Undergraduate Course: Macromolecular Physics (PHYS11014)
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 11 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Credits |
10 |
Home subject area |
Undergraduate (School of Physics and Astronomy) |
Other subject area |
None |
Course website |
None |
|
|
Course description |
Macromolecular Physics, or 'Soft Condensed Matter' is a rapidly growing area of physics in which the School has a large research effort. Soft matter describes materials in states of matter that are neither simple liquids or crystalline solids, and covers many materials familiar to everyday life. The course will emphasise the basic physics of colloidal systems (microscopic particles suspended in a liquid), of polymers (large flexible 'macromolecules') and of self-assembling systems such as surfactants. In many cases surprisingly simple models provide accurate descriptions of seemingly complex phenomena; for example, a simple 'random walk' describes both the Brownian motion of colloids and the shapes of polymer molecules. During the course examples will be drawn from biological systems and materials where possible. |
Course Delivery Information
|
Delivery period: 2010/11 Semester 2, Available to all students (SV1)
|
WebCT enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
Location |
Activity |
Description |
Weeks |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
King's Buildings | Lecture | | 1-11 | | 15:00 - 15:50 | | | | King's Buildings | Lecture | | 1-11 | | | | | 15:00 - 15:50 |
First Class |
Week 1, Tuesday, 15:00 - 15:50, Zone: King's Buildings. JCMB |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course it is intended that a student will be able to:
1)demonstrate an understanding of phase behaviour and phase transitions in soft matter
2)explain Brownian motion in the framework of the Einstein equation
3)discuss the behaviour of interacting colloidal particles
4)discuss the properties of polymers and derive the main models to describe their behaviour
5)demonstrate an understanding of self-assembly
6)demonstrate a grasp of the order of magnitude of the central quantities and develop confidence with "intuitive" estimates as well as calculations based on concepts presented in this course |
Assessment Information
Coursework 50% (30% Written assignment, 20% Oral assignment)
Degree Examination 50% |
Please see Visiting Student Prospectus website for Visiting Student Assessment information |
Special Arrangements
Not entered |
Contacts
Course organiser |
Dr Rosalind Allen
Tel: (0131 6)51 7197
Email: rosalind.allen@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 6:35 am
|