MT1PNW: Physics of the Natural World

Module code: MT1PNW

Module provider: Meteorology; School of Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences

Credits: 20

Level: Level 1 (Certificate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Professor Matt Owens, email: m.j.owens@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The aim of the module is to equip students with a solid background in classical physics, which constitutes a crucial piece of basic scientific knowledge needed to develop further skills in quantitative natural science. Students should be able to apply this knowledge to a range of situations, both familiar and unfamiliar, by conceptualising the core physical principles required to understand the system. They should be able to make appropriate approximations and hence compute the physical behaviour of a system.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Describe and explain the fundamental principles of classical physics (i.e., mechanics, thermal physics and electromagnetism);
2. Manipulate equations in order to quantitatively solve classical physics problems;
3. Analyse a problem or system and determine which physical processes are most important/relevant and make appropriate approximations;
4. Recognise and apply familiar physical processes in unfamiliar systems.

Module content

1. Classical mechanics
   • Linear motion (position, velocity and acceleration. Equations of constant acceleration)
   • Forces (friction. Newton’s Laws)
   • Energy (work, potential energy, kinetic energy)
   • Momentum
   • Gravity (universal law. Potential energy. Physical basis of Kepler’s laws. Escape velocity)
   • Rotational motion (rotational analogies to linear motion. Central forces. Centre of mass)
2. Introduction to electromagnetism
   • Electric fields (forces, potential energy, voltage, current)
   • Magnetic fields (Lorentz force, charged particle motion)
3. Thermal physics
   • Temperature (Measurement and relation to microscopic parameters)
   • Kinetic theory (Relation to macroscopic parameters. Ideal gases)
   • The first law of thermodynamics (Heat. Work. PV diagrams. Equipartition of energy)
   • The second law of thermodynamics (Irreversibility. Entropy)
   • Thermal properties of matter (Phase changes . Expansion)

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures on the module content, with supporting seminars/tutorials.

Study hours

At least 60 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Problem sheets during tutorials. One marked problem sheet with feedback to be returned before the first assessed coursework.

Reassessment

Additional costs