- Student Records
Programme & Unit Catalogues

Department of Physics, Unit Catalogue 2011/12


PH10051: Electricity & magnetism [WL]

Click here for further information Credits: 6
Click here for further information Level: Certificate (FHEQ level 4)
Click here for further information Period: Semester 2
Click here for further information Assessment: EX 85%, PR 15%
Click here for further information Supplementary Assessment: PH10051 - Mandatory Extra Work (where allowed by programme regulations)
Click here for further information Requisites: Before taking this unit you must take PH10007 or equivalent.
Click here for further information Description: Aims:
The aims of this unit are to introduce the fundamental laws of electricity and magnetism and to develop techniques used in the solution of simple field problems, both vector and scalar.

Learning Outcomes:
After taking this unit the student should be able to:
* state the basic laws of electricity and magnetism;
* define scalar and vector fields and represent them graphically;
* determine the forces due to electric and magnetic fields acting on charges and currents;
* determine electric fields, potentials and energies due to simple, static charge distributions;
* determine magnetic fields and energies due to simple, steady current distributions;
* determine electric fields, e.m.f.s and induced currents due to varying magnetic fields;
* demonstrate the correct use of common laboratory equipment, maintain a scientific logbook, perform basic error analysis and produce a scientific report.

Skills:
Written Communication T/F A, Numeracy T/F A, Data Acquisition, Handling, and Analysis T/F A, Information Technology T/F A, Problem Solving T/F A, Working as part of a group T/F, Practical laboratory skills T/F A.

Content:
Introduction to scalar and vector fields (1 hour).
Electrostatics (9 hours): Electric charge, Coulomb's Law, superposition of forces, electric charge distribution, the electric field, electric flux, Gauss's Law, examples of field distributions, electric dipoles. Line integral of the electric field, potential difference, calculation of fields from potentials, examples of potential distributions, energy associated with electric field. Electric field around conductors, capacitors and their capacitance, energy stored.
Magnetism (7 hours): Lorentz force law, force on a current-carrying wire, force between current-carrying wires, torque on a current loop, magnetic dipoles. Biot-Savart Law, Ampere's Law, magnetic flux, Gauss's Law in magnetism, examples of field distributions.
Electromagnetic induction (5 hours): Induced e.m.f. and examples, Faraday's Law, Lenz's Law, energy stored in a magnetic field, self and mutual inductance, energy stored in an inductor.
Laboratory: Performance of experiments designed to develop practical skills and support lecture material.
Click here for further informationProgramme availability:

PH10051 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department of Physics
  • USXX-AFB03 : BSc (hons) Mathematics and Physics (Full-time) - Year 1
  • USXX-AKB04 : BSc (hons) Mathematics and Physics with Placement (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 1
  • USXX-AAB04 : BSc (hons) Mathematics and Physics with Study Year Abroad (Full-time with Study Year Abroad) - Year 1
  • USXX-AFM01 : MSci (hons) Mathematics and Physics (Full-time) - Year 1

PH10051 is Optional on the following programmes:

Programmes in Natural Sciences
  • UXXX-AFB01 : BSc (hons) Natural Sciences (Full-time) - Year 1
  • UXXX-AKB02 : BSc (hons) Natural Sciences with Industrial Placement (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 1
  • UXXX-AAB02 : BSc (hons) Natural Sciences with Study Year Abroad (Full-time with Study Year Abroad) - Year 1
  • UXXX-AFM01 : MSci (hons) Natural Sciences (Full-time) - Year 1
  • UXXX-AKM02 : MSci (hons) Natural Sciences with Professional Placement (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 1
  • UXXX-AAM02 : MSci (hons) Natural Sciences with Study Year Abroad (Full-time with Study Year Abroad) - Year 1

NB. Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.