PHY1030 : Laboratory Physics 1
- Offered for Year: 2021/22
- Module Leader(s): Professor Noel Healy
- Lecturer: Dr Angela Dyson, Dr George Stagg
- Owning School: Mathematics, Statistics and Physics
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 10 |
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
Aims
To introduce and enhance the practical skills required for experimental physics. To develop an understanding of error propagation. To introduce the Python programming language as a tool for data presentation and analysis.
Outline Of Syllabus
Use of Python for numerical computing. Getting started, input and output, data types, plotting and simple calculations, control statements, functions, random variables.
• Practical experience with concepts presented in lectures
• Physical measurement equipment
• Presentation of data and results in a clear and logical manner
• Analysis of data
• Error propagation
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 5 | 1:00 | 5:00 | Computing Lecture – Synchronous On-Line |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 73 | 1:00 | 73:00 | Preparation of in course assessments |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 5 | 2:00 | 10:00 | Computing Practical – Present in Person |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 17 | 3:00 | 51:00 | Laboratory – Present in Person/Remote |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 61 | 1:00 | 61:00 | Preparation time for lectures, background reading, coursework review |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Information is provided through the use of laboratory sheets and lecture based instruction for key principles. Students self learn through the practical exercises to achieve the specific learning outcomes for that activity. Peer learning and group work is an important contributor during the practical lab sessions to achieving the intended learning outcomes. The computing sessions provide the opportunity for students to understand the syntax and structure of computer code to enable this to support their studies in the future.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer assessment | 1 | M | 25 | ICA |
| Portfolio | 1 | M | 20 | Portfolio comprising 3 out of 4 of the remote laboratory sessions |
| Practical/lab report | 2 | M | 20 | Write-up of a completed experiment as a formal report |
| Practical/lab report | 2 | M | 20 | Write-up of a completed experiment as a formal report |
| Computer assessment | 2 | M | 15 | Numbas test on uncertainties & error propagation. |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The laboratory session provides the opportunity for the student to demonstrate their understanding of laboratory physics. A portion of the lab report mark goes to good record keeping and preparation for the experiment. Lab write-ups test the student’s understanding of the results, their ability to communicate their results and their skills with the introduced programming languages.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- PHY1030's Timetable