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Session: 2022/23

Last modified: 17/05/2022 10:24:47

Title of Module: Introductory Physics B

Code: PHYS07007 SCQF Level: 7
(Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework)
Credit Points: 20 ECTS: 10
(European Credit Transfer Scheme)
School:School of Computing, Engineering and Physical Sciences
Module Co-ordinator:John  F  Smith

Summary of Module

This module is one of two physics modules presented at Level 7. The other Level 7 module is Introductory Physics A, in Trimester 1. It is a core module for students intending to continue on the Physics degree programmes. The content of the module is outlined below.

Electrical phenomena: forces between electric charges; Coulomb’s Law; electric field; potential difference and electric field strength; electrostatic potential and potential energy; graphs of electric field and electrostatic potential energy; charges moving in electric fields; Milliken’s oil drop experiment.

Electromagnetism: magnetic fields; magnetic field patterns; force on a current carrying conductor in a magnetic field; magnetic induction; force between two parallel wires; definition of ampere; motion in a magnetic field; Thomson’s experiment to measure e/m; self-inductance; inductors in AC and DC circuits; phasors.

Modern physics: Introduction to modern physics; discovery of the electron; measurement of e/m; Milikan’s oil drop experiment; Rutherford scattering; discovery of the neutron; atomic line spectra; atomic energy levels; the hydrogen atom; the Balmer formula; the Bohr model of the atom; the photoelectric effect; stopping potential and threshold frequency; Einstein’s explanation of the photoelectric effect; x rays and x-ray spectra; Moseley’s Law; Wave particle duality; de Broglie wavelength; the basics of quantum mechanics – probability and uncertainty; The Heisenberg uncertainty principle; wavefunctions and stationary states; The Schrödinger equation; potential wells and barriers; basic properties of the nucleus; binding energy and nuclear mass; nuclear stability; radioactivity and the exponential decay law; nuclear force; models of the nucleus.

  • We have defined a set of Graduate Attributes that are the skills, personal qualities and understanding to be developed through your university experience that will prepare for life and work in the 21st century (https://www.uws.ac.uk/current-students/your-graduate-attributes/). The Graduate Attributes relevant to this module are listed below.

  • Graduate Attributes - Academic: critical thinker; analytical; inquiring; knowledgeable; digitally literate; problem solver; autonomous; incisive; innovative

  • Graduate Attributes - Personal: effective communicator; influential; motivated

  • Graduate Attributes - Professional: collaborative; research-minded; enterprising; ambitious; driven


Module Delivery Method
Face-To-FaceBlendedFully OnlineHybridCHybridOWork-based Learning
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Face-To-Face
Term used to describe the traditional classroom environment where the students and the lecturer meet synchronously in the same room for the whole provision.

Blended
A mode of delivery of a module or a programme that involves online and face-to-face delivery of learning, teaching and assessment activities, student support and feedback. A programme may be considered “blended” if it includes a combination of face-to-face, online and blended modules. If an online programme has any compulsory face-to-face and campus elements it must be described as blended with clearly articulated delivery information to manage student expectations

Fully Online
Instruction that is solely delivered by web-based or internet-based technologies. This term is used to describe the previously used terms distance learning and e learning.

HybridC
Online with mandatory face-to-face learning on Campus

HybridO
Online with optional face-to-face learning on Campus

Work-based Learning
Learning activities where the main location for the learning experience is in the workplace.


Campus(es) for Module Delivery
The module will normally be offered on the following campuses / or by Distance/Online Learning: (Provided viable student numbers permit)
Paisley:Ayr:Dumfries:Lanarkshire:London:Distance/Online Learning:Other:
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Term(s) for Module Delivery
(Provided viable student numbers permit).
Term 1

 

Term 2check markTerm 3

 

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Learning Outcomes: (maximum of 5 statements)

On successful completion of this module the student will be able to:

L1. To demonstrate knowledge and understanding of introductory aspects of electrical phenomena and electromagnetism, and modern physics.

