BSc Physics

Year 1 Lab Work (All Year)

 

Computing and Data Analysis: 1. develop the appropriate skills and confidence to use computers for the tasks required in laboratory work 2. introduce the basic concepts and methods required for laboratory data analysis 3. develop sound judgement in interpreting experimental results and uncertainties 4. develop the skills required for good scientific communication. Special Topics: 1. promote awareness of selected topics at the forefront of modern-day research in physics 2. introduce and develop group-working skills 3. enhance writing and written presentation skills 4. develop skills in assessing the quality of one’s own and others’ work. Circuits:  ensure that students can competently use an oscilloscope and to foster an understanding of way electrical signals are shaped by passive circuit elements. General Lab Experiments: 1. Investigate number of physical systems/phenomena 2. Develop basic skills used in the physics lab, including use of common lab equipment 3. Gain experience producing clear laboratory records of activities 4. Present experimental findings and analysis in an interview setting 5. Write lab reports.

On successful completion, a student will be able to:

• Describe the behaviour of capacitors and inductors (Circuit). 
• Observe and explain transients in analog circuits. 
• Design and build integrating and differentiating circuits. 
• Explain ringing, damping and Q-factors in resonant circuits, including critical damping. 
• Use complex notation and complex impedances for circuit analysis including:  determination of amplitude and phase, resonant circuits, low-pass and high-pass filters, A.C. bridges.  
• Use python commands and scripts to manipulate and present experimental data in the form of graphs and tables.  
• Distinguish between random and systematic errors in experiments.
• Organise and carry-out an laboratory experiment in order to achieve goals outlined in an experimental script.  
• Work effectively in a small group or with a partner to complete experiments and produce reports and presentations. 
• Describe results of laboratory experiments to a lab demonstrator including a clear description of background physics, laboratory procedures, analysis and conclusions. 
• Produce a clear record of laboratory work and analysis in a laboratory notebook. 
• Write a laboratory report which presents experiment findings at a level readable by a general audience of peers. 
• Use the method of least squares-fitting and interpret chi-squared, χ2. 
• Assess their own and other’s work against specified assessment criteria. 
• Perform a literature review and present on subjects which are substantially beyond that provided in lectures (Special Topics). 
• Work in a group to produce a piece of work which promotes physics as an interesting area of study. 
• Calculate the uncertainty in quantities derived from experimental results of specified precision and present in a sensible way. 
• Estimate the precision of experimental results, from an understanding of the experimental procedure and from a statistical analysis of repeated measurements. 

Scientific Computer and Data Analysis: The Scientific Computing module aims to teach students to make use of Python scripts to in solving and physics problems they will face during their studies and to analyse data for lab work. Students will also learn simple tools for using Python to present data in effective and understandable ways. The Data Analysis work aims to teach students to understand and perform calculations with experimental uncertainty, and use this in the context of simple model fitting, including the method of least squares.  General Laboratory: Students will carry out a number of laboratory experiments that investigate various physical phenomena.  Circuits: Full year students (PHYS 10180) will conduct two experiments that will explore basic analog and digital circuit concepts and practicalities. Topics will include:

1. Elementary circuit theory - discrete components, Kirchoffs laws and complex analysis
2. Semiconductor amplifiers - real and ideal systems
3. Positive feedback, oscillators and control loops
4. Analogue - to - digital conversion

Special Topics: Students will attend a series of specialist lectures on selected topics at the forefront of modern day research in physics and a session introducing the project and group working.  In the weeks following the lectures they will work together in small groups to produce a short booklet on one of the topics discussed in the lectures.  The booklet should be designed for students studying A-level physics and aim to convey the excitement of modern day physics to them.  Students will be expected to research beyond the material presented in the lectures in order to produce an informative and attractive piece of work.  Each group will assess and grade their own booklet along with a number of booklets from other groups, and these grades will form the basis of the final course assessment.

 

Assessment - Practical Exam

Lecture

Independent Study

Practical

Oral feedback will be given by demonstrators during the lab sessions and the assessment interviews at the end of each experiment. An annotated copy of each Lab Report will be returned to the student and the marker will discuss their comments with students. Students are also sent an email copy of each experiment assessment and lab report Feedback & Marksheet.

Practical physics, Squires, G. L., Cambridge University Press  2001, ISBN: 9781139164498

Tuition fees for home students commencing their studies in September 2027 will be £10,050 per annum. Tuition fees for international students will be £40,300 per annum.

For general information please see the undergraduate finance pages.

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).

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