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PH20106: Self-directed learning (NS)

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2016/7
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Physics
Further information on credits Credits: 6      [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
Further information on notional study hours Notional Study Hours: 120
Further information on unit levels Level: Intermediate (FHEQ level 5)
Further information on teaching periods Period:
Semester 1
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Summary: EX 100%
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • EXAMINATION (EX 100%)
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment:
Mandatory extra work (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites: This unit is only available to students on programmes in Natural Sciences.
Further information on descriptions Description: Aims:
The aim of this unit is to allow students transferring from Natural Sciences programmes to catch up with core Physics material that they did not cover in years 1 and 2 of their degree.

Learning Outcomes:
After taking this unit the student should be able to:
* write down the essential results and formulae of special relativity;
* describe important experiments (real or thought) in special relativity;
* solve simple kinematic and dynamical special relativity problems;
* describe the characteristics of the fundamental forces, and quote and use conservation laws to determine allowed particle reactions;
* discuss binding in nuclei and explain the energetics and mechanisms of radioactive decay;
* describe the physical processes involved in fission and fusion reactions and in stellar nucleosynthesis;
* conserve linear and angular momentum in collisions;
* use the concepts of kinetic and potential energy and mechanical work to solve a range of physical problems;
* use conservation of energy to qualitatively describe the motion of particles in potentials and determine the regimes of bound and free motion;
* use the concepts of angular momentum, torque and moment of inertia to describe rotations of rigid bodies.

Skills:
Numeracy T/F A, Problem Solving T/F A.

Content:
This unit covers core Physics material in years 1 and 2 that Natural Sciences students do not take. The courses involved are Special Relativity (part of PH10103), Particles & Nuclei (part of PH20016) and Classical Mechanics (PH10004). The detailed content of each of these may be found in the relevant unit descriptions. This unit is not lectured. Students are provided with course material that forms the basis of their learning. There are weekly tutorials to provide academic support.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

PH20106 is only available subject to the approval of the Physics Director of Studies/Director of Teaching.


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