Programme/Approved Electives for 2023/24
None
Available as a Free Standing Elective
No
Physics is a subject that underpins the technological developments and scientific discoveries that we see in the news on a daily basis. In this module you will learn about several advances in modern-day physics that have lead to ground-breaking discoveries or technologies (e.g. gravitational waves, graphene). You will write a report on one of these, that intends to inform and teach your fellow students about the physics (or astrophysics) background behind that breakthrough. The aim is to employ the physics and mathematics techniques you have already learned to gain a fuller appreciation and understanding of these developments and to learn how to engage with scientific literature in order to gain that knowledge yourself.
Aims
The aim of this module is to introduce students to the concepts underlying new applications of physics/astrophysics in important scientific areas and in emerging industries, that will (or may) play a significant role in the 21st century. Students will engage with ground-breaking research and technological advances and adopt a synoptic approach, where physics that has been learned over the course of the first two years of their course and across several modules, will be deployed to describe, explain and perform calculations (at a level appropriate for an FHEQ Level 5 Physics/Astrophysics student) on these contemporary topics.The curriculum will not be fixed. The topics to be covered will be reviewed on a bi-annual basis in order to include topics of contemporary interest and to cover cutting-edge breakthroughs in physics, astrophysics and their applications.Students will develop their competencies in communicating science and in applying their existing knowledge to solve problems. Students will engage in independent learning and research in order to learn new physics and mathematics that will enable them to better interpret scientific developments and to communicate these at a level appropriate to undergraduate physicists.
Talis Aspire Reading ListAny reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/phy-20033/lists
Intended Learning Outcomes
20 x 1-hour lectures2 x 2-hours tutorials/problem classes4 x 1-hour for introduction, supervision and feedback on written assignment(s) and ethical issues50 hours research and preparation of the report72 hours private study
Description of Module Assessment
1: Class Test weighted 30%Class Test (75 minutes during the semester)One topic covered during the course will be assessed by a class test during the semester. The test will consist of compulsory questions - that are a mix of description and calculation.
2: Report weighted 40%1500-2000 word reportStudents will write a 1500- to 2000-word report that is intended to describe the significance, and the physics behind, a recent development in applied physics or astrophysics. The report is to be written in such a way that it could be used as the lecture notes to accompany the teaching of the topic to FHEQ Level 5 students.
3: Report weighted 30%Written assignment covering one of the taught topicsOne of the taught topics will be assessed via a written assignment covering that topic. An indicate assignment for renewable energy is to write a renewable energy report for a given region or country. Length of the report is expected to be around 1000 words. Students will be required to perform calculations and make approximations in the preparation of this report.