Yr3 Physics Laboratory Work (All Year)

PHYS30180 Yr3 Physics Laboratory Work (All Year) 20 Full year Undergraduate Level 3 Michael Keith Unit coordinator Department of Physics & Astronomy 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Last part of a Bachelors ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 10.0 Third Year Laboratory (Core) ClassesLaboratory work is divided into blocks, with three blocks A, B and C in the first semester. Each block spans three weeks and is worth 10 credits. Lab blocks comprise a pre-lab day on the Monday of the first week of the block, and 8 further days in the lab, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9am to 5pm, and two Wednesday mornings (9 am-1 pm), distributed over the three weeks. This is followed by an interview assessment and a written report completed during weeks four and five.    MPhys students usually perform one experiment in each semester. BSc students will usually perform either two experiments in S5, and a dissertation (PHYS30880) during S6, or dissertation and experiment in S5 and an experiment in S6.     Students in some degree programmes (such as Physics with Theoretical Physics) take only one experimental block, as indicated on the programme pages.    Students may express a preference as to which blocks they take. However, the final choice of blocks for each student will be made by the Laboratory Tutor for logistical reasons.    Students will usually work in pairs on their experiment, with at most one student physically present in the laboratory at any time, and will be given a great deal of freedom in the way they perform the experiments, but demonstrators will discuss the experiments with them at the beginning and will be available to assist and advise at all stages. A minimum level of attendance, including participation in remote interactions, is mandatory, as described in more detail on the blackboard pages. AssessmentTo pass this unit, students must obtain 40% overall; and have completed and been assessed in at least one experiment with a mark of 40% or more excluding late penalties, and have submitted at least one report assessed at 40% or more, excluding late penalties. Students in danger of failing due to lab reports or experiments will be notified by the lab tutor during the semester when this becomes apparent, and will be directed to remedial action that needs to be taken. This may include completion of experimental work during the semester at a time consistent with their timetable. Students who are failing at the end of the year due to lab reports may be required to submit reports or other work as directed. Students who are failing at the end of the year due to non-completion of experiments will fail laboratory on work and attendance. Students with mitigating circumstances will be dealt with by the MCC who may vary the above provisions as appropriate. Assessment is comprised of two components.  The first is through a presentation and interview on completion of each experiment. The presentation is made jointly by the student pair. This component will take into account the following: experimental skill and record keeping, the oral presentation, understanding of the relevant physics, quality of the results and the analysis, originality and initiative.    The second component of assessment is through written reports of each experiment. Independent written reports are completed individually by each student and are assessed individually. Each written account must be in word-processed form with strict length limits. The credit split for the interview/report is 70/30.  Dates for interviews and deadlines for written reports will be published well in advance and late penalties will apply.   An appeals procedure exists for the written report. All assessments must be attempted to pass the laboratory course.Late submissions of lab reports: The standard penalties as detailed in Section 10.1 of the Undergraduate Handbook will apply.A3 page limit (A4 using a minimum 11pt text and 2cm margin) fir the report is in force. Penalties will be applied for over-length reports on a sliding scale:• 3 - 3.5 pages – 5 marks deducted • 3.5 - 4 pages – 15 marks deducted • Over 4.5 pages – a mark of zero to be awarded Late interviews  20 marks will be deducted if an interview is not booked by a deadline communicated by the lab tutor. If an interview is not booked by the end of the fifth week, or if students fail to show up for an arranged interview they will be awarded zero. If a student arrives more than 15 minutes late for an interview, the demonstrator may choose to cancel the interview and apply penalties as above.   Please note that you are required to pass the lab (>40%) in order either to progress to year 4 of an MPhys course, or to graduate with an honours BSc. Students who fail lab may be awarded an ordinary BSc degree.   Induction to the Laboratory Course All 3rd year students will attend a presentation by the Laboratory Tutor at the beginning of the year. Full and extensive documentation on the organisation, philosophy and methods of assessment are available on the accompanying blackboard pages.  Safety Awareness Identify hazards associated with apparatus developed by the student him/herself, and undertake a risk assessment. Investigative/Problem Solving Skills (i) Conduct and Initiative (planning, preparation, initiative)    Develop and extend prescribed experimental procedures. (ii) Technical Expertise    Be able to handle sophisticated apparatus with confidence. (iii) Recording and managing data    Keep professional quality records of laboratory work. Use computer aided data acquisition systems as appropriate. Analytical skills (i) Techniques    Critically evaluate the results of an experiment, assess the significance of the experimental results compared to expected outcomes and draw valid conclusions. ii) Evaluation of errors    Describe the sources of random and systematic error, calculate their effects on the results and evaluate ways of reducing the dominant error. Physics knowledge Link the experimental findings to underlying physics in lecture courses, textbooks and scientific journals. Communication skills (i) Oral presentation     Describe an experiment in a formal presentation using visual aids, defending procedures, results and interpretation. (ii) Written presentation     Describe experiments in the style of a scientific paper and/ or in the form of a conference report. 8 Practical skills assessment 100% Feedback will be offered:Verbally by demonstrators in lab sessions,Verbally and in writing by demonstrators when they mark each experiment during the interviewIn writing for all lab reports PHYS20101 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics Pre-Requisite Compulsory PHYS20141 Electromagnetism Pre-Requisite Compulsory PHYS20171 Mathematics of Waves and Fields Pre-Requisite Compulsory PHYS20352 Statistical Mechanics Pre-Requisite Compulsory N Assessment practical exam 2 Practical classes & workshops 160 0 38