Appendix B: Syllabuses of 1000-level modules
This list of module offerings is for illustrative purposes only and does not constitute a guarantee of the specific modules or module content to be offered in future years.
PH1011 Physics 1A
Mechanics I (10 lectures) Dr Helen Cammack
Kinematics: Vectors and scalars. Motion with constant acceleration in a straight line and in two dimensions. Motion under gravity. Calculation of projectile trajectories, including maximum height, time of flight, range etc.
Dynamics: Newton's laws of motion, force, mass, and acceleration, inertial reference frames. Work and energy, including potential energy, kinetic energy, and energy conservation.
Momentum: conservation of momentum in the absence of external forces, impulse of a force.
Waves and Optics (14 lectures) Dr Bruce Sinclair
What is Light? Ideas of waves and particles, and how light is generated.
Ray Optics: Snell's law, and the use of a lens for imaging. Thin lens formula.
Oscillations: SHM of spring. Velocity, acceleration and phase, for mechanical oscillations. Extension to a pendulum. Relation between SHM and circular motion. Energy in SHM. Tuning fork and other resonators.
Travelling Waves: Transverse and longitudinal travelling waves, and connection with oscillations. Sound waves, waves on strings, Electromagnetic waves. Transverse velocity and acceleration. Energy carried by a wave. Doppler effect for sound, extended to light. Superposition, beats, phase change on reflection.
Standing Waves: Standing waves on strings. Nodes and antinodes. Resonant wavelengths and frequencies in strings and pipes. The laser resonator.
Wave Optics: Young's slits and two beam interference. Temporal and spatial coherence and its relevance to interference patterns. Michelson interferometer and its use in precision length measurements. Anti-reflection coatings and thin-film interference. Multiple-beam interference. Wavelength separation by diffraction grating.
Properties of Matter (12 lectures) Dr Janet Lovett
Atomic basis of matter: Atoms and molecules, Dalton's and Avogadro's hypotheses, atomic weight, the mole, Avogadro's number.
Nature of atoms: charge quantisation, measurement of e and e/m for electrons. Behaviour of charged particles in electric and magnetic fields.
The nucleus: radioactivity, α, β and γ rays, exponential decay, half life, nuclear size. Isotopes, radioactive series. Protons and neutrons.
Thermal physics and kinetic theory: Temperature scales and the gas laws. Evidence for and assumptions of simple kinetic theory. Derivation of pressure formula. Molecular speeds and kinetic energy. Thermal conductivity, convection and radiation.
The condensed state: Estimates of atomic size and spacing. Interatomic forces. Elasticity: stress, strain, Hooke's law, Young's modulus, stored energy. Electrical conduction in solids. Drift velocity, Hall effect.
Laboratory work and maths revision Dr Cameron Rae
Develop core laboratory skills in data gathering, uncertainty analysis, and diagnostic instrumentation while exploring aspects of physics in a practical manner.
PH1012 Physics 1B
Mechanics II (11 lectures) Dr Lucy Hadfield
Circular motion: uniform circular motion, angular velocity, angular acceleration, centripetal acceleration Newton's laws of motion in angular form.
Newton's universal law of gravity: Analysis of satellite orbits, escape velocity, gravitational potential energy.
Rigid Bodies: Centre of mass, torque.
Quantum Phenomena (16 lectures) Prof Steve Lee
Early quantum ideas: Photoelectric effect and Compton effect. Rutherford's and Bohr's models of the atom. Spectral lines, Rydberg constant.
Energy levels: Atomic spectra.
De-Broglie's matter waves: Diffraction of electrons, neutrons, etc. Wave function, probability and uncertainty. Heisenberg's uncertainty principle.
Schrödinger’s Equation: Introduction and examples of its applications.
Selected topics from modern quantum science: Quantum technology and Bose-Einstein condensates.
Lasers and Optoelectronics (6 lectures) Dr Pavlos Manousiadis
Lasers: Introductory overview on lasers and their applications. Basic energy level structures for laser-related media. Einstein A, B coefficients, gain coefficient, laser threshold conditions. Laser oscillator and amplifiers. Properties of laser radiation and important types of laser gain media. Some applications of lasers in science, engineering and medicine.
