Undergraduate Course Handbook - University of Oxford Department ...

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Lecture timetableswww.physics.ox.ac.uk/lecturesPrelim PapersCP1: Physics 1CP2: Physics 2CP3: MathematicalMethods 1CP4: MathematicalMethods 2Short OptionsS01: Functions of aComplex VariableS02: Astrophysics: fromPlanets to the CosmosS03: Quantum IdeasThe Preliminary ExaminationThe first year is a foundation year, at theend of which you will take the PreliminaryExamination (Prelims). This consists of fourcompulsory 2½ hour papers [CP1: Physics1, CP2: Physics 2, CP3: MathematicalMethods 1 and CP4: Mathematical Methods2], a Short Option (1½ hour paper) andsatisfactory practical work. Each of the CPpapers will be in two sections: A - containingshort compulsory questions; B - containingproblems (answer three from a choice offour). The total marks for sections A and Bwill be 40 and 60, respectively.For Prelims, one of the Short Options S01,S02 or S03 is chosen. These subjects willbe covered by lectures at the start of TrinityTerm. There are no resit exams for ShortOptions and a poor mark will not lead tofailure in Prelims, but good performancehelps if you are on the borderline of a Passor a Distinction.The practical course requirement for Prelimsis 15 ‘days’- 11 laboratory experiments plus4 days computing assignments. Candidatesfailing to complete their practicals will berequired to complete them before entry tothe Part A, see page 9.The Compulsory Papers are individuallyclassified as Pass and Fail, with a Passmark of 40%. The examiners will takeinto account the performance in the wholeexamination (the four Compulsory Papers,the Short Option paper and Practical Work)when considering the award of a Distinctionand when considering borderline scripts.Introduction to Computer ProgrammingDuring the first half of Michaelmas Term,there will be introductory lectures on computerprogramming which will be coupledwith the practical sessions on computing.The Department has site licences for severalpowerful data analysis and mathematicalsoftware packages. See the Practical CourseHandbook or the website for more informationand how to download the software.TextbooksA list of the books recommended by thelecturers is given in Appendix A. Yourtutor will advise you as to what books youshould obtain. A guide to library services isgiven on page 4.14First Year Physics and Maths LecturesThe syllabuses for papers CP1- 4 are givenin Appendix C and those for the ShortOptions in Appendix F. The timetable ofall the lectures for Prelims is published inthe Departments’s Lecture Database on theWeb, under Physics Lecture List.Lectures start promptly at five minutespast the hour and end at five to.On the page 15 there is a brief overviewof the first year lectures. As well as thelectures on the mainstream topics shown,there are others on the list that should beattended; those on the analysis of experimentalmeasurements contain importantmaterial for the practical course, and the“Physics Today” lectures cover excitingaspects of Contemporary Physics.Exam EntryEntry for the Prelims exam is at the endof 4 th week of Hilary Term and 3 rd weekof Trinity Term for Short Option choices.Specific details will be published by theExaminers.The Examination Regulations providesguidance for students with special examinationneeds. “... An application ...shall be made as soon as possible aftermatriculation and in any event not laterthan the date of entry of the candidate’sname for the first examination for whichspecial arrangements are sought.” Pleasesee The Examination Regulations http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/examregs/ for moreinformation.See Appendix B for information about thetypes of calculators which may be used inPublic examinations.Physics and PhilosophyThe first year course leads to the Preliminaryexamination in Physics and Philosophy,in which you take papers CP1, CP3& CP4. The syllabuses for these papers aregiven in Appendix C. See the Physics andPhilosophy Course Handbook for furtherdetails about Prelims, including details ofthe Philosophy papers.
First Year Outline of TopicsFor definitive details see the Physics Department’s Lecture Database(www.physics.ox.ac.uk/lectures/).Below is a brief outline of the mainstream topics that will be lectured in Michaelmas,Hilary and Trinity Terms. Most colleges are able to do two classes or tutorials perweek. Tutorials are done in pairs, or sometimes in threes. Classes are normally made upof all the students in that year in a College. There is approximately one tutorial or classper four lectures.Lecture timetableswww.physics.ox.ac.uk /lectures/First YearMichaelmas Term: week by week1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8[CP1:Mechanics --------------------------][CP1:Special Relativity ------------------------------][CP2:Circuit Theory ---------------------------------][CP2: Optics -------------------][CP3: Vectors and Matrices -----------------------------------------------------------][CP3: ODEs & Complex Numbers][CP4: Calculus -----------------][Physics Today & Extras --------------------------------------------------------------]No. oflectures91010618101110Prelims PapersCP1: Physics 1CP2: Physics 2CP3: Mathematical Methods 1CP4: Mathematical Methods 2Hilary Term: week by week1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8[CP1:Mechanics -----------------------------------------------------------------------][CP2: Electromagnetism --------------------------------------------------------------][CP2: Optics ------][CP4: Multiple Int/Vector Calc ---------------------][CP4:Normal Modes and Wave Motion -----------------------]No. oflectures202041412Prelims PapersCP1: Physics 1CP2: Physics 2CP3: Mathematical Methods 1CP4: Mathematical Methods 2Trinity Term: week by week1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8[CP1: Revision -----][CP2: Revision -----][CP3: Revision -----][CP4: Revision -----][S01: Functions of a Complex Variable--][S02: Astrophysics -----------------------][S03: Quantum Ideas --------------------]No. oflectures4444121212Prelims PapersCP RevisonShort OptionsS01: Functions of aComplex VariableS02: Astrophysics: fromPlanets to the CosmosS03: Quantum Ideas15
Page 4: Contents ContinuedFourth Year 2012-
Page 10: Students are encouraged take their
Page 14 and 15: Summary of Examination Requirements
Page 18 and 19: Second Year 2012-2013Introduction t
Page 20 and 21: Second Year Outline of TopicsFor de
Page 22 and 23: Undergraduate Physics ConferenceThi
Page 24 and 25: y their performance in Parts A and
Page 26 and 27: Fourth Year 2012-2013 [MPhys Course
Page 28 and 29: Fourth Year Outline of TopicsLectur
Page 30 and 31: Short OptionsShort Options are inte
Page 32 and 33: Teaching and Learning Physics in Sc
Page 34 and 35: First YearCP1: Physics 1Classical M
Page 36 and 37: B2: III. Quantum, Atomic and Molecu
Page 38 and 39: Appendix BFOR PHYSICS AND PHYSICS a
Page 40 and 41: OpticsElementary geometrical optics
Page 42 and 43: Statistical mechanicsBoltzmann fact
Page 44 and 45: Appendix EFOR THIRD YEAR STUDENTSFi
Page 46 and 47: B3: V. General Relativity and Cosmo
Page 48 and 49: S16: Plasma PhysicsDebye Length. Pl
Page 50 and 51: C3: Condensed Matter PhysicsSymmetr
Page 52 and 53: Appendix HEXAMINATION REGULATIONSSP
Page 54 and 55: 7. In cl. 4(a)(ii), practical work
Page 56 and 57: Appendix KPhotocopying and scanning
Page 58 and 59: Appendix L (Lecture and Practical F
Page 60 and 61: Appendix MAcademic Staff Telephone

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