PH32018: Self-directed learning
[Page last updated: 23 April 2025]
| Academic Year: | 2025/26 |
| Owning Department/School: | Department of Physics |
| Credits: | 5 [equivalent to 10 CATS credits] |
| Notional Study Hours: | 100 |
| Level: | Honours (FHEQ level 6) |
| Period: |
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| Assessment Summary: | EXOB 100% |
| Assessment Detail: |
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| Supplementary Assessment: |
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| Requisites: | |
| Learning Outcomes: |
After taking this unit the student should be able to:
write down the essential results and formulae of special relativity;
describe important experiments (real or thought) in special relativity;
solve simple kinematic and dynamical special relativity problems;
describe the characteristics of the fundamental forces, and quote and use conservation laws to determine allowed particle reactions;
discuss binding in nuclei and explain the energetics and mechanisms of radioactive decay;
describe the physical processes involved in fission and fusion reactions and in stellar nucleosynthesis;
analyse the resonant response of driven simple harmonic oscillators;
use systematic analysis methods to calculate currents and voltages in passive dc circuits;
calculate the amplitude and phase of voltages and currents in ac circuits by means of phasor analysis;
analyse simple operational amplifier circuits from first principles;
qualitatively describe both transient and steady-state responses of simple LCR circuits. |
| Synopsis: | This unit builds on the core physics you studied in Years 1 and 2, extending it to other topics, such as particle and nuclear physics, special relativity and astrophysics. As well as providing you with the foundations for a wider range of optional final year physics units, this unit also develops your key transferable skills, in particular your capacity for independent learning. |
| Content: | This unit covers core Physics material in years 1 and 2 that Mathematics & Physics students do not take. The material covered consists of Special Relativity and Electric Circuits (part of PH12005 Dynamics & Astrophysics) and Particles & Nuclei (part of PH22009 Further Physics: from neutrinos to black holes). The detailed content of each of these may be found in the relevant unit descriptions.
This unit is not lectured. Students are provided with course material that forms the basis of their learning. There are weekly tutorials to provide academic support. |
| Course availability: |
PH32018 is Compulsory on the following courses:Department of Physics
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Notes:
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