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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2020/2021

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

Undergraduate Course: Data Acquisition and Handling (PHYS10100)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Physics and Astronomy CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits10 ECTS Credits5
SummaryThis is a 10pt course in experimental techniques taken by Physics students in S1. It combines elements of digital electronics (replacing part of JH Electronic Methods), with modern approaches to data acquisition and analysis. The intention is to prepare students for SH and MPhys experimental projects.
Course description - Analogue signal processing. Treatment of noise. Filtering. Buffering using sample and hold;
- Analogue to digital conversion. Sampling rates. Characteristics & errors;
- Digital to analogue signal conversion;
- Communication protocols (Bus standards). Input/Output (I/O);
- Digital signal processing. Triggering. Fourier transforms;
- Data acquisition using a Raspberry Pi and Arduino and python;
- Advanced data analysis. Multi-parameter likelihood fits;
- Practical examples, e.g. temperature sensors, ultrasound sensors, FFT spectrum analyser, synthesizer, digital signal generators, motion sensors, remote sensing, image processing, with CCDs.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Students MUST have passed: Computer Modelling (PHYS09057) OR Experimental Physics (PHYS09049) OR Observational Astronomy (PHYS09059) OR Experimental Physics 3 (PHYS09063)
It is RECOMMENDED that students have passed Fourier Analysis and Statistics (PHYS09055) OR Fourier Analysis (PHYS09054)
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2020/21, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  47
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 100 ( Lecture Hours 4, Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 33, Summative Assessment Hours 3, Revision Session Hours 2, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 56 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 50 %, Practical Exam 50 %
Additional Information (Assessment) 100% coursework
Feedback Not entered
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Understand core concepts of data acquisition, data handling and data analysis in physical sciences;
  2. Apply standard practical laboratory techniques (e.g. routine handling of data acquisition equipment and writing short, procedural computer programs) as directed in a script to achieve a stated goal;
  3. Apply advanced practical laboratory techniques (e.g. handling of complex data acquisition equipment, and writing data acquisition computer programs) with limited direction to achieve a stated or open-ended goal;
  4. Apply advanced data handling and data analysis techniques (e.g., data selection and representation, multi-parameter likelihood fits and writing data analysis computer programs) with limited direction to achieve a stated or open-ended goal;
  5. Present a record of an experiment or computation in an appropriate, clear and logical written form (e.g. laboratory notebook, laboratory report, fully documented computer code), augmented with figures graphs, audio or movies where appropriate.
Reading List
None
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
KeywordsDAH
Contacts
Course organiserDr Matthew Needham
Tel: (0131 6)51 7037
Email: mneedham@exseed.ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Denise Fernandes Do Couto
Tel: (0131 6)51 7521
Email: Denise.Couto@ed.ac.uk
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