Group Discovery Project (9 lectures equivalent)
In small groups, students will explore a real-world problem applying and extend their knowledge of physics. Groups will work self-guided with introductory whole-class sessions and individual group facilitator sessions to review and aid their progress. At the end of the project each group will submit a written report.
Laboratory work Dr Cameron Rae
Explore aspects of physics in a practical manner, broaden competence in experimental and diagnostic instrumentation, and take part in problem-based-learning laboratory group work.
PH1013 The Physics of Sustainable Energy
Dr Lethy Krishnan Jagadamma and Dr Jean-Charles Ribierre
Introduction and historical perspectives, fundamentals of energy science (energy arithmetic, units and forms), first and second laws of thermodynamics and their relevance to this context.
Energy sources and sustainability, roadmaps to sustainable energy and energy efficiency analysis.
Economic and environmental analysis of energy systems.
Solar energy: solar spectrum, photovoltaics, performance estimation, efficiency limits, economics.
Ocean renewable energy: tidal and wave power, thermal/salinity gradient energy and the current state of ocean renewable energy.
Nuclear energy: fission and fusion, waste and disposal considerations; wind energy.
Waste to energy and energy storage.
Smart buildings: efficiency, heat loss calculations; energy efficient buildings.
Sustainable transportation, energy policy.
Presentation preparation on assigned topics.
PH1503 Physics Skills 1B
Dr Lucy Hadfield et al
Study Skills: An introductory overview of general study skills including time management, study and note taking, literature retrieval and evaluation, critical reading, effective revision skills, personal development and reflective feedback.
Physics skills: Including unit conversion, estimating and order of magnitude calculations, dimensional analysis, scientific writing, planning and execution of practical work.
Physics in context: General problem-solving in physics, numerical and analytical reasoning.
AS1001 Astronomy & Astrophysics 1
The Solar System (10 lectures) Dr Rowan Smith
Brief historical introduction including basic observations and the calendar, leading to Kepler's laws of planetary motion and Newton's law of gravitation. Modern exploration of the Solar System and the study of the physical properties of the planets and their satellites – interior structure, atmosphere and climate, magnetospheres and interactions with the solar wind; physical properties of comets, meteors. The atmosphere of the Sun – photosphere, chromosphere, corona and the solar wind. Origin of the Solar System.
Stars and Elementary Astrophysics (10 lectures) Prof Ian Bonnell
Astronomical observations. Telescopes: optical, radio, space. Stellar brightness, apparent and absolute magnitudes, distances, inverse square law. Colours of the stars, black body radiation laws and temperature. Spectra from astronomical sources; Kirchhoff's laws for continuous, emission and absorption spectra. Spectral classification; excitation and ionisation; determination of stellar compositions. Distribution of stellar parameters; the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram. Stellar motions: Doppler effect, radial velocity, redshifts; proper motion. Binary stars for masses, radii, luminosities.
The Galaxy (10 lectures) Dr Claudia Cyganowski
The main-sequence mass-luminosity relationship. Star clusters, their colour-magnitude diagrams, and distances via main-sequence fitting. Effects of interstellar extinction. Spatial distribution of star clusters, differences in chemical composition. Outline of stellar evolution from formation through to end states of white dwarfs, neutron stars and black holes. Mass loss from stars, supernovae. The interstellar medium. Structure of the Galaxy – population groups, spiral structure, rotation curve.
Cosmology (10 lectures) Dr Rita Tojeiro
A preview of the universe. The extragalactic nebulae (galaxies). The determination of extragalactic distances. Types of galaxies. The Hubble classification. Properties of galaxies – sizes, masses, spectra and luminosities. The distribution of galaxies in space – clusters and superclusters. The red-shift–distance relation. Hubble's law. The expansion of the universe. The age of the universe. The Big Bang origin of the universe. A critical density for expansion and contraction. The evolution of the universe.
Practical Work
AS1101 Astrophysics (Direct Entry)
Dr Anne-Marie Weijmans
This module provides a streamlined (condensed) introduction to the science of astrophysics for students who have taken direct entry to Second level and who are planning to take level two astrophysics in the second semester of the same academic year. We will cover the essential items of observational astrophysics, and how radiation that we detect on Earth can be used to develop physical models of planets, stars, the Milky Way, other galaxies, and the Universe as a whole. Topics will include stellar evolution, composition and dynamics of galaxies, black holes, the need for dark matter, the expanding Universe, and the discovery of dark energy.