1000-level (first year) modules

Coordinators

		room	email
PH1011 Physics 1A	Dr Bruce Sinclair	221	bds2
PH1012 Physics 1B	Dr Lucy Hadfield	304	ljh11
Physics labs	Dr Cameron Rae	214	cfr
PH1013 The Physics of Sustainable Energy	Lethy Krishnan Jagadamma	285	lkj2

AS1001 Astronomy & Astrophysics 1	Prof Ian Bonnell	315	iab1
AS1101 Astrophysics 1 (direct entry)	Dr Anne-Marie Weijmans	334	amw23

Physics

The two core first-year modules PH1011 and PH1012 introduce university physics, assuming a prior knowledge and understanding of mathematics and physics at SQA Higher grade BB (or equivalent, or higher) in these subjects. They are not a first course in physics. The modules include appropriate coverage of the traditional disciplines of classical physics, but also exposure to the ideas of modern physics including quantum concepts, and to applications including laser physics. The labs give experience in experimental investigations and techniques. It is intended that the two modules should be similar in standard to that of the SQA Advanced Higher in Physics although the syllabi will not match in detail. Students may find a much greater emphasis here on how mathematical and physical relations are determined.

PH1013 The Physics of Sustainable Energy may be taken independently of PH1011 and PH1012, and assumes prior knowledge also at grade B or above at SQA Higher (or equivalent) in maths, and in physics or chemistry.

Physics 1A PH1011 (20 Credits)

This module covers the core subjects of mechanics, waves and optics, and the properties of matter. It includes lectures on Newton's laws, simple harmonic motion, the different types of wave motion, geometrical and wave optics, the nature and composition of nuclei, atoms, molecules, solids, and gases.

Physics 1B PH1012 (20 credits)

This module covers the mechanics of gravitation and rotational motion, quantum phenomena, and an introduction to lasers. The module is suitable for those who have already taken Physics 1A. It includes lectures on the origins of quantum theory, and its application to atoms and other small scale systems, dynamics and conservation laws, and the principles of lasers. The module also includes a set of group-based activities associated with the use of physics ideas to solve an interesting problem.

Students who take Physics 1A and/or Physics 1B should acquire

an understanding of the topics covered in the module.
an ability to solve problems based on the lecture material.
an ability to build mathematical models of physical systems.
an increased interest in exploring and understanding the physical world.
a competence in using some of the standard equipment in physics laboratories.
an appreciation of uncertainty analysis in experimental work.
an ability to model a real-world problem using physical concepts.
experience of working in small groups to solve technical problems.

The Physics of Sustainable Energy PH1013 (20 credits)

This module introduces some of the fundamental physics of energy sustainability, covering energy-related calculations (efficiency, losses, thermodynamic factors), fundamental understanding of low carbon energy technologies (such as solar electricity generation, thermal, wind and nuclear), their economic and environmental impact (life cycle assessment), energy storage and anticipated future developments such as sustainable buildings and sustainable transport. The course will also briefly cover energy economics (energy demand, supply, cost/benefit analysis of low carbon technologies).

Upon successful completion of this module, students should be able to:

Apply principles of physics to evaluate the efficiency limits of several low-carbon technologies and identify what kinds of renewable energy and storage is good for homes in developed vs developing countries.
Explain the fundamental physics behind several low-carbon technologies.
Compare and contrast the merits and drawbacks of renewables over fossil fuels.
Demonstrate transferrable research and presentation skills in the context of the physics of sustainability.

Physics Skills 1B PH1503 (20 credits)

This module aims to develop problem solving and communication skills that are essential for progression to more complex challenges. The module is aimed to directly support students enrolled in PH1012 and access to this module requires Head of School or Director of Teaching approval.

