SFY0014 : Foundation Physics A2
- Offered for Year: 2023/24
- Module Leader(s): Dr Adrian Oila
- Lecturer: Dr Tiago Marinheiro
- 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
Mechanics
Kinematics: 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 15:00 | 15:00 | Preparation for Assessments |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 22 | 1:00 | 22:00 | PiP sessions combined with non-synchronous online. |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 63:00 | 63:00 | Review lecture notes and recommended texts. |
| 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.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written Examination | 120 | 1 | A | 60 | N/A |
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prob solv exercises | 1 | M | 10 | Canvas quiz |
| Prob solv exercises | 1 | M | 10 | Canvas quiz |
| Prob solv exercises | 1 | M | 10 | Canvas quiz |
| Prob solv exercises | 1 | M | 10 | Canvas quiz |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The assessments, both summative and formative are designed to test knowledge and understanding as well as the ability to carry out simple calculations in physics.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- SFY0014's Timetable