PHY1030 : Laboratory Physics 1
- Offered for Year: 2025/26
- Module Leader(s): Professor Noel Healy
- Co-Module Leader: Dr Angela Dyson
- Lecturer: Dr Paul Branch, Dr William Rushworth
- Owning School: Mathematics, Statistics and Physics
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
- Capacity limit: 60 student places
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 10 |
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
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 | 6 | 1:00 | 6:00 | Computing Lecture |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 4 | 1:00 | 4:00 | Formal Lectures on Errors |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 1 | 2:00 | 2:00 | Safety Briefing |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 80 | 1:00 | 80:00 | Preparation of in course assessments |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 6 | 2:00 | 12:00 | Computing Practical |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 12 | 3:00 | 36:00 | Laboratory |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 60 | 1:00 | 60:00 | 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.
The teaching methods are appropriate to allow students to develop a wide range of skills, from understanding basic concepts to higher-order thinking.
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 | 2 | M | 20 | MUST PASS (40%) Lab book |
| Practical/lab report | 2 | M | 25 | Write-up of a completed experiment as a formal report |
| Practical/lab report | 2 | M | 25 | Write-up of a completed experiment as a formal report |
| Computer assessment | 1 | M | 5 | Problem solving exercises on errors and uncertainties |
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.
The lab book is a live document marked throughout the academic year. The assessment is for content developed during the timetabled laboratory sessions and explores accurate analysis and elements of record keeping.
For IOP accreditation students must develop appropriate experimental skills through undertaking a variety of experiments covering the breadth of the subject and, where relevant, reflecting degree specialisms.
Students gain experience in using a variety of apparatus, acquiring robust data and identifying sources of error and uncertainty, processing, interpreting and analysing data, and presenting experimental results
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- PHY1030's Timetable