PH1503 will be delivered via a combination of taught material, workshop-style tutorials, practical activities and self-study assignments. Students who successfully complete the module, should

be able to manage their own learning and understand the requirements of academic integrity.
be able to critically reflect and evaluate personal progress.
develop a portfolio of work to highlight the adoption and integration of good study habits.
approach problem solving in a structured way and become confident in applying knowledge to familiar and unfamiliar problems.
foster an appreciation of the interplay between different areas of physics and independently pursue topics that are of particular interest.
be developing skills in learning from and critically evaluating textual material.
be developing skills in science communication including presenting work using written and oral media.

Astronomy & Astrophysics 1 – AS1001 (20 credits)

This module provides an elementary understanding of the structure of the observable universe and our position within it. The physical content of the universe, its structures and their mutual interactions, are explored. It is shown how the properties of planets, stars, galaxies, etc may be determined from observations coupled with theoretical models based on physical principles. The module comprises four 10-lecture courses on The Solar System, Stars and Elementary Astrophysics, The Milky Way Galaxy, and Cosmology.

By the end of this module, students will have gained

an understanding of the structure and evolution of the physical universe from the solar system, through the galaxy, to the large-scale distribution of galaxies and the origin of the universe,
an ability to calculate astrophysical properties of planets, stars and galaxies from basic physical and mathematical models and simplified data.

Astrophysics (Direct Entry) – AS1101 (5 credits)

This is a condensed version of AS1001 that is available for accelerated-entry astrophysics students before taking level two astrophysics in the following semester.

Recommended books for 1000-level Physics and Astronomy

Some books are available as e-books to registered students.

All students may wish to read Learn How to Study (3rd edition), by D Rowntree (Macdonald 1998) which provides training in study techniques.

Physics 1A and 1B PH1011 and PH1012

The recommended textbook is: Halliday and Resnick's Fundamentals of Physics, 12th Edition, Extended Edition, by J Walker.
This is available as an e-book and hard copies of various editions of the core text-book are available in the library.

Other texts that students may also wish to consult are:

Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach with Modern Physics, R D Knight, Pearson, 2014, available as a library ebook.
Understanding Physics, 1st Edition by K Cummings, PW Laws, E F Redish, P J Cooney, Wiley, 2004.
Sears and Zemansky's University Physics by H D Young and R A Freedman (12th edition, Addison-Wesley 2008 or other edition).
Physics for Scientists and Engineers by P A Tipler and G P Mosca (6th edition, Freeman 2008).
Measurements and their Uncertainties: A Practical Guide to Modern Error Analysis by I G Hughes and T P A Hase, Oxford, 2010. This is available through the library as an ebook.
Understanding Lasers by J Hecht, (3rd Edition, IEEE Press 2008). This is additional possible reading for the lasers course, though we do not recommend purchase; there are multiple copies in the library.

The Physics of Sustainable Energy PH1013

Useful reading for PH1013 is

Energy For Sustainability, J Randolph and G M Masters, 2nd edition, Island Press, 2018 (available as a library ebook).
Energy Systems and Sustainability: Power for a Sustainable Future, B Everett, S Peake, J Warren eds, 3rd edition, Oxford 2021 (print copies available in the library).
Fundamentals of materials for energy and environmental sustainability, D S Ginley and D Cahen eds, Cambridge, 2012 (available as a library ebook).
Sustainable Energy – without the hot air, D J C MacKay, Bloomsbury/UIT Cambridge, 2008 (print copies available in the library, freely available electronic version at https://www.withouthotair.com).
Advances in Sustainable Energy, A Vasel and D S-K Ting eds, Springer, 2019 (available as a library ebook).
Renewable Energy and Sustainability, I Khan ed, Elsevier, 2022 (available as a library ebook).
Global Sustainability, Md F Hossain, Springer 2023 (available as a library ebook).

Astronomy & Astrophysics AS1001 and AS1101

The recommended books for this module are

Astronomy – a Physical Perspective by M L Kutner (CUP 2003).
Cosmic Perspective, by J O Bennett.

Both are available as an e-book via hard copy on loan in the library.

