Year:12/13
Department:Physics
Level:Part II (any yr)
Learning Hours:75
Credit Points:7.5
Weight:0.25
Course Convenor:Dr Q Zhuang
Status:Live
Syllabus Rules
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Prior to PHYS253, the student must have successfully completed:
Assessment Rules
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CMod description
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The second of two modules in which a different assignment
is completed in each of the five weeks. They are designed to teach specific
experimental skills and techniques through individual and small group
experiments drawn from various topics in physics. A report is written on one
of the assignments.
Curriculum Design: Outline Syllabus
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A full list of experiments will be published at the beginning of the module. A report is written on one of the completed assignments.
Eight experiments will be available. Normally students would not take more than one session to complete an experiment, but five weeks are allowed for four experiments plus a full report on one of them. We would expect the students to complete all eight of these experiments which teach the basic skills of measurements, uncertainties (errors) and the use of standard instruments, such as oscilloscopes etc.
Educational Aims: Subject Specific: Knowledge, Understanding and Skills
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This is the first of two modules in which a different assignment is completed in each of five weeks. They are designed to teach specific experimental skills and techniques through individual experiments drawn from various topics in physics.
Learning Outcomes: Subject Specific: Knowledge, Understanding and Skills
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During this module, students will develop the following skills:
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execution of experimental investigations
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accurate and thorough record keeping
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critical analysis and discussion of results
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minimisation of experimental errors and will acquire knowledge of:
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a variety of experimental techniques
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how to identify, estimate, combine and quote experimental errors
Curriculum Design: Select Bibliography
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Each experiment is described in a laboratory script which is provided for the student. References to relevant text-books for background reading are given in the script.
The following is the recommended book for a discussion of general experimental techniques:
(R) M Pentz, M Shott & F Aprahamian, Handling Experimental Data, Open University Press