L2. To apply the knowledge and understanding to solve relevant numerical and non-numerical problems.

L3. To be able to conduct prescribed laboratory experiments, collect and analyze data, estimate experimental uncertainties, and draw conclusions.

L4. Record experimental procedures and observations in a log book, and present an experiment in a formal lab report.

Employability Skills and Personal Development Planning (PDP) Skills
SCQF Headings During completion of this module, there will be an opportunity to achieve core skills in:
Knowledge and Understanding (K and U) SCQF Level 7.

Demonstrate and work with:
· A broad knowledge of introductory aspects of electrical phenomena and electromagnetism, and modern physics.
· Knowledge that is embedded in the main theories, concepts and principles
· An awareness of the evolving nature of the knowledge and understanding
· An understanding of the difference between explanations based in evidence and other forms of explanation and of the importance of this difference

Practice: Applied Knowledge and Understanding SCQF Level 7.

Use some of the basic and routine professional skills, techniques, practices and materials used in physics.

Generic Cognitive skills SCQF Level 7.

· Present and evaluate arguments, information and ideas in physics
· Use a range of approaches to addressing problems and issues in physics

Communication, ICT and Numeracy Skills SCQF Level 7.

·Use a wide range of routine skills and some advanced skills in physics. For example:
- convey ideas in well-structured and coherent form
- use a range of forms of communication effectively in both familiar and new contexts
- use standard applications to process and obtain a variety of information and data
- use a range of numerical and graphical skills in combination
- use numerical and graphical data

Autonomy, Accountability and Working with others SCQF Level 7.

· Exercise some initiative and independence in carrying out defined activities
· Take account of own and others’ roles and responsibilities in carrying out and evaluating tasks
· Work with others in support of current professional practice under guidance

Pre-requisites: Before undertaking this module the student should have undertaken the following:
Module Code:
Module Title:
Other:Higher, A Level, or AS-Level Physics or equivalent. Higher, A Level, or AS Level Mathematics or equivalent.
Co-requisitesModule Code:
MATH07003
Module Title:
Mathematics of Space & Change

* Indicates that module descriptor is not published.

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Learning and Teaching
This is an introductory module in physics. As this is an introductory L7 module then there is a strong lecture-based component which facilitates the learning and teaching of new concepts and new ideas. However, by nature physics is a practical subject, so there is also a significant practical component to the module. All of the material, from both lecture and practical classes, will be consolidated and supported by tutorials in which the students can discuss issues and problems with the course material on an informal one-on-one basis with a member of staff.

The majority of the material of this module is presented in the form of lectures. The lecture notes (either taken by the students in the lecture class, or made available via Moodle) will be self-contained and will cover all of the areas of the module. A list of recommended text books will be issued which cover all aspects of the course which serve as a source of background information, greater detail or alternative explanations of the lecture material.

The principals of physics that are taught in lectures will be put into practice in practical laboratory classes. The practical classes go hand-in-hand with the lecture classes, and the lectures and the practical classes can be regarded as complementary. Students are expected to relate the material taught in lectures to the experiments performed in the practical classes.

Tutorials will enable students to further test the principals taught in lectures and put into practice in the practical classes. Generally, Tutorial Sheets (containing several questions and problems) will be issued by the lecturers which will carried out by the students in their own time in advance of the tutorials; difficulties relating to solving the problems on the tutorial sheets can be discussed and remedied in the tutorials. Such tutorials are thus of great value to the students as they facilitate informal contact with a member of staff, enabling misunderstandings and conceptual difficulties to be sorted out. The tutorials are also of immense value to the staff: liaison between lecturer and tutors will enable problematic areas of the course material to be identified.

As with most modules, the ability to communicate information and ideas effectively is very important to successful completion. Verbal communication will be encouraged in the small-group tutorials while written communication will be necessary for the completion of submitted coursework and class tests, in particular, the submitted coursework will require new concepts and ideas to be described clearly and will require clearly-expressed solutions to set problems. A formal written laboratory report will require report-writing and organizational skills to be demonstrated.