Tutorials and Workshops

Workshops and tutorials allow you to develop your problem-solving skills working with the lecture content. Some workshops and tutorials are run with a primary focus of developing specified relevant academic skills.

For Physics 1A/1B and AS1001 each student will typically attend one small-group tutorial per week. These sessions are hosted by a designated tutor and allow students to work through assigned problems and ask specific questions about the lecture material. AS1101 runs a total of four tutorials throughout the semester.

PH1011 and PH1012 workshops are whole-class sessions led by one of the module lecturers.

Practical Work

Physics

The aims of first level practical work in physics are

to allow an exploration of relevant physics,
to illustrate the subject matter covered in the lectures,
to introduce students to some of the modern equipment that is used in physics laboratories,
to teach the principles of precision and accuracy and methods of uncertainty propagation,
to teach the principles of experimental techniques and methods of analysis underlying experimental procedures.

PH1011 has nine required lab sessions during the semester (one 2½ hours session per week starting in week 2). Students will also complete a self-study Maths exercise at the start of the semester. It is anticipated that lab work covered should require less than 4-5 hours per week in total.

To make best use of lab sessions, you should use time beforehand to familiarise yourself with each activity?s material, including attempting pre-lab assignments. Time afterwards should be used for post-lab assignments, data analysis, and completing experiment records.

PH1012 students will attend ten lab sessions (one 2½ hours session per week starting in week 2), that will focus on developing experimental skills. Toward the end of semester, experimental work will focus on problem solving and group-work skills. As with PH1011, timetabled lab time is used for experimental work, and time before and after will be used for pre- and post-lab assignments.

See the course Moodle pages for a detailed description of the arrangements for laboratory related work.

Astronomy & Astrophysics

The aim of practical work is to teach the acquisition and analysis of astronomical data through simple observations, exercises, and computer simulations. Students will gain an appreciation of the physical properties of objects in the universe, e.g., planetary motions, masses and temperatures of stars, distances to stars and galaxies, and the age of the universe.

AS1001 has six lab afternoons in the semester, AS1101 has two. These laboratory sessions are 2½ hours long. AS1001 students work individually, in pairs, or in small groups at their own pace on experiments selected from a range which may cover planetary motions, radiation laws, properties of the Sun and of the stars, the distribution of stars and galaxies in space, and the expansion of the Universe. AS1101 lab sessions focus on galaxies and cosmology, and the development of programming skills.

Monitoring and Assessment

The progress of students taking each module will be monitored in different ways.

Physics 1A and Physics 1B: workshops and tutorials entail some written work, some of which is submitted for feedback, as well as a class test in the middle of the semester. Lab work be will also be submitted for assessment throughout semester. Physics 1B also includes a group project.
Astronomy and Astrophysics 1 has two class tests during the semester, intended to focus attention on material covered in recent lectures. Students will also routinely complete online-quizzes, some of which will form part of the assessment. Those taking AS1101 have a class test, a take-home exam, and online quizzes. Lab work be will also be submitted for assessment.
AS1001, PH1011, PH1012 and PH1013 all have examinations consisting of one written paper of two hours at the end of the semester. Students are required to answer all questions given in the exam papers.
Students will receive a final module grade based on a 20 point grading scale. Details of the percentage to 20-point conversion may be found later in this handbook in section "The 0–20 grading scale – pre-honours".
Note that there are additional conditions on the performance in individual elements: not meeting these requirements will normally result in a grade of 0X for the module, which means failing with no right to re-assessment.
Also for modules which have an exam, at least grade 7.0 in the exam itself is required to pass the module. Attaining less than a grade 2.0 in the final exam will normally result in a grade of 0X for the module, which means no right to re-assessment.

Overall grades for the modules are determined according to the formulae below.

