PX2233: Intermediate Practical Physics 2

School Cardiff School of Physics & Astronomy
Department Code PHYSX
Module Code PX2233
External Subject Code 100425
Number of Credits 10
Level L5
Language of Delivery English
Module Leader Dr David Westwood
Semester Spring Semester
Academic Year 2014/5

Outline Description of Module

  • To further develop practical experimental and analytical skills through weekly structured laboratory sessions.
  • To provide experience of performing (short) open ended “projects” and so provide the necessary skills to undertake extended third or fourth-year practical physics projects.
  • To further develop skills relating to the written communication of scientific information.
  • Through select experiments to reinforce important physics concepts.

On completion of the module a student should be able to

  • Demonstrate their practical ability (working in pairs where possible) to manage and conduct a range of experiments or “projects” in four-hour weekly laboratory sessions.
  • Demonstrate awareness of safety issues for example through writing risk assessments.
  • Define, plan and execute (making good use of time management skills) at least one open ended “project” and scientifically (i.e. critically) analyse the acquired data in order to extract relevant physical quantities and meaning.
  • Write assessed formal reports, in a scientific style, based on one or more of the experiments or “projects” conducted during the semester.

How the module will be delivered

Laboratories 11 x 4 hrs.  Marked diaries and reports.

Skills that will be practised and developed

Practical skills. Communications skills. Personal skills. Investigative skills. Computing skills. Analytical skills. Ethical behaviour.

How the module will be assessed

Coursework 100%.

Assessment Breakdown

Type % Title Duration(hrs)
Written Assessment 100 Intermediate Practical Physics Ii N/A

Syllabus content

Experiments and “projects” of one or two sessions in duration (subject to change):

X-ray absorption (project)
X-ray fluorescence (project)
Electron spin resonance
Nuclear magnetic resonance
The Normal Zeeman effect
Silicon pn diodes and photodiodes
Helmholtz pairs: uniform magnetic fields
Magnetic hysteresis and magnetic circuits (project)
Vapour pressure of nitrogen
Band gap of a semiconductor
Measurement of G
Normal modes in an acoustic resonant chamber (project)
Precession of a Gyroscope
Torsion pendulum (project)
Vibrations of a classical guitar (project)
Refraction and dispersion in transparent solids
Optical reflection (and Fresnel’s equations)
Resonance behaviour of an LCR circuit

Essential Reading and Resource List

Not applicable.

Background Reading and Resource List

Practical Physics, G L Squires (Cambridge).


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