- 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.
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Duration: 4 years
Year of entry: 2025
UCAS course code: F305 / Institution code: M20
- Key features:
Scholarships available
Accredited course
- 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:
Vibrations & Waves
| Unit code | PHYS10302 |
|---|---|
| Credit rating | 10 |
| Unit level | Level 1 |
| Teaching period(s) | Semester 2 |
| Available as a free choice unit? | No |
Overview
Vibrations & Waves
Pre/co-requisites
| Unit title | Unit code | Requirement type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics 1 | PHYS10071 | Pre-Requisite | Compulsory |
Aims
To explore the detailed behaviour of vibrating systems and wave motion in many different physical systems.
Learning outcomes
On completion successful students will be able to:
- describe and quantitively analyse the behaviour of oscillating systems and wave motion.
- apply the mathematical formalism that describes them.
- recognise examples of oscillating systems and wave motion across many areas of physics
Syllabus
- Simple harmonic motion (SHM): Energy in a vibrating system.
- Damped SHM, Q values and power response curves.
- Forced SHM, resonance and transients.
- Coupled SHM. Normal modes.
- Waves. The 1-D wave equation.
- Waves at interfaces. Wave energy and power. Standing Waves.
- The wave equation in 2-D and 3-D. Superposition.
- Phase and group velocity. Beats. Dispersion.
- Intereference and diffraction.
- The Schrodinger equation: finite wells, potential steps and barriers. Tunnelling.
Examples of vibrating systems and waves will be given in the lectures and on the problem sheets.
Assessment methods
| Method | Weight |
|---|---|
| Other | 10% |
| Written exam | 90% |
* 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.
Recommended reading
Printed summaries will be downloadable.
King G.C., Vibrations and Waves (Manchester Physics Series, Wiley, 2009)
Study hours
| Scheduled activity hours | |
|---|---|
| Assessment written exam | 1.5 |
| Lectures | 24 |
| Tutorials | 6 |
| Independent study hours | |
|---|---|
| Independent study | 68.5 |
Teaching staff
| Staff member | Role |
|---|---|
| Anne Juel | Unit coordinator |