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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2014/2015
- ARCHIVE as at 1 September 2014

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Physics and Astronomy : Undergraduate (School of Physics and Astronomy)

Undergraduate Course: Classical Physics (PHYS08055)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Physics and Astronomy CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Course typeStandard AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) Credits10
Home subject areaUndergraduate (School of Physics and Astronomy) Other subject areaNone
Course website None Taught in Gaelic?No
Course descriptionThis course is designed for pre-honours direct entry Geophysics students. It provides an introduction to classical dynamics, waves and special relativity. It serves both as a preparation for further study in Geophysics-based degree programmes.
The course consists of lectures to present new material, and workshops to develop understanding, familiarity and fluency.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Students MUST NOT also be taking Classical and Modern Physics (PHYS08044) OR Modern Physics (PHYS08045)
Other requirements None
Additional Costs None
Course Delivery Information
Delivery period: 2014/15 Semester 1, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Learn enabled:  No Quota:  None
Web Timetable Web Timetable
Course Start Date 15/09/2014
Breakdown of Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 100 ( Lecture Hours 22, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 20, Summative Assessment Hours 2, Revision Session Hours 2, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 52 )
Additional Notes
Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info) Written Exam 80 %, Coursework 0 %, Practical Exam 20 %
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours & Minutes
Main Exam Diet S1 (December)Classical Physics (PHYS08055)2:00
Resit Exam Diet (August)Classical Physics (PHYS08055)2:00
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course it is intended that student will be able to:
* State the basic principles of classical dynamics, special relativity and elementary quantum mechanics and the regimes in which the different theories apply;
* Apply these principles in conjunction with elementary mathematical techniques to solve simple problems in classical, relativistic and quantum mechanics;
* Present a solution to a physics problem in a clear and logical written form;
* Assess whether a solution to a given problem is physically reasonable;
* Locate and use additional sources of information (to include discussion with peers where appropriate) to facilitate independent problem-solving.
Assessment Information
80% Written Exam and 20% Coursework
Special Arrangements
Open to Point of Entry 2 (PoE2) students from the School of Geosciences only.
Additional Information
Academic description Not entered
Syllabus Classical Physics (20 lectures)

*Revision of elementary statics & dynamics (4 lectures)
-Statics forces, resolution of forces into components. Force diagrams. (1)
-Laws of motion in two and three dimensions: Newton's Laws in vector form. Conservation of linear momentum. (1)
-Concept of reference frames, relative motion, laws of motion in this notation.(1)
-Force/Work relation, conservation of energy (kinetic and potential), dynamic and static friction. (1)

*Further dynamics (8 lectures)
-Centre-of-mass of points and solid bodies (1)
-Linear momentum of system of particles, centre-of-mass frame, elastic collision in centre-of-mass frame. (1)
-Full dynamics in one-dimension: use of differential equations, Rocket equations, friction, air resistance etc). (2)
-Rotational motion, torque, angular acceleration and angular momentum of set of particles. (2)
-Moment-of-inertia of sets of particles and rigid bodies, central axis theorem, angular equations of motion, energy relations. (2)

*Oscillations & waves (8 lectures)
-Linear restoring force, SHM in 1-dimension, displacement, velocity, acceleration,energy in undamped oscillations. The pendulum. (1)
-Damped SHM, types, characteristic time, frequency shift. (1)
-Forced damped SHM, resonance behaviour (1)
-Wave on a string, wave-equation, travelling waves, group and phase velocities, energy transfer by waves. (3)
-Superposition principle, interference, beats, standing waves and applications of practical systems, Doppler effects, links to Fourier series. (2)
Transferable skills Not entered
Reading list Not entered
Study Abroad Not entered
Study Pattern Not entered
KeywordsClPhys
Contacts
Course organiserDr Jamie Cole
Tel: (0131 6)50 5999
Email: R.J.Cole@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMrs Bonnie Macmillan
Tel: (0131 6)50 5905
Email: Bonnie.MacMillan@ed.ac.uk
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