Module Catalogue 2025/26

Pre Requisite Comment

GCSE Science and Mathematics at Grade C or above.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.