Physics and Astrophysics Undergraduate Programmes for 2020 Entry 2020 Entry | Page 9

PHYSICS AND ASTROPHYSICS | 9
Combined Honours Physics First Year
Your current studies will give you a basic introduction to some of the central themes of Physics. These are
reinforced and developed by some of our first-year modules. You will also meet several new concepts.
Essential mathematics and computing are taught within the course,
so prior study of them at A-level is, while certainly beneficial, not a
requirement. Approximately 20% of lectures (and assessment) in the first
year modules are devoted to maths, beginning with differentiation and
working through to multivariable calculus, with an emphasis on Physics
applications. Practical labs contain work to develop computer and IT
skills, including basic programming.
Each week there are four/five 1-hour lectures in Physics; one 3-hour
laboratory class; one 1-hour tutorial in mathematical methods; and
one 2-hour problem class in which you apply the material covered in
lectures. All of these are delivered by members of the academic staff.
Postgraduate demonstrators provide additional support in the labs,
tutorials and problem classes.
Indicative Year 1 modules are:
Semester 1
Mechanics, Gravity and Relativity gives a calculus-based development of classical
mechanics, Kepler’s laws and Newtonian gravitation, and Einstein’s Special Theory
of Relativity.
2 hours lecture
per week
Nature of Matter demonstrates that, while classical physics provides an adequate description 2 hours lecture
of the behaviour of matter under familiar, “everyday” circumstances, a quantum treatment is
per week
necessary for a more complete understanding.
Semester
Mathematics for Physics (lectures and tutorials) 2 hours
per week
Laboratory (including computing) 3 hours
per week
Problem Classes supporting the Physics modules 2 hours
per week
Oscillations and Waves occur in virtually every branch of Physics, in the form of light and
sound waves, oscillations of bridges and of atoms in crystals, resonance in mechanical
systems and electrical circuits, quantum-mechanical waves, etc. 2 hours lecture
per week
Electricity and Magnetism will expand your study of the static and dynamic aspects of
electricity, magnetism and their related fields. The transient and steady-state responses of
electrical networks are examined in lectures and in laboratory experiments. 2 hours lecture
per week
1 & 2
Semester 2
PHYSICS EXTERNAL EXAMINER, 2017
“I was extremely impressed to see the
data analysis module in year 3 - which
provided some very interesting and
original ideas. It is unusual to see a
module of this kind delivered at a high
level in an undergraduate degree”.
keele.ac.uk/physics