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PH10002: Properties of matter

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2014/5
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Physics
Further information on credits Credits: 6
Further information on unit levels Level: Certificate (FHEQ level 4)
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: PH10002 - Mandatory Extra Work (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites: Students must have A-level Physics or Chemistry and A-level Mathematics to undertake this unit.
Further information on descriptions Description: Aims:
The aims of this unit are to gain insight into how the interplay between kinetic and potential energy at the atomic level governs the formation of different phases and to demonstrate how the macroscopic properties of materials can be derived from considerations of the microscopic properties at the atomic level.

Learning Outcomes:
After taking this unit the student should be able to:
* use simple model potentials to describe molecules and solids;
* solve simple problems for ideal gases using kinetic theory;
* describe the energy changes in adiabatic and isothermal processes;
* derive thermodynamic relationships and analyse cycles;
* derive and use simple transport expressions in problems concerning viscosity, heat and electrical conduction.

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

Content:
Balance between kinetic and potential energy (2 hours).
Gases (3 hours): The ideal gas; kinetic theory; Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution, equipartition. The real gas; van der Waals model.
The ideal solid (3 hours): Model potentials and equilibrium separations of molecules and Madelung crystals. Simple crystal structures; X-ray scattering and Bragg's law.
First and second laws of thermodynamics (5 hours): Energy changes along different paths across P-V-T surfaces; phase changes and critical points; heat capacity of gases.
Mechanical and transport properties (9 hours): Derivation of mechanical (viscosity, elasticity, strength) and transport properties (heat and electrical conduction) of gases and solids from considerations of atomic behaviour. Qualitative understanding of viscosity (Newtonian and non-Newtonian) in liquids based on cage models.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

PH10002 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department of Physics
  • USPH-AFB01 : BSc(Hons) Physics (Year 1)
  • USPH-AAB02 : BSc(Hons) Physics with Study year abroad (Year 1)
  • USPH-AKB02 : BSc(Hons) Physics with Year long work placement (Year 1)
  • USPH-AFM02 : MPhys(Hons) Physics (Year 1)
  • USPH-AKM04 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Professional and Research Placements (Year 1)
  • USPH-AKM04 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Professional and Research Placements (Year 5)
  • USPH-AKM03 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Professional Placement (Year 1)
  • USPH-AFM04 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Research placement (Year 1)
  • USPH-AAM03 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Study year abroad (Year 1)
  • USPH-AFB05 : BSc(Hons) Physics with Computing (Year 1)
  • USPH-AAB06 : BSc(Hons) Physics with Computing with Study year abroad (Year 1)
  • USPH-AKB06 : BSc(Hons) Physics with Computing with Year long work placement (Year 1)

PH10002 is Optional on the following programmes:

Programmes in Natural Sciences
  • UXXX-AFB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Year 1)
  • UXXX-AAB02 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences with Study year abroad (Year 1)
  • UXXX-AKB02 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences with Year long work placement (Year 1)
  • UXXX-AFM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Year 1)
  • UXXX-AKM02 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences with Professional Placement (Year 1)
  • UXXX-AAM02 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences with Study year abroad (Year 1)
Department of Mathematical Sciences
  • USMA-AFB15 : BSc(Hons) Mathematical Sciences (Year 2)
  • USMA-AAB16 : BSc(Hons) Mathematical Sciences with Study year abroad (Year 2)
  • USMA-AKB16 : BSc(Hons) Mathematical Sciences with Year long work placement (Year 2)
  • USMA-AFB13 : BSc(Hons) Mathematics (Year 2)
  • USMA-AAB14 : BSc(Hons) Mathematics with Study year abroad (Year 2)
  • USMA-AKB14 : BSc(Hons) Mathematics with Year long work placement (Year 2)
  • USMA-AFM14 : MMath(Hons) Mathematics (Year 2)
  • USMA-AAM15 : MMath(Hons) Mathematics with Study year abroad (Year 2)
  • USMA-AKM15 : MMath(Hons) Mathematics with Year long work placement (Year 2)

Notes:
* This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2014/15 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2015/16 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2014/15.
* 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.