Year:12/13
Department:Physics
Level:Part II (any yr)
Learning Hours:75
Credit Points:7.5
Weight:0.25
Course Convenor:Professor F Honary
Status:Live
Syllabus Rules
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Prior to PHYS268, the student must have successfully completed:
Assessment Rules
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Curriculum Design: Outline Syllabus
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- Introduction to solar terrestrial environment.
- The solar cycle and the solar wind.
- Magnetospheres in the solar system.
- Introduction to ionospheric physics.
- Solar Wind Magnetosphere Coupling - plasma sheet loading and pre-conditioning.
- Storms and Substorms - delivery mechanisms/plasmapheric plumes.
- Particle distributions in the magnetosphere. Magnetospheric current systems.
- Radiation Belt dynamics and killer electrons.
- Space weather effects.
- Detecting and prediction of space weather. Field Change, indices, IMF.
- Long term changes in Space Weather. 11/22 year cycle.
Curriculum Design: Pre-requisites/Co-requisites/Exclusions
back to topEducational Aims: Subject Specific: Knowledge, Understanding and Skills
back to topThis module aims to teach students about a multiply connected set of space plasma processes stretching from the sun to the surface of the earth and their effects on Earth, commonly known as "SpaceWeather", as a consequence of the behaviour of the sun and the nature of Earth's magnetic field.
Seminars include independent research on pre-set discussion topics. Students are required to present their findings to the group in the form of oral presentations/posters.
Educational Aims: General: Knowledge, Understanding and Skills
back to topIn addition to teaching the basic concepts of space physics, seminars include independent research on pre-set discussion topics which aim to further develop presentation and communication skills of the kind useful in scientific research.
Learning Outcomes: Subject Specific: Knowledge, Understanding and Skills
back to topOn successful completion of this module students will be able to...
- Explain Sun's magnetic activity and its coupling to solar system
- Describe solar wind, coronal mass ejection and solar flares
- Explain the effect of solar wind on the magnetosphere
- Explain the current system in the magnetosphere
- Calculate the solar-wind driving of the magnetosphere
- Explain the formation of the ionosphere and its layers
- Explain the important role of substorm and geomagnetic storm on energy transfer within the Sun-Earth system
- Explain dynamics of the radiation belts
- Derive the frozen flux theorem
- Calculate induced currents to geomagnetic storms
Learning Outcomes: General: Knowledge, Understanding and Skills
back to topOn successful completion of this module students will be able to...
- Undertake mathematical manipulations and calculations with generic/universal applicability.
- Explain the governing processes within our solar system.
- Carry out independent research.
- Present material (oral/poster) to a peer-group.
Assessment: Details of Assessment
back to top20% Weekly coursework, answers to be discussed in seminar.
80% Exam (in summer term), exam will be 1 hour duration.
Curriculum Design: Select Bibliography
back to topPrimary text:
Introduction to Space Physics, M.G. Kivelson & C.T. Russell, Cambridge University Press (1995), ISBN: 0521457149.
Secondary texts:
- The solar-terrestrial environment, J.K. Hargreaves, Cambridge Univ. Press (1995), ISBN: 0521427371
- Basic Space Plasma Physics, Wolfgang Baumjohann and Rudolf A Treumann, Imperial College Press, (1997), ISBN: 186094079
- Convection and substorms, Charles F Kennel, Oxford University Press, (1995) ISBN: 0195085299
Curriculum Design: Single, Combined or Consortial Schemes to which the Module Contributes
back to topThe module is compulsory for the following new degree schemes:
BSc Physics with Space Science
MPhys Physics with Space Science
The module is optional for the following schemes:
BSc/MPhys Physics
BSc/MPhys Physics (North America)
BSc/MPhys Physics, Astrophysics and Cosmology
BSc/MPhys Physics with Particle Physics and Cosmology
BSc/MPhys Physics with Medical Physics
BSc/MPhys Theoretical Physics
MSci Theoretical Physics with Mathematics
