PY1P10

Module PY1P10 Physics

Cohort: JF Science (Physics), JF Nanoscience, Physics and Chemistry of Advanced Materials, JF Chemistry with Molecular Modelling

Credits: 10

What is Physics?

Lecturers: Professors J. Lunney, E.C. Finch

Duration: Michaelmas Term 3 lectures

Description:
An introduction to the School of Physics and the subject.

The Physics of Motion

Lecturers: Professor M. Ferreira

Duration: Michaelmas Term 18 lectures

Description:
Kinematics: velocity, acceleration, representation of motion through graphs, projectile motion, circular motion;
Statics: forces, torque, equilibrium;
Dynamics: Force-motion relations, Newton's laws, work, energy, linear and angular momenta, impulse, collisions, conservation laws.

Hearing and Seeing

Lecturers: Professor L. Bradley

Duration: Michaelmas Term 18 lectures

Description:
Resonance, harmonic oscillators, SHM, frequency.
Waves: standing, travelling, wavelength, wave velocity.
Sound: music, vibrations of a string and of a column of air, harmonics, Doppler effect.
Light: Rayleigh scattering, refraction, reflection, dispersion, index of refraction, polarization, polarized reflection, Malus' law, birefringence, total internal reflection, colour vision, gas discharges, lasers.
Optics: refracting optics, lenses, real images, focus, focal length,
f-numbers, lens equation, cameras, reflecting optics, curved mirrors, telescopes.
Interference: superposition of waves, beating, 2 beam interference, anti-reflection coating.
Diffraction: Huygen's principle, diffraction by a slit and grating, X-ray diffraction.

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Lecturers: Professor T. Ray

Duration: Michaelmas Term 9 lectures

Description:
Denizens of our solar system; making stars and planets; creating the elements; the case of the missing matter.

Lecture Notes:
Notes for this course are available on Blackboard.