School of Chemical and Physical Sciences brochures Physics Astrophysics brochure 2019 | Page 12

12 | PHYSICS AND ASTROPHYSICS
Combined Honours Physics Second Year
In your second year you continue with the study of core Physics.
Each week there are four 1-hour lectures, 1-hour lecture in Mathematics
for Physics, plus one 3-hour laboratory class and one 3-hour problem
class, all led by members of the academic staff.
Laboratory classes in the first semester support lectures in Optics; in
the second semester, students work in pairs on short investigations
into electronic sensors and instruments, and carry out a mini project in
instrumentation and measurement.
Indicative Year 1 modules are:
Semester 1
Semester
Optics and Thermodynamics considers the wave nature of radiation and the laws
governing the transfer of heat and entropy in macroscopic systems. You will study
polarisation and birefringence, interference and diffraction (including Fourier methods and
analysis), basic optical systems (including the Michelson-Morley interferometer), heat
capacities, work, internal and free energies, changes of state and entropy. 2 hours lecture
Quantum Mechanics gives an introduction to the fundamental methods of quantum
physics, the Schrödinger equation and its applications including the structure of the
hydrogen atom, emission and absorption spectra, electron spin, angular momentum,
magnetic moments, and aspects of multi-electron atoms. 2 hours lecture
per week
Mathematics for Physics 1 hour lecture
per week
Laboratory 3 hours per week
Problem Classes supporting the Physics modules. 3 hours per week
1 & 2
Semester 2
per week
Statistical Mechanics and Solid State Physics develops key statistical topics in Physics 2 hours lecture
such as bosons, fermions, phonon and photon gases and blackbody radiation, and
per week
explores how these relate to thermodynamics and the structure of solids.
Nuclear and Particle Physics is divided into four main topics: nuclear models and the
strong force; radioactive decay and the weak force; nuclear reactions; and a brief study
of elementary particles, including quarks and gauge bosons, and the use of Feynman
diagrams to describe and analyse their interactions.
keele.ac.uk/physics
2 hours lecture
per week