Outline:

This module aims to lay a secure foundation for the understanding of the underlying principles of the structure of crystalline solids, determination of their structures (and defects therein), and to establish an understanding of the relationships between structure and thermal, mechanical, electronic and magnetic properties.

Aims:

To show how the diverse properties (structural, electronic, magnetic) of solid materials can be related to interactions at the atomistic level, using theoretical models.
	To provide a sound foundation for the advanced condensed matter options in the third and fourth years.
	To show how the study of condensed matter plays a vital part both in other areas of physics and, more generally in science, technology and industry.
Teaching and Learning Methodology:

This course is delivered via weekly lectures supplemented by a series of workshops and additional discussion.

In addition to timetabled lecture and supplementary hours, it is expected that students engage in self-study in order to master the material. This can take the form, for example, of practicing example questions and further reading in textbooks and online.

PRACTICAL PHYSICS|LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS|DATA ANALYSIS AND RECORDING|REPORTS.

Outline:

This module aims to provide students with developing confidence and skills in practical physics, through a selection of guided experiments and...

Outline:

This module aims to provide students with developing confidence and skills in practical physics, through a selection of guided experiments and observations that are appropriate to our degree streams and core physics. These tasks provide experience in practical techniques, including data recording, data analysis and report writing.

Aims:

All practical modules within the Department contribute to a continuing development of students’ scientific, technical and transferable skills, extending throughout their degree programmes. Collectively, these modules have the overall aim of equipping the student with those practical skills which employers expect to find in physics-related graduates, whether they are employed in scientific research or development, or in a wider context. Course PHAS0008 builds on the foundations of course PHAS0007 “Practical Physics and Computing 1”, and by further practice reinforces and extends practical and investigative skills.

Teaching and Learning Methodology:

In the practical sessions, students work by following guidance scripts. Great emphasis is placed on the formation of good habits in the keeping of a notebook for which students are given detailed advice. Demonstrators not only help students understand the experiments and observations and overcome difficulties as they arise, but also inspect students’ notebooks to provide formative feedback to help develop good practices.

Students will conduct experiments and observations that will emphasize the need for to develop critical and analytical thought processes and creativity within a physics context.

Self-study: In addition to timetabled hours it is expected that you engage in self-study in order to master the material. This can take the form of studying the material, practicing analysis, preparing for laboratory sessions, writing up reports and further reading in textbooks and online.