Module Catalogue 2024/25

SFY0016 : Foundation Physics B

SFY0016 : Foundation Physics B

  • Offered for Year: 2024/25
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Tiago Marinheiro
  • Owning School: Mathematics, Statistics and Physics
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 2 Credit Value: 20
ECTS Credits: 10.0
European Credit Transfer System
Pre-requisite

Modules you must have done previously to study this module

Pre Requisite Comment

GCSE Science and Mathematics at Grade C or above.

Co-Requisite

Modules you need to take at the same time

Co Requisite Comment

SFY0001 Basic Mathematics if below Grade C in GCSE Mathematics

Aims

To introduce the basic aspects of electricity and magnetism, vibrations, waves and optical physics without a requirement for A level physics. The module includes practical work.

Outline Of Syllabus

Electricity and Magnetism

Electrostatics: Conductors and insulators. Electrification by friction. Attraction of charged bodies for uncharged ones; polarisation. Coulomb’s law. Permittivity. Dielectric constant. Electric field. Flux.
Electric dipole. Lines of force. Field of a charged sphere. Electric field outside a charged plane. Gauss’ law. Electric potential. Potential energy.

Capacitance: Electric field between plates. Energy stored in a capacitance. Capacitance of an isolated sphere. Capacitors in parallel and in series.

Electric current: Potential difference. Ohm’s law. Resistivity of a metal. Resistors in series and in parallel. Potential divider. Wheatstone’s bridge. Electrical power and energy. Electromotive force. Internal resistance and its measurement. Maximum power from a battery.

Magnetism: Magnetic field. Magnetic dipole. Repulsion and attraction between poles.

Magnetic effect of currents: Repulsion and attraction between current carrying wires. Permeability and relative permeability. Fleming’s left hand rule. Force on a moving charge in a magnetic field. Cyclotron. Biot-Savart law.
     
Field due to a straight wire and a circular coil. Torque on a rectangular coil in a field. Magnetic moment of a coil.

Electromagnetic induction: Faraday Lenz law. The dynamo.

Alternating current: Peak, RMS current and voltage. Self induction. Mutual inductance. Energy stored in an inductance. The transformer.

Introduction: the electromagnetic spectrum, colour, black-body radiation, polarization, waves rays and photons.

Optical Physics

Introduction: the electromagnetic spectrum, colour, black-body radiation, polarization, waves rays and photons.

Reflection and refraction at plane surfaces: law of reflection, Snell’s law, refractive index, critical angle, total internal reflection, optical fibres, prisms, dispersion, spectroscopic instruments.

Reflection/refraction at curved surfaces: imaging with spherical mirrors and thin lenses, magnification, determination of focal length. Ray tracing. Use of the formula 1/u + 1/v = 1/f with sign convention. Combination of thin lenses.

Optical Instruments: camera, the eye, the telescope, the microscope, effect of lens aberrations and diffraction on performance

Vibrations and Waves

Periodic motion: amplitude, period, frequency, phase, Hooke’s law, simple harmonic motion, motion of a pendulum, forced and damped vibrations, general periodic motion: velocity, amplitude and acceleration.

Wave motion: transverse and longitudinal waves, wavelength, frequency, velocity, amplitude, reflection of a wave, superposition of waves, standing waves, nodes, beat frequencies, diffraction, interference, coherence.

Sound: the production of sound, relative speed of sound in solids liquids and gases, Intensity of sound, decibel units,
Frequency response of the ear, pitch, harmonics, resonance in air columns and strings, Doppler effect, ultrasound and its applications.

Experimental Physics

Experimental physics is introduced, providing practice in the basic skills in scientific measurement and a background to the theoretical concepts taught in the module.
Treatment of experimental errors.

Learning Outcomes

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

At the end of this module students will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the elementary physics associated with:

•       electrostatics and the energy contained in capacitors;
•       electric circuit elements and their combination;
•       magnetism and its effect on current carrying conductors in a magnetic field;
•       temperature and its measurement,
•       heat transfer,
•       the kinetic theory of gases
•       periodic motion,
•       wave motion,
•       interference of waves.

Intended Skill Outcomes

At the end of this module students will be able to communicate effectively the scientific content of the module contributes to the written communications skills of the student. The scientific problem solving element enhances general problem solving skills and initiative.

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion28:0016:002 x In course assessment - problem solving each requires 5 Hrs preparation 3 Hrs completion
Structured Guided LearningLecture materials111:0011:00Asynchronous materials
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture111:0011:00Problem solving sessions
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture331:0033:00Lectures (approx. 3 per week)
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion118:0018:00Exam revision
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion12:302:30Written Examination
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesPractical63:0018:006 Practical sessions. Includes worksheet submission
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study61:006:00Reviewing learning at practical sessions
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study331:0033:00Lecture Follow Up
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study151:3051:30Background reading and research around the subject and re-enforcing knowledge
Total200:00
Jointly Taught With
Code Title
SFY0020Electricity and Magnetism
SFY0029The Physics of Oscillations
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The lecture materials, lectures and notes provide all the knowledge-based requirements of the course. In addition the online videos, lectures and problem solving sessions allows the material to be covered several times and reinforced through different methods. Pedagogically this should result in better understanding and increased retention.

The problem solving classes will help with general problem solving and to solidify their mathematical skills.

The practical part will link the lecture material with real life applications and provides an opportunity for the students to develop laboratory skills.

Reading Lists

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Exams
Description Length Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Written Examination1502A68N/A
Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Practical/lab report2M6assessed by a worksheet which must be completed within the lab.
Practical/lab report2M6assessed by a worksheet which must be completed within the lab.
Practical/lab report2M6assessed by a worksheet which must be completed within the lab.
Prob solv exercises2M7Small in-course assessment. Contains 10-15 questions
Prob solv exercises2M7Small in-course assessment. Contains 10-15 questions
Formative Assessments

Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.

Description Semester When Set Comment
Practical/lab report2MAssessed in lab
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The module is intended to provide a factual knowledge base. A formal written examination is most appropriate in this case. In addition, The format of the examination will enable students to reliably demonstrate their own knowledge, understanding and application of learning outcomes.

The in course assessments allow the students to develop their problem solving techniques, to practise the methods learnt in the module, to assess their progress and to receive feedback; these assessments have a secondary formative purpose as well as their primary summative purpose.

The practical sessions require an assessment to ensure that students engage positively with the tasks, and that the practical skill component of the intended skill outcomes is assessed.

Timetable

Past Exam Papers

General Notes

Original Handbook text:
Basic aspects of electricity and magnetism, vibrations, waves and thermal physics are introduced without a requirement for A level physics. The module includes a practical work element.

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Disclaimer

The information contained within the Module Catalogue relates to the 2024 academic year.

In accordance with University Terms and Conditions, the University makes all reasonable efforts to deliver the modules as described.

Modules may be amended on an annual basis to take account of changing staff expertise, developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback. Module information for the 2025/26 entry will be published here in early-April 2025. Queries about information in the Module Catalogue should in the first instance be addressed to your School Office.