Undergraduate Course Handbook - University of Oxford Department ...

First Year 2012-2013InductionAll Physics and Physics and Philosophyfirst years are required to attend Inductionfrom 2.15 - 4.15 pm on Friday afternoon of0 th week of Michaelmas Term. There youwill hear a brief introduction to OxfordPhysics, an outline of the first year course,and addresses by a student representative ofthe Physics Joint Consultative Committeeand by a representative of the Institute ofPhysics. There will also be an introductionto the Practical Course, and you will begiven your copy of the Practical CourseHandbook.To keep the numbers manageable, studentswill be split by College into two groups;please check below which group you arein. Group A will start in the Dennis SciamaLecture Theatre, Denys Wilkinson Building(DWB); Group B in the Martin WoodLecture Theatre in the Clarendon (see mapand directions on the inside cover).Group A (Practicals usually on Thursdays)Balliol, Brasenose, Exeter, Jesus, Magdalen,Mansfield, Merton, Queen’s, St Catherine’s,St John’s, St Edmund Hall, Wadham,Worcester.Group B (Practicals usually on Fridays)Christ Church, Corpus Christi, Hertford,Keble, Lady Margaret Hall, Lincoln, New,Oriel, St Anne’s, St Hilda’s, St Hugh’s, StPeter’s, Somerville, Trinity, University.Please note. This grouping of Colleges alsoshows which day you will probably do practicalwork during the first year. (There is somereassignment to even out numbers.)Safety LectureA safety lecture, which is compulsory forall Physics students is held on the Mondayof 1 st week of Michaelmas Term at 2.00 pmin the Martin Wood lecture theatre. Onlythose who have attended are allowed towork on the Practical Course. You will beasked to sign a safety declaration.If for any reason it is not going to be possiblefor you to attend, tell your tutor, andlet Dr Karen Aplin (k.aplin1@physics.ox.ac.uk) know before the beginning of1 st week.A DVD is available for those who havebeen excused because of unavoidablecommitments at the advertised time or(for a fee) to those who miss the lecturefor other reasons.Practical WorkDuring the first two weeks of MichaelmasTerm each first-year student will attendsessions introducing some of the test andmeasurement instruments used on thepractical courses, and the computers andcomputing environment.Laboratory practical work starts in thethird week of Michaelmas Term and takesplace between 10.00 am and 5.00 pm onThursdays and Fridays. Laboratories areallocated on a rota system. During MichaelmasTerm weeks 3 - 8 you will also beassigned to a further 3 hour session in thecomputing laboratory - details are givenin the Practical Course Handbook. Youshould not arrange commitments that clashwith your practical work; however, if theallocation raises genuine difficulties foryou, discuss it with your tutor well beforeyour practical work starts.You MUST prepare for practicals byreading the script before you attend thelaboratory. Any student who is un- preparedmay be asked to leave.There will be an important meeting onMonday of 1 st week at 12.00 noon in theMartin Wood Lecture Theatre, at whichessential administrative arrangements willbe announced. Pairings for practical workwill be registered at the Practical Administrationsession immediately followingthe Safety lecture. The Practical CourseHandbook contains all the informationyou need about this part of the course. Itis important to become familiar with it.Self-study modules in basic mathematicsand mechanicsThese are designed to bridge the gapbetween school and university maths andmechanics for those who need it. Yourtutor has more information, and they willbe explained at Induction. See also ‘TheLanguage of Physics’ J. P. Cullerne andA. Machacek (Oxford).13Dates at a glanceInduction5 October 2012at 2.15 pmEssential Administration8 October 2012at 12.00 noonSafety Lecture andPractical Administration8 October 2012at 2.00 pm