Module FOUN0347: INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICS

Department: Foundation Year [Queen's Campus, Stockton]

FOUN0347: INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICS

Prerequisites

• None.

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To: encourage students to develop confidence in their own abilities in a science subject.
• introduce and develop understanding of some basic physics concepts.
• develop students' ability to apply physics concepts to problem solving.

Content

• Electricity and Circuits - charge, current, potential, difference, resistance, Ohm's Law, energy and power in d.c.
• circuits.
• Heat Transfer - conduction, convection, radiation.
• Energy - forms of energy, work, conservation of energy, kinetic energy, potential energy and efficiency of processes.
• Waves - longitudinal and transverse - relation between velocity, frequency, wavelength, Electromagnetic Spectrum, reflection and refraction, Sound, Ultrasonic and Seismic waves.
• Atomic Structure, Isotopes, radio-activity and half-life, nuclear fission.
• Introduction to Forces.

Learning Outcomes

• By the end of this module the student will have acquired the knowledge to be able to:
• describe the basic concepts involved in energy, heat transfer, electricity, forces, waves and atomic structure.

• By the end of this module the student will have acquired the skills to be able to:
• apply physics concepts to solve problems involving energy, heat transfer, electricity, forces, waves and atomic structure.

• By the end of the module the students will:
• be able to communicate effectively in writing
• be able to apply number both in the tackling of numerical problems and in the collecting, recording, interpreting and presenting of data
• be able to demonstrate problem solving skills

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Theory, initial concepts and techniques will be introduced during lectures and demonstrations.
• Much of the learning, understanding and consolidation will take place through the use of structured worksheets during tutorials and students own time.
• Knowledge and understanding of concepts will be assessed by a written report.
• Knowledge and ability to use and apply concepts will be tested by an end of module test.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Students will be given self testing units on a weekly basis.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University