- Offered for Year: 2020/21
- Module Leader(s): Dr Jerry Hagon
- Lecturer: Dr Adrian Oila
- Owning School: Engineering
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
|
Semester 1 Credit Value:
|
10
|
|
ECTS Credits:
|
5.0
|
Aims
To introduce the essentials of forces, energy, atomic and nuclear physics at foundation level without a requirement for A level physics.
Outline Of Syllabus
Forces and Fields
Introduction: units, dimensions, scalar and vector quantities, velocity, acceleration.
Forces: momentum, impulse, conservation of momentum, collisions. Newton’s laws. Gravitational and inertial mass.
Energy: work, energy, power, potential energy, conservation of energy.
Moments: centre of mass, centre of gravity.
Circular motion: angular velocity and acceleration, centripetal and centrifugal forces. Rotation about centre of mass, moment of inertia, angular momentum.
Fields: gravitational fields, potential and potential energy in fields. Inverse square law.
Structure of the atom
Atomic physics: Rutherford scattering experiment. The wave/particle nature of light. The photo-electric effect. The photon and atomic structure. The Bohr model of the hydrogen atom. The spectrum of atomic hydrogen. Multi-electron atoms. The Periodic Table. X-rays. X-ray production. Spectra. Absorption. Applications
Nuclear Physics: Atomic number, atomic weight, isotopes. Stability of nuclei.
Natural radioactivity: alpha, beta and gamma radiation. Sources of radiation. Half-life. Equation of radioactive decay.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category |
Activity |
Number |
Length |
Student Hours |
Comment |
|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 18 | 1:00 | 18:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 10 | 1:00 | 10:00 | Physics problems relating to the course are set during the module. Mostly assigned as homework. |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 9:00 | 9:00 | Exam Revision |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 1:30 | 1:30 | Written Exam |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 6 | 1:00 | 6:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 55:30 | 55:30 | N/A |
| Total | | | | 100:00 | |
Jointly Taught With
| Code |
Title |
|---|
| SFY0015 | Foundation Physics A |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
The subject material is highly knowledge based and requires lectures to disseminate the material. The problems-solving classes are required to enhance and consolidate the students’ understanding of the material.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description |
Length |
Semester |
When Set |
Percentage |
Comment |
|---|
| Written Examination | 90 | 1 | A | 90 | N/A |
Exam Pairings
| Module Code |
Module Title |
Semester |
Comment |
|---|
| SFY0015 | Foundation Physics A | 1 | N/A |
Other Assessment
| Description |
Semester |
When Set |
Percentage |
Comment |
|---|
| Prob solv exercises | 1 | M | 10 | Weekly tests |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The module is intended to provide a factual knowledge base. A formal written examination is most appropriate in this case and the in course assessment encourages a consistent approach to learning.
Reading Lists
Timetable
