Class Head Dr. A. Doyle, Room 232a; Tel. 0141-330 5899
Laboratory Head Dr. M. Rahman, Room 406; Tel. 0141-330 6439
You can email us at a.doyle@physics.gla.ac.uk or m.rahman@physics.gla.ac.uk
Learning hours for 2X
P2X comprises statistics, thermal physics, rotational dynamics and oscillations and waves with examples from mechanical, classical and quantum systems. The SKILLs course contains a blend of experimental work, IT and practice in transferable skills and will be continuously assessed. The learning hours associated with each of the 2X modules are as follows:
50 lectures with 4 learning hours associated with each 200 hours 5 class tutorials with 2 learning hours each 10 11 small group supervisions with 3 learning hours each 33 50% of laboratory/skills course 49 TOTAL learning hours 292
The class meets daily at 12 noon in Lecture Room 312 of the Kelvin Building. Skills classes are held from 14.00 to 17.00 on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, starting on Monday 11th October. You attend one afternoon per week.
Normally pre-requisites Physics 1X and 1Y and Mathematics (1R or 1X) and Mathematics (1S, 1T or 1Y) all at grade D or better. Exceptionally at the discretion of the Head of Department.
Students must satisfy the general Faculty of Science requirements for admission to Honours BSc or MSci specified in the University Calendar.
The normal entry requirements to level 3 as set by the Physics and Astronomy Department are a grade point average (gpa) of 10 for BSc (or MA) and 14 for MSci in the courses given in the following list:
Subjects
Single Physics P2X,P2Y,M2X,M2Y,M2W(or M2R)
Physics and Mathematics P2X,P2Y
Physics and Astronomy P2X,P2Y,M2X,M2Y,M2W(or M2R),A2
Astronomy and Mathematics A2
Chemical Physics P2X,P2Y plus C2X/2Y
Physics and Geology P2X,P2Y
Physics and Arts P2X,P2Y
Physics and Elec Eng P2X,P2Y,M2X,M2Y,M2W(or M2R)
Note that no BSc in Physics and Elec Eng or MSci in Physics and Geology exist at present.
For all courses, in obtaining the gpa for the Departmental requirements, grades 'F', 'G' and 'N' are given 0 grade points but the average is still calculated over all specified courses. For entry to BSc or MSci, the requirement should normally be met at the first diet of examinations. However, entry may also be at the discretion of the Head of Department. For the three-year designated BSc in Physics, a gpa of 10 in P2X,P2Y is required.
The cognate departments will also set entry requirements.
We hope to increase your interest in Physics and reinforce your belief that Physics underlies almost all other scientific activities. You will learn more about the fundamental laws of Nature in this course, and more about how the Universe works. The lecture courses will consolidate and extend the work you did in first year, and introduce you to new concepts which you will need in the future.
Supervision
The class will be divided into small groups and a member of staff will supervise the work of each group. Your supervisor will meet you regularly to help you with your work. The primary purpose of supervision sessions is to help you to overcome the difficulties you have with the course, not the difficulties we think you have. We cannot do this unless you tell us about the things which you personally find difficult. Make a habit of noting problems as they arise, and take them to your next supervision period. Supervision arrangements will be posted on the notice board.
Problems and Examples
We cannot over-emphasise the importance of doing problems to improve your familiarity with Physics. All the lecturers will give you a set of examples on their course. Lecturers and supervisors will set problems for you to try and some of these will be discussed in class or in supervision sessions. Before the end of each term, we will make available to you solutions to all examples in the sheets.
Class Examinations
There will be one class examination for each module. Full details will be given on the notice board when available.
The class test will be of 50 minutes in a Class period. Feedback will be in the form of a Grade letter (A, B, C...) under the usual conventions.
Minimum requirement for award of credits
There are three requirements for the award of grade letter G or better, all of which must be met.
Degree Assessment
There will be degree examinations for Physics 2X in January, and for Physics 2Y in June, with resits for both in August/September.
