Applied Physics
BSc (Hons)

Electricity and Magnetism Electronics

This module introduces students to the fundamental principles of electric and magnetic fields, the basic properties of magnetic materials, the fundamental principles of current electricity, the basic principles of simple AC circuits and their analysis, the fundamental circuit elements of analogue and digital electric circuits and to provide a brief introduction to a range of basic optoelectronic devices and their uses.

Environmental Physics and Nanotechnology

This module introduces students to the greenhouse effect and the factors contributing to it, to the Physics of global warming, to energy resources, and to the features of environmental monitoring with particular reference to remote sensing. It also provides an introduction to nanotechnology.

Heat and Thermodynamics Matter and Materials

This module introduces students to the fundamentals of thermodynamics up to the second law and to the properties of aggregates of particles as gases, solids and liquids.

Mathematical Methods 1: Computing

This module introduces students to algebra, trigonometry, vectors, series, complex numbers, and calculus with emphasis on the application to descriptions in physics and the modelling and analysis of physical processes. It introduces statistics with particular reference to the handling of data and the use of computer programming via R package for statistics analysis and Octave for data analysis and handling as well as plotting.

Particles, Waves and Quanta

This module introduces students to the fundamental wave and particle properties, the laws of classical mechanics, kinematics and statics, special relativity, and the foundations of quantum mechanics.

Practical Physics (Experimental Techniques, Data Measurement and Analysis)

This module introduces students to the fundamentals of experimental work in physics including keeping adequate records and writing experimental reports. It also illustrates selected parts of the Level 4 syllabus via experimental investigations, as well as the determination of fundamental physical constants and metrology. It also introduces students to experimental techniques via visits to research laboratories.

Atomic and Nuclear Physics

This module introduces students to the fundamental properties of atoms and nuclei and to understand how individual quantum numbers arise in the treatment of the hydrogen atom and the extension to hydrogen-like systems. It also introduces nuclear size, mass and decay modes.

Please note: you will need to have attended 'Practical Physics (Experimental Techniques, Data Measurement and Analysis)' and 'Particles, Waves and Quanta' in order to study this module.

Biomechanics and Medical Physics

This module aims to provide students with an understanding of the fundamental experimental aspects of Biomechanics, and radiation and imaging aspects of Medical Physics. The module will deepen students’ knowledge of how to apply classical mechanics to the study of the structure and function of biological systems, such as humans, and ability to process and analyse biomechanical data. The students will gain knowledge and understanding of the uses and effects of radiation in medical physics and of the fundamental principles of medical imaging.

Electromagnetism Electronics, Metrology and Standards

This module introduces students to applying differential vector calculus in the context of electromagnetism and Maxwell’s equations and to analyse the features of a range of AC bridges and their use. It also introduces the main features of a number of analogue and digital circuits and explores their utility with particular reference to signal conditioning. The principal features of the establishment of standards and metrology are also introduced.

Please note: you will need to have attended 'Electricity & Magnetism Electronics' in order to study this module.

Mathematical Methods 2: Advanced Computing and Statistical Mechanics

This module introduces students to coordinate geometry, advanced vector calculus, matrix algebra, and advanced methods to solve differential equations. It also introduces the fundamental concepts of statistical mechanics and advanced programming using Octave and Python.

Please note: you will need to have attended 'Mathematical Methods 1: Computing' in order to study this module.

Practical Physics 2: Instrumentation and Monitoring – Effects and techniques

This module aims to support students to develop good experimental skills, appropriate knowledge acquisition and analytical technique, and teamwork skills within the context of the set experiments. It also aims to build upon the visits undertaken in 'Practical Physics (Experimental Techniques, Data Measurement and Analysis)' to gain a detailed understanding of a range of experimental techniques, the context in which they may be employed and the characteristics of experimental design including the importance of health and safety.

Please note: you will need to have attended 'Practical Physics (Experimental Techniques, Data Measurement and Analysis)' in order to study this module.

Solid State Physics: Optics

This module aims to establish a foundation in basic crystallography and to introduce the main features of the phonon and electron description of solids. It also introduces the main features of geometrical optics and interferometry, lasers and electro-optic devices.

