester is committed to attracting and supporting the very best students. We have a focus on nurturing talent and ability and we want to make sure that you have the opportunity to study here, regardless of your financial circumstances.
For information about scholarships and bursaries please visit our undergraduate student finance pages and our Department funding pages .
Course unit details:
Dynamics
Unit code | PHYS10101 |
---|---|
Credit rating | 10 |
Unit level | Level 1 |
Teaching period(s) | Semester 1 |
Available as a free choice unit? | No |
Overview
Dynamics
Pre/co-requisites
Late penalties for weekly Mastering Physics quizes
The weekly online quizzes will each contribute 1% of the marks when answered to a sufficient level (mark >40%). Late penalties apply as implemented in the software.
Aims
To introduce the fundamental concepts of Newtonian mechanics.
Learning outcomes
On completion successful students will be able to explain the role of, and solve problems involving, the following concepts:
1. frame of reference and its associated coordinate systems.
2. Newton's laws and the motion of simple systems.
3. energy, work, power, momentum, force, impulse, angular velocity, angular acceleration and torque.
4. conservation of energy, momentum, and angular momentum.
- Furthermore, they will be able to solve problems involving:
5. the rotation of rigid bodies.
6. motion in a gravitational field.
Syllabus
1: Motion in 2D and 3D 1
Position, velocity and acceleration as vectors; simple vector calculus.
Accelerated motion in 2D (canon ball and circular motion)
2: Motion in 2D and 3D 2
Description of motion using polar coordinates
Reference frames, relative velocity, change of frame.
3: Newton's Laws
Newton I, II and III; application to circular motion.
4: Friction
Static and Dynamic Friction (also, motion in a vertical circle).
5: Work and Energy
Work energy theorem, centre of mass, reduced mass.
7: Potential Energy
Forms of potential energy and their application.
8: Momentum and Collisions
Momentum and its conservation.
Elastic and inelastic collisions.
9: Rotation of Rigid Bodies 1
Rigid body rotation
The vector product
Moments of inertia and their calculation
Torque and Newton II
10: Rotation of Rigid Bodies 2
Rolling without slipping
Combining rotation and translation
Angular momentum
Vector form
11: Gravitation
Newton’s Law of Gravitation
Kepler’s Laws of Planetary Motion
Gravitational Potential Energy
Spherical mass distributions
Tidal forces
Assessment methods
Method | Weight |
---|---|
Other | 10% |
Written exam | 80% |
Written assignment (inc essay) | 10% |
* Other
10% Weekly online
10% Tutorial Work/attendance
Feedback methods
Feedback will be offered by tutors on students’ written solutions to weekly examples sheets, and model answers will be issued.
Online quizzes will also be incorporated into the weekly learning material to give students instant feedback on their understanding and ability to apply their knowledge and skills.
Recommended reading
Compulsory Text book
Young, H.D. & Freedman, R.A. University Physics (Addison-Wesley)
Recommended texts
Forshaw, J.R. & Smith, A.G. Dynamics & Relativity (Wiley)
French, A.P. Newtonian Mechanics (Norton)
Halliday, D., Resnick, R. & Walker, J. Fundamentals of Physics (Wiley)
Kleppner, D. & Kolenkow, R. An Introduction to Mechanics (McGraw-Hill)
Tipler, P.A., Physics for Scientists and Engineers (W.H. Freeman and company)
Supplementary maths text
Tinker, M. & Lambourne, R. Further Mathematics for the Physical Sciences (Wiley)
Study hours
Scheduled activity hours | |
---|---|
Assessment written exam | 1.5 |
Lectures | 11 |
Practical classes & workshops | 11 |
Tutorials | 6 |
Independent study hours | |
---|---|
Independent study | 70.5 |
Teaching staff
Staff member | Role |
---|---|
Niels Walet | Unit coordinator |
Timothy O'Brien | Unit coordinator |