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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
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits10 ECTS Credits5
SummaryThis course is open to Point of Entry 2 (PoE2) students from the School of Geosciences only. It provides an introduction to classical dynamics and waves. It serves 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.
Course description Classical Dynamics:

Kinematics: Describing the motion of particles, 'SUVAT' equations for constant acceleration, circular motion.

Dynamics: Newton's Laws of motion, types of force, statics and force diagrams, Newton's law of universal gravitation, solving equations of motion.

Energy: Kinetic energy, work, potential energy in conservative systems, energy conservation.

Conservation Laws: Central forces, angular momentum, torque, Noether's theorem.

Classical Relativity: Galilean invariance, fictitious forces in accelerating frames.

2 Particle systems: Centre of mass, conservation of momentum and angular momentum, elastic and inelastic collisions.

Rigid Bodies and rotation: Centre of mass, moment of inertia, kinetic energy, torque, angular SUVAT, angular momentum.

Oscillations & waves:

Linear restoring force, SHM in 1-dimension, displacement, velocity, acceleration,energy in undamped oscillations. The pendulum.

Damped SHM, types, characteristic time, frequency shift.

Forced damped SHM, resonance behaviour

Wave on a string, wave-equation, travelling waves, group and phase velocities, energy transfer by waves.

Superposition principle, interference, beats, standing waves and applications of practical systems, Doppler effects, links to Fourier series.
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 Physics and Maths with A grades in Advance Highers or A-levels (or equivalent)
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNot Applicable
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. State the basic principles of classical dynamics.
  2. Apply these principles in conjunction with elementary mathematical techniques to solve problems.
  3. Present a solution to a physics problem in a clear and logical written form and assess whether it is physically reasonable.
  4. Assess whether a solution to a given problem is physically reasonable.
  5. Locate and use additional sources of information (to include discussion with peers where appropriate) to facilitate independent problem-solving.
Reading List
None
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
Special Arrangements Open to Point of Entry 2 (PoE2) students from the School of Geosciences only.
KeywordsClPhys
Contacts
Course organiserDr Jamie Cole
Tel: (0131 6)50 5999
Email: R.J.Cole@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Rachel Ord
Tel: (0131 6)50 9110
Email: Rachel.Ord@ed.ac.uk
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