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PH20021: Laboratory & information skills 2

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2012/3
Follow this link for further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Physics
Follow this link for further information on credits Credits: 9
Follow this link for further information on unit levels Level: Intermediate (FHEQ level 5)
Follow this link for further information on period slots Period: Academic Year
Follow this link for further information on unit assessment Assessment: PR 100%
Follow this link for further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment: Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Follow this link for further information on unit rules Requisites: Before taking this unit you must take PH10011
Follow this link for further information on unit content Description: Aims:
The aims of this unit are to develop further student confidence and competence in experimental laboratory skills, data processing, written and oral presentation skills and the use of scientific computer packages. A further aim is to reinforce elements of second level Physics units by providing experimental examples in these areas.

Learning Outcomes:
While taking this unit the student should be able to:
* successfully conduct short experiments, following written guidelines, on various topics relating to physics and analogue electronics;
* plan, design and carry out a group project consisting of an experimental investigation;
* maintain a scientific log book, recording details of experimental method and results to an appropriate standard;
* write detailed scientific reports describing experimental work, displaying an appropriate standard of presentation, style, structure, attention to detail and analysis;
* carry out simulations using PSpice of electric circuits incorporating transistors and operational amplifiers;
* plan, design and carry out a small-scale investigation into a subject relating to electronics instrumentation.
* prepare and deliver an oral presentation based on the group physics project and answer questions relating to the presentation.

Skills:
Written Communication T/F A, Spoken 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 A, Practical laboratory skills T/F A, Project planning/management T/F A.

Content:
Students will be introduced to devices, instrumentation and measurement systems as found in a modern research environment. A combination of short benchmark experiments and longer open ended projects will be employed. Students will routinely work in pairs but larger groups of four or five will be the norm in longer projects. Experiments will be drawn from topics encompassing optical physics, x-rays, electromagnetism, analogue electronics, instrumentation and ultrasonics. These activities will be underpinned by workshops on writing and oral presentation skills and scientific computer packages. The laboratory work in PH20021 is organised in three five-week sessions, focussing on one-day physics experiments, an extended physics project, and electronics, respectively.
Follow this link for further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

PH20021 is a Designated Essential Unit on the following programmes:

Department of Physics
  • USPH-AFB01 : BSc (hons) Physics (Full-time) - Year 2
  • USPH-AFB05 : BSc (hons) Physics with Computing (Full-time) - Year 2
  • USPH-AKB06 : BSc (hons) Physics with Computing (with Placement) (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 2
  • USPH-AAB06 : BSc (hons) Physics with Computing with Year Abroad (Full-time with Study Year Abroad) - Year 2
  • USPH-AKB02 : BSc (hons) Physics (with Placement) (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 2
  • USPH-AAB02 : BSc (hons) Physics with Year Abroad (Full-time with Study Year Abroad) - Year 2
  • USPH-AFM02 : MPhys Physics (Full-time) - Year 2
  • USPH-AFM04 : MPhys Physics with Research Placement (Full-time) - Year 2
  • USPH-AAM03 : MPhys Physics with Year Abroad (Full-time with Study Year Abroad) - Year 2

Notes:
* This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2012/13 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2013/14 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2012/13.
* Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.
* Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.