Please note: you will need to have attended 'Practical Physics (Experimental Techniques, Data Measurement and Analysis),' 'Particles, Waves and Quanta' and 'Heat and Thermodynamics Matter and Materials' in order to study this module.

3D Manufacturing

This module aims to provide students with an understanding of the principles of 3D manufacturing including solid freeform and additive techniques (3D printing) and its applications in engineering (constructions and archaeology), biophysics (tissue engineering), and electronics (3D integrated circuit construction).

Acoustics

This module aims to provide students with an understanding of mechanical waves, propagation of acoustic waves in liquids and solids, acoustic lenses and mirrors, acoustic fields and the applications of these concepts to noise control, room acoustics, human ear, and underwater acoustics ultrasonic imaging.

Biomechanics

This module aims to provide students with an understanding of a breadth of computer based modelling techniques, development, implementation and evaluation of models for tissue mechanics, inverse and forward dynamic models, modelling of biological tissues, finite element stress analysis.

Environmental Physics

This module aims to provide students with an understanding of 1) energy sources (solar, wind and wave power, fuel cells, nuclear reactors, and fusion power; 2) geophysics (Earth surface and gravity, tectonic plaques and earthquakes, sources of heat on Earth, magnetic fields of Earth); and 3) space weather and its impact on the Earth's electric and magnetic fields.

Many-Body Systems

This module aims to develop an understanding of the quantum field theoretical and statistical methods used to study systems at the microscopic scale.

Please note: you will need to have attended 'Atomic and Nuclear Physics,' 'Mathematical Methods 2: Advanced Computing and Statistical Mechanics' and 'Mathematical Methods 3: Special and General Relativity' in order to study this module.

Mathematical Methods 3: Special and General Relativity

The module aims to develop an understanding of integral transforms, perturbation theory, complex analysis, as well as of the main features of Einstein’s special and general theory of relativity and its role in an understanding of cosmology. It also aims to develop an understanding of the four vector formalism and its application in relativistic kinematics, and relativistic dynamics.

Please note: you will need to have attended 'Mathematical Methods 1: Computing' and 'Mathematical Methods 2: Advanced Computing and Statistical Mechanics' in order to study this module.

Medical Physics

This module aims to provide students with an understanding of medical Imaging, ultrasound and their use for diagnostics and for therapy. Radiology, radiation monitoring and dose. Nuclear medicine, NMR, measurement of bioelectricity and biomagnetism. SQUID measurements of brain activity, and magnetic delivery of drugs.

Metrology

This module aims to provide students with an understanding of standards and fundamental methods of determining them. Calibration, metrology of length and displacement, metrology of fluids, flow measurement techniques, environmental monitoring, metrology of temperature.

Nanotechnology and Nanodevices Physics

This module aims to provide students with an understanding of the techniques of measurement and manipulation (Atomic Force Microscopy and Scanning Tunneling Microscopy) of materials at the nanoscale and to explore in more detail the properties and uses of selected materials (carbon nanotubes, metallic nanoparticles).

Please note: you will need to have attended 'Heat and Thermodynamics Matter and Materials' in order to study this module.

Research Project

The module aims to allow students to make an in-depth study of a specific area within the area of applied physics. It is designed to develop the students' knowledge and critical understanding of their selected topic.

Solid State Physics; Low Temperature Physics

The module introduces the concept of density of states and its relation to boundary conditions. It also aims to develop in students an understanding of the band theory of electrons in solids and to describe the band structure of semiconductors. It aims to develop an understanding of the magnetic properties of materials and the dynamic effects associated with spin angular momentum of nuclei and electrons with particular reference to NMR and ESR. An understanding of physics at very low temperatures including the phenomena of superfluidity and superconductivity, and of the principal techniques in the production and maintenance of high vacuum are also developed.

Please note: you will need to have attended 'Electromagnetism Electronics, Metrology and Standards' in order to study this module.

Space Physics

This module aims to provide students with an understanding of astrophysics and cosmology (nuclear reactions within stars, stellar evolution, black holes, dark matter and dark energy), satellites and probes (detectors, instruments, materials), and launch, payload and recovery of satellites.