PH1011	60% examination, 10% class test, 5% lecture engagement, 25% labs
	(Reassessment 100% Exam)
	Must achieve at least grade 7.0 in the laboratory work.
PH1012	50% exam, 25% labs, 15% Group Discovery Project, 10% class test
	(Reassessment 100% Exam)
	Must achieve at least grade 7.0 in the laboratory work.
PH1013	60% examination, 40% coursework
	(Re-assessment 100% Exam)
PH1503	100% continuous assessment
	Problem-solving and study skills exercises (60%), practical work (20%), poster development and presentation (20%),
	(Reassessment 60% new assignments, 40% carried through from semester)
	Must complete and submit to an adequate standard a minimum of 75% (measured by credit contribution) of the continuously assessed components of the module.
AS1001	60% examination, 15% tests, 25% practical
	(Re-assessment 100% Exam)
	Must achieve at least grade 7.0 in the laboratory work.
AS1101	50% class test, 25% practical, 15% take-home exam, 10% online quizzes
	(Reassessment 100% new class test)
	Must achieve at least grade 7.0 in the laboratory work.
	Must achieve at least grade 7.0 in the class test.

In modules that include an examination component, a student who achieves less than grade 7.0 in the exam but meets the other requirements detailed above will receive a maximum grade of 6.9.

Medals and Prizes

In AS1001, PH1011, PH1012, a medal is awarded to the student with the best performance overall in the assessment. The J F Allen Prize in Physics is awarded to the most outstanding student in PH1011 and PH1012 taken together. The Margaret Stewart Prize is awarded to the student in the module AS1001 who gains the highest grade.

Academic Alerts

The University operates a system of academic alerts, as described in the University handbook, Academic alerts.

The system is designed to help and support students to remedy any problems or issues before these lead to failing a module. Alerts will never appear on a student's permanent transcript. For more information on Academic Alerts and details on how the categories work, see the University's policy on Academic Alerts and the accompanying guidance for students.

Academic Alerts will be issued by email from the School and will tell students what is wrong, what they are required to do and what support the University can offer. Note that a "FINAL" alert will result in a student receiving grade 0X for the module with no right to a resit examination.

In all pre-honours modules in physics and astronomy, attendance at all classes (lectures, tutorials, workshops, and any specified practical work) is strongly recommended and in some cases is a requirement.

In 1000-level modules in this School, to avoid a FINAL alert, a student must:

For tutorials in PH1011, PH1012 and AS1001 attend a minimum of 75% of tutorials.
For tutorials in PH1011 and PH1012 hand in, on time, a serious attempt at the specified hand-in questions for a minimum of 75% of the tutorials.
For tutorials in AS1001 attempt the Moodle tutorial quizzes for at least 75% of tutorials.
For PH1011, PH1012 and AS1001 attend a minimum of 75% of the required laboratory sessions, and achieve a grade of at least 7.0 overall for the laboratory work.
For all Physics (PH) modules, attend a minimum of 75% of the workshops, and in the case of Physics 1B, 50% of the scheduled group-project sessions.
For all modules with examinations, achieve a grade of at least 2.0 in the final examination. This includes the case of students who fail to attend the examination without a satisfactory reason.
For AS1101 attain at least grade 7.0 in the lab work.
For AS1101 attain at least grade 2.0 in the class test.
For PH1503 submit, on time, a serious attempt at 75% of the continuous assessment.
For PH1013 attain at least a grade 7.0 in the project work.

Any justifiable reasons for absence from tutorials, workshops, labs, tests and exams should be presented by a self-certificate of absence (see University student handbook: Self-certification). In such cases students should also immediately contact the member of staff concerned to arrange how and when the missed work should be undertaken. Late justifications of missing work will be accepted only where an extension request has been granted.

Progression

Students are normally expected to gain at least grade 7.0 in all level-one modules for progression to 2000-level.

Grade 7.0 does not indicate mastery of the material, and we expect our students to be aiming for a much higher grade than this. Knowledge and skills developed and practised in first year are the foundations for second year in this School.