Undergraduate Course Handbook - University of Oxford Department ...

Third Year 2012-2013 [BA Course]Choice of CourseDuring Michaelmas, you must decide whetheryou will take the three year course (BA) orthe four year course (MPhys). If you have anydoubts concerning which course you shouldtake you should discuss the situation carefullywith your tutor. For the BA approximately 57%of the marks for your final degree classificationdepend on work done for Part B.Part B ExaminationThe examination will take place at the end ofTrinity and consists of four papers, a Short Optionpaper, assessed practical work and a reporton a project or extended report. The four papersare chosen from the B papers of the 3rd year ofthe MPhys course: B1: I. Flows, Fluctuationsand Complexity and II. Symmetry and Relativity;B2: III. Quantum, Atomic and MolecularPhysics and IV. Sub-Atomic Physics; B3: V.General Relativity and Cosmology and VI.Condensed-Matter Physics and must includeIII, IV and VI. Students will be required toanswer two questions from a total of four.The material will be covered by lectures, tutorialsand classes concentrated in Michaelmas &Hilary of the third year. Full details of the syllabusesare given in Appendix E.Practical Work including Written SkillsThe requirement for practical work for Part Bis 6 days, undertaken in Michaelmas and Trinity.A second Short Option may be offered inplace of practical work. There is no practicalwork in Hilary. BA students have to write areport on one of the practicals they have donein Michaelmas Term, which will be selectedfor them at random. The BA project is undertakenin the second half of Hilary Term.The practical report write-up is part of thetraining in written communication skills for inPart B. There is also an assessed practical, seepage 9 of the Practical Course Handbook andthe examiners’ matters web page will containdetails of the handling of logbooks.Group ProjectThe Group Industrial Project is compulsoryfor all third year students who are registeredon the BA course by the start of Michaelmas.Students will be organised into groups of 5-6to work on a physics-related problem set byan external company, with the support of anexternal industrial mentor and an internalacademic supervisor. The project is assessedin two ways: (i) a group presentation onWednesday afternoon of 7 th week, for whicheach group member is awarded the same mark,by a marking panel, and (ii) a mark for yourindividual contribution to the team, based ona short report. More details will be announcedat the introductory lecture.Short Options & Language OptionDetails on the Short Options (and alternatives)are given on page 28. It is possible to offer asecond Short Option in place of 6 days of practicalwork, but note that most short option lecturesare delivered at the start of Trinity Term.Alternative subjects, extra practicals andextended practicalsGiven the necessary permission, it is also possibleto offer alternatives in place of the ShortOption. Details are given on page 28.BA ProjectThe project is either a laboratory or a literatureproject and undertaken during the final fourweeks of Hilary. The BA Projects Handbookcontains details of both types of projects andwill be circulated at the start of Michaelmas.This contains the timetable for carrying outthe project work and handing in the report.You must specify your choice of projector report by noon on Friday of 2 nd week ofMichaelmas. The allocation of projects willbe published during 5 th week of Michaelmas,and you should then contact your supervisorto discuss preparation for the project work.There is a compulsory Safety Lecture in 7 thweek of Michaelmas, which all BA projectstudents MUST attend. Three (3) copies ofthe report with a declaration of authorship anda copy of the report in pdf format on a CD mustbe handed in to the Examination Schools byMonday of 1 st week of Trinity Term.Introduction to 3 rd year8 October 2012BA Project or EssayBA ProjectsHandbook 2012-2013Part B PapersB1: I. Flows, Fluctuationsand Complexityand II. Symmetry andRelativityB2: III. Quantum,Atomic and MolecularPhysics and IV. Sub-Atomic PhysicsB3: V. General Relativityand Cosmology andVI. Condensed-MatterPhysicsUndergraduatePhysics Conferencewww.physics.ox.ac.uk/users/palmerc/oupc.htmPart B Practical19