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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2022/2023

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

Undergraduate Course: Experimental Physics 2 (PHYS08058)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Physics and Astronomy CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits10 ECTS Credits5
SummaryThis course is designed for pre-honours physics students. It provides an introduction to experimental laboratory techniques. It serves both as a preparation for further practical work in physics-based degree programmes, and as a stand-alone course for students of other disciplines. The course consists of laboratory sessions to develop understanding, familiarity and fluency.
Course description Experimental Laboratory

Introductory lecture on research methods, keeping a lab book, and writing reports.
Two 3-week experiments chosen from Compound and Kater Pendula, Radioactive Decay, Atomic Spectroscopy, Michelson Interferometer and Geometric Optics.
One 3-week experiment on digital and analogue electronic circuits
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Students MUST have passed: Programming and Data Analysis (PHYS08049)
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2022/23, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  None
Course Start Semester 2
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 100 ( Lecture Hours 1, Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 27, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 70 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) 100% continuous assessment
Feedback Not entered
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Appreciate the relationship between experiment and theory as scientific techniques, and assess whether an experimental result (in conjunction with an estimated error) is physically reasonable
  2. Explain the importance of reproducibility of scientific work, and the role that laboratory notebooks and quantitative statements of confidence in results play in achieving this.
  3. Apply standard practical techniques (e.g., routine handling of common laboratory equipment, linear least-squares fitting and writing short, procedural computer programs) as directed in a lab script to achieve a stated goal.
  4. Present a record of an experiment in an appropriate, clear and logical written form (e.g., lab notebook, lab report), augmented with figures and graphs where appropriate.
  5. Take responsibility for learning by attending laboratory sessions, and completing coursework.
Reading List
None
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
KeywordsPhysics,Practical,Experiment
Contacts
Course organiserProf Malcolm McMahon
Tel: (0131 6)50 5956
Email: M.I.McMahon@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Hayley Crawford
Tel: (0131 6)51 7524
Email: hayley.crawford@ed.ac.uk
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