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Module

SFY0015 : Foundation Physics A

  • 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: 20
ECTS Credits: 10.0

Aims

To introduce the basic aspects of forces, fields, thermal physics, atomic and nuclear physics are introduced without a requirement for A level physics. The module includes a practical work element.

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.

Thermal Physics

Temperature: temperature scales and thermometers.

Heat: Heat capacity and calorimetry. Heat transfer. Conduction. Convection. Radiation.

States of matter: Kinetic theory of gases. Ideal gas laws. Thermal expansion of solids and liquids. Elastic properties. Phase changes. Latent heats.

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.

Teaching Methods

Module leaders are revising this content in light of the Covid 19 restrictions.
Revised and approved detail information will be available by 17 August.

Assessment Methods

Module leaders are revising this content in light of the Covid 19 restrictions.
Revised and approved detail information will be available by 17 August.

Reading Lists

Timetable