THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2020/2021

Information in the Degree Programme Tables may still be subject to change in response to Covid-19

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

Undergraduate Course: Geometry and Physics of Soft Condensed Matter (PHYS11055)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Physics and Astronomy CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Year 5 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits10 ECTS Credits5
SummaryIn this course, we explore how to build theories for the complex fluids introduced in the Soft Matter Physics and Introduction to Condensed Matter Physics courses; we will often be taking examples from the world of biology. The focus of the course will be to emphasise generic features in order to build up a repertoire of theoretical tools that are widely applicable to analyse a diversity of soft materials. Topics covered may vary from year to year depending on the specialisms of the staff involved.
Course description Physics and nonequilibrium thermodynamics of binary mixtures
Symmetries and phases of liquid crystals
Topological defects in liquid crystals
Hydrodynamic theories of complex fluids
Topological properties of DNA: knots and supercoiling
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Students MUST have passed: Introduction to Condensed Matter Physics (PHYS10099)
It is RECOMMENDED that students have passed Soft Condensed Matter Physics (PHYS10097)
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2020/21, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  None
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 100 ( Lecture Hours 20, Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 10, Summative Assessment Hours 4, Revision Session Hours 4, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 60 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 80 %, Coursework 20 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) 80% exam 20% coursework
Feedback Not entered
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours & Minutes
Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May)2:00
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Write down continuum (hydrodynamic) equations for complex fluids starting from a suitable free energy.
  2. Understand the physics of binary mixtures and liquid crystals.
  3. Understand and identify topological defects in liquid crystals, and understand their consequences for the physics of these materials.
  4. Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of DNA knots and supercoiling, and their basic consequences for DNA biophysics.
  5. 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.
Reading List
None
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
KeywordsGeoPhySoftCM
Contacts
Course organiserDr Davide Marenduzzo
Tel: (0131 6)50 5283
Email: dmarendu@ph.ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Grace Wilson
Tel: (0131 6)50 5310
Email: Grace.Wilson@ed.ac.uk
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