The degree exam will last for 2 hours and consist of
1 compulsory question (short pieces drawn from all courses) contributing 25%
3 optional questions out of 5, contributing 25% each, from the following list
2X questions in January (September): Rotational Dynamics I; The Physics of Chance; Microscopic Thermal Physics; Oscillatory Mechanical systems; Classical and Quantum Waves.
Note that the order of lecture courses has changed from last year.
Assessment will be weighted as follows:
Class Prizes
A small number of prizes are reserved for the class, and some bursaries for 3rd and 4th years are available to Physics students. They will be awarded to those students with the best record of work throughout the year.
Plagiarism
The University's degrees and other academic awards are given in recognition of the candidate's personal achievement. Plagiarism is therefore considered as an act of academic fraudulence and as an offence against University discipline.
Plagiarism is defined as the submission or presentation of work, in any form, which is not one's own, without acknowledgement of the sources. (With regard to essays, reports and dissertations, a simple rule dictates when it is necessary to acknowledge sources. If a student obtains information or ideas from an outside source, that source must be acknowledged. Another rule to follow is that any direct quotation must be placed in quotation marks, and the source immediately cited.)
Where a candidate for a degree or other award uses the work of another person or persons without due acknowledgement:
(1) the relevant Board of Examiners may impose a penalty in relation to the seriousness of the offence;
(2) the relevant Board of Examiners may report the candidate to the Clerk of Senate, for action under the Code of Discipline, where there is prima facie evidence of an intention to deceive and where sanctions beyond those in (1) might be invoked.
In the case of P2X and P2Y, the above warning is not intended to stop you discussing your tutorial problems or laboratory results with your class mates- in fact we encourage this. You should not, however, use someone else's laboratory measurements without acknowledging this, and naming the person, in your record book. Formal laboratory reports must be your own unaided work.
Medical Certificates
If you are absent from an examination because of illness, a medical certificate must be obtained from your doctor and submitted to Dr. R. M. Green, Principal Adviser of Studies, Floor 1, Boyd Orr Building. For periods of absence from classes of more than five days, the same procedure applies.
For periods of illness less than five days, it may be difficult to obtain a medical certificate and a Certificate of Absence should be completed and submitted to Dr. Green's office. Medical Certificates or Certificates of Absence should be shown to the Class head or the Laboratory head before submission to Dr. Green's office. Since your work in the Practical class counts towards your mark in the Degree Examination, it is essential that absence from the Practical class is supported by a Certificate.
More details are given in the Student Guide which was sent to you with your matriculation form.
Help and Information
If you would like help with any aspect of your work, ask your lecturer, your supervisor, a demonstrator in the Lab, or the Class head or Lab. head - or anyone else for that matter! If necessary, the Janitor will help you to locate the person you want.
Class Representatives will be elected soon after term begins. Please keep them informed of your feelings about the course, as they will then be able to give a balanced assessment of the course at Staff-Student committee meetings.
You should look at the class notice board regularly as all information about supervision arrangements, examination times and locations, and messages to individuals or special groups will be posted there. Any information received about sponsorships, vacation employment etc will also be posted.
For general information about the class, about exams, timetables etc, consult the Class Head or Laboratory Head.
The Physical Society is run by third- and fourth-year students in the Department. They arrange lectures on subjects of general interest and organise social events regularly throughout the year. Membership of the Physical Society is a good way of meeting students in other years who have already survived Physics 2 and who can give you the real low-down on the course.
Other Activities
Many Physics 2 students help with visits to schools and other public demonstrations of Physics.
Other Facilities
As a member of this Department, you have access to many of its facilities such as the undergraduate library and the computing Lab. There are several seminars every week and you are welcome to attend if you are interested. The common room is the best place to meet for discussion and relaxation. To get the most from your course you should take full advantage of the facilities available both in this Department and in the rest of the University.