Many aspects of this module (such as consolidation of lecture notes) require self-study but other aspects (such as practical work or discussions in small-group tutorials) require an element of group work.
Learning Activities
During completion of this module, the learning activities undertaken to achieve the module learning outcomes are stated below:
Student Learning Hours
(Normally totalling 200 hours):
(Note: Learning hours include both contact hours and hours spent on other learning activities)
Lecture/Core Content Delivery24
Tutorial/Synchronous Support Activity12
Laboratory/Practical Demonstration/Workshop12
Independent Study152
200 Hours Total

**Indicative Resources: (eg. Core text, journals, internet access)

The following materials form essential underpinning for the module content and ultimately for the learning outcomes:

· Young and Freedman, University Physics, Addison Wesley (2007) 12th Edition[ISBN: 978-0805321876]

· Serway and Jewett, Physics for Scientists and Engineers with Modern Physics, Thomson Learning (2007) [ISBN: 978-0495112402]

· Cutnell and Johnson, Physics, John Wiley (2006) [ISBN: 978-0471663157]

(**N.B. Although reading lists should include current publications, students are advised (particularly for material marked with an asterisk*) to wait until the start of session for confirmation of the most up-to-date material)

Engagement Requirements

In line with the Academic Engagement Procedure, Students are defined as academically engaged if they are regularly engaged with timetabled teaching sessions, course-related learning resources including those in the Library and on the relevant learning platform, and complete assessments and submit these on time. Please refer to the Academic Engagement Procedure at the following link: Academic engagement procedure

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Supplemental Information

Programme BoardPhysical Sciences
Assessment Results (Pass/Fail) No
Subject PanelPhysical Sciences
ModeratorCarlos Garcia
External ExaminerH Boston
Accreditation DetailsInstitute of Physics
Version Number

2.10

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Assessment: (also refer to Assessment Outcomes Grids below)
Coursework total 60% (one or more class tests assessing the material taught in the lectures [40%], submitted problem sheets [20%])
Laboratory Work total 40%(supervised laboratory work [30%], formal laboratory report detailing one of the experiments undertaken [10%])
(N.B. (i) Assessment Outcomes Grids for the module (one for each component) can be found below which clearly demonstrate how the learning outcomes of the module will be assessed.
(ii) An indicative schedule listing approximate times within the academic calendar when assessment is likely to feature will be provided within the Student Handbook.)

Assessment Outcome Grids (Footnote A.)

Component 1
Assessment Type (Footnote B.) Learning Outcome (1) Learning Outcome (2) Learning Outcome (3) Learning Outcome (4) Weighting (%) of Assessment ElementTimetabled Contact Hours
Class test (written)check markcheck mark  402
Portfolio of written workcheck markcheck mark  200

Component 2
Assessment Type (Footnote B.) Learning Outcome (1) Learning Outcome (2) Learning Outcome (3) Learning Outcome (4) Weighting (%) of Assessment ElementTimetabled Contact Hours
Laboratory/ Clinical/ Field notebook  check markcheck mark3012
Report of practical/ field/ clinical workcheck markcheck markcheck markcheck mark100
Combined Total For All Components100% 14 hours

Footnotes
A. Referred to within Assessment Section above
B. Identified in the Learning Outcome Section above

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Note(s):
  1. More than one assessment method can be used to assess individual learning outcomes.
  2. Schools are responsible for determining student contact hours. Please refer to University Policy on contact hours (extract contained within section 10 of the Module Descriptor guidance note).
    This will normally be variable across Schools, dependent on Programmes &/or Professional requirements.

Equality and Diversity
In order for the student to complete this module an element of laboratory work will require to be undertaken
UWS Equality and Diversity Policy
(N.B. Every effort will be made by the University to accommodate any equality and diversity issues brought to the attention of the School)

2014 University of the West of Scotland

University of the West of Scotland is a Registered Scottish Charity.

Charity number SC002520.