Undergraduate Course: Physics 2B: Waves, Quantum Physics and Materials (PHYS08023)
Course Outline
| School |
School of Physics and Astronomy |
College |
College of Science and Engineering |
| Course type |
Standard |
Availability |
Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) |
SCQF Level 08 (Year 2 Undergraduate) |
Credits |
20 |
| Home subject area |
Undergraduate (School of Physics and Astronomy) |
Other subject area |
None |
| Course website |
None |
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|
| Course description |
This course provides an introduction to the tools, concepts and phenomena associated with the physics of the microscopic world. The course incorporates an introductory module on experimental physics; it is supported by a programme of tutorial workshops. |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Delivery period: 2010/11 Semester 2, Available to all students (SV1)
|
WebCT enabled: Yes |
Quota: 200 |
| Location |
Activity |
Description |
Weeks |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| King's Buildings | Tutorial | | 2-11 | | | 09:00 - 10:50or 11:10 - 13:00or 14:00 - 15:50 | | | | King's Buildings | Lecture | | 1-11 | 09:00 - 09:50 | | | | | | King's Buildings | Lecture | | 1-11 | | 09:00 - 09:50 | | | | | King's Buildings | Lecture | | 1-11 | | | | 09:00 - 09:50 | | | King's Buildings | Lecture | | 1-11 | | | | | 09:00 - 09:50 | | King's Buildings | Laboratory | | 2-11 | 14:00 - 17:00 | or 14:00 - 17:00 | | or 14:00 - 17:00 | or 14:00 - 17:00 |
| First Class |
Week 1, Monday, 09:00 - 09:50, Zone: King's Buildings. Lecture Theatre A, JCMB |
| Additional information |
Tutorial workshops two hours per week, as arranged. Laboratory sessions three hours per week, as arranged. |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
At the end of the Experimental Physics unit you should:
1) have learned how to keep a lab notebook
2) be able to combine errors in individual measurements
3) be able to fit a straight line to experimental data using least-squares methods & hence obtain the gradient, y-axis intercept & their uncertainties
4) have learned how to write up your experimental work as a scientific report
At the end of this course of lectures you should:
5) be able to write down the wave equation for waves with constant velocity and apply it to different types of waves.
6) understand the dynamics of sound waves, electromagnetic waves, and mechanical waves in a variety of media
7) understand the concepts of reflection, interference, diffraction, phase and group velocity and energy transport by a wave
8) be familiar with the failures of classical physics & how they relate to the early motivation for quantum theory
9) be able to state and appreciate the consequences of the key paradigm-shifting notions of early quantum theory such as the deBroglie Hypothesis & the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle
10) be able to discuss the early models of atomic structure & their relation to optical spectra
11) be able to write down the time-dependent & - independent Schrodinger wave eqn & state why the latter has the structure of an eigenvalue eqn
12) be able to apply formal wave mechanics (through the Schrodinger eqn) to a range of fundamental problems concerning scattering & bound states
13) be familiar with the gaseous, liquid & solid phases of matter.
14) appreciate the universality of the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution for systems in thermal equilibrium
15) understand how quantities such as latent heat, critical temperature, surface tension, compressibility, elasticity & thermal expansion can be related to the parameters of the inter atomic/molecular potential
16) understand the zeroth & first laws of thermodynamics & the concepts of internal energy, heat & work |
Assessment Information
Weekly assignments, 15%
Experimental laboratory, 15%
Degree Examination, 70% |
| Please see Visiting Student Prospectus website for Visiting Student Assessment information |
Special Arrangements
| Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser |
Prof Malcolm Mcmahon
Tel: (0131 6)50 5956
Email: M.I.McMahon@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary |
Mrs Linda Grieve
Tel: (0131 6)50 5254
Email: linda.grieve@ed.ac.uk |
|
copyright 2010 The University of Edinburgh -
1 September 2010 6:34 am
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