- 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:
Physics in Everyday Life
| Unit code | PHYS10461 |
|---|---|
| Credit rating | 10 |
| Unit level | Level 1 |
| Teaching period(s) | Semester 1 |
| Available as a free choice unit? | No |
Overview
Physics in Everyday Life
Aims
To use physics to explain a variety of phenomena and devices in everyday life
Learning outcomes
On completion successful students will be able to:
- use the method of dimensions to help solve problems in physics
- use orders of magnitude and estimations
- describe and explain the physics basis of various everyday atmospheric phenomena
- describe and explain the physics underlying various aspects of the human body, including sight and hearing
- discuss how physics can be applied to sport
- explain the physics behind a number of devices in modern technology
Syllabus
1. Everyday life in context [2 lectures]
Units, length, energy and time scales in physics; the method of dimensions; estimating; ordering of magnitude.
2. Physics in the Earth’s atmosphere [6 lectures]
The Sun; the Earth’s atmosphere as an ideal gas; pressure, temperature and density; Pascal’s Law and Archimedes’ Principle; Coriolis acceleration and weather systems; Rayleigh scattering; the blue sky; the red sunset; refraction and dispersion of light; the rainbow.
3. Physics in the human body [5 lectures]
The eyes as an optical instrument; vision defects; Rayleigh criterion and resolving power; sound waves and hearing; sound intensity; the decibel scale; ion transportation and cellular excitation.
4. Physics in sports [5 lectures]
The sweet spot; dynamics of rotating objects; running, jumping and pole vaulting; motion of a spinning ball; continuity and Bernoulli equations; Bending it like Beckham; the Magnus force; turbulence and drag.
5. Physics in technology: [4 lectures]
Microwave ovens; the Lorentz force; the Global Positioning System; CCDs; lasers; displays
Assessment methods
| Method | Weight |
|---|---|
| Written exam | 100% |
Feedback methods
Feedback will be available on students’ individual written solutions to examples sheets, which will be marked, and model answers will be issued.
Recommended reading
There is no single recommended text. Where appropriate, examples will be taken from Young, H.D. and Freedman, R.A. University Physics (Addison Wesley)
Supplementary reading:
Regular issues of New Scientist and Scientific American
Study hours
| Scheduled activity hours | |
|---|---|
| Assessment written exam | 1.5 |
| Lectures | 22 |
| Independent study hours | |
|---|---|
| Independent study | 76.5 |
Teaching staff
| Staff member | Role |
|---|---|
| Albert Zijlstra | Unit coordinator |
| Rene Breton | Unit coordinator |