Physics Undergraduate Course Handbook 2017-2018 2017-2018 Physics 1 B A N B U R Clarendon Laboratory Y N Beecroft Building Denys Wilkinson Building R O Lindemann and Martin A Wood Lecture Theatres Dennis Sciama Lecture Theatre D Teaching Faculty Office (MT2017) Teaching Faculty Office (2018) (both via the Level 4 entrance) D O A E R B L K E B L P A A C R Physics Teaching Laboratories K K H S (entrance down the steps) S A T L L R O GIL R D D A R D E U M S S E ’ U M gt Students in wheelchairs or with mobility needs can access the Lindemann and the Dennis Sciama Lecture Theatres by lifts from the ground floors. The Denys Wilkinson Building and the Clarendon Laboratory have toilet facilities for wheelchair users. The Martin Wood Lecture Theatre has access for wheelchairs and a reserved area within the theatre. There are induction loop systems for students with hearing difficulties in the Lindemann, Dennis Sciama and Martin Wood Lecture Theatres. The Department is able to make provision for disabled students. If you think you may need any special re- quirements, contact the Assistant Head of Teaching (Academic) by e-mail, carrie.leonard-mcintyre@physics. ox.ac.uk for further information. These notes have been produced by the Department of Physics. The information in this handbook is for the academic year Michaelmas Term 2017, Hilary Term 2018 and Trinity Term 2018. 2 Contents How to use this handbook 5 Examinations 13 Assessment of Class 13 Important dates and deadlines 6 Assessment of Practical Work 14 First Year 6 First Year (Prelims) 14 Second Year 6 Second and Third Year 14 Third Year 7 Marking of the Assessed Practical 14 Fourth Year 7 Eligibility for MPhys Course 14 Three or Four year course 14 Introduction 8 Examination Preparation 15 The Department of Physics 8 Examination Entry 15 The Physics Teaching Faculty 8 Examination Conventions 15 Teaching Laboratories 8 Examination Dates 15 Lecture Theatres 8 Sitting your examination 15 Libraries 8 Examination Regulations 15 Computers 8 Examination Results 15 Policies and Regulations 8 Prizes 16 Data Protection 9 External Examiner and Examiners’ Reports 16 University Policy on Intellectual Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Property Rights 9 (MPLS) Division 16 Copyright 9 Physics and Philosophy 16 Good academic practice and avoiding Summary of Examination Requirements 17 plagiarism 9 Support for disabled students 9 First Year 2017-2018 18 Student Life, Support and Guidance 9 Induction 18 Complaints and appeals 10 Practical Work 18 Opportunities for skills training and Self-study modules in basic mathematics development 10 and mechanics 18 Employability and careers information and The Preliminary Examination 18 advice 10 Introduction to Computer Programming 19 Departmental representation - The Physics Data Analysis and Statistics 19 Joint Consultative Committee (PJCC) 10 Textbooks 19 Opportunities to provide evaluation and First Year Physics and Maths Lectures 19 feedback 10 Examination Entry 19 Mathematical, Physical and Life Physics and Philosophy 19 Sciences (MPLS) Division and University First Year Patterns of Teaching 20 Representation 10 Enterprising Oxford 10 Second Year 2017-2018 21 The Institute of Physics 10 The BA and MPhys courses 21 Practical Work 21 Aims and objectives, teaching and Individual Presentations examinations 11 (formerly Oral Skills) 21 The Physics Courses – Aims and Objectives 11 Marking of Individual Presentations 21 The Physics Undergraduate Courses 11 Physics Department Speaking Competition 21 Subject Benchmark Statements 12 Alternative subjects, extra practicals and extended Department and College Teaching 12 practicals 22 Expectations of study and student workload Teaching and Learning Physics in Schools 22 (Term time and Vacations) 12 Undergraduate Physics Conference 22 Programme Specifications 12 Examination Entry 22 Accreditation 13 Eligibility for MPhys Course 22 Accessing the Physics Teaching web pages 13 Physics and Philosophy 22 Virtual Private Network (VPN) Service 13 Second Year Patterns of Teaching 24 3 Contents Continued Third Year 2017-2018 [BA Course] 25 Short Options 2017-2018, Language Options & BA Course 25 Alternatives 34 Part B Examination 25 Short Options 35 Practical Work 25 Prelims 35 Mini-project 25 Parts A & B 35 Project Safety 26 Language Option 35 Submitting the report at Examination Alternative subjects 35 Schools 26 Pre-approved subjects 36 Short Options & Language Option 26 Extra practical work 36 Alternative subjects, extra practicals and Assessment of extra practical work 37 extended practicals 26 Alternatives to practical work 37 Changing from the BA to the MPhys 26 Teaching and Learning Physics in Schools 37 Examination Entry 26 Examination Entry 38 Third Year 2017-2018 [MPhys Course] 27 Appendix A: Recommended Textbooks 39 Choice of Course 27 Appendix B: Calculators 47 Part B Examination 27 Appendix C: Syllabuses for Prelims 48 Practical Work 27 Appendix D: Syllabuses for Part A 51 Mini-project 27 Appendix E: Syllabuses for Part B 54 Short Options & Language Option 28 Appendix F: Syllabuses for Short Options 56 Alternative subjects, extra practicals and Appendix G: Syllabuses for Part C 59 extended practicals 28 Appendix H: Special Regulations for the Changing from the MPhys to the BA Preliminary Examination in Physics 62 (MPhys Exit) 28 Appendix I: Regulations for the Honour Undergraduate Physics Conference 28 School of Physics 63 Major Options 28 Appendix J: University Policy on Intellectual Alternative Major Options 28 Property Rights 67 Examination Entry 28 Appendix K: Lecture Feedback 68 Physics and Philosophy 29 Appendix L: Complaints and Appeals 69 MMathPhys 29 Appendix M: Useful Department Contacts 70 Third Year Patterns of Teaching 30 Fourth Year 2017-2018 [MPhys Course] 31 Part C Finals for the 4-year MPhys 31 Lectures and Classes for the Major Options 31 Alternative Major Options 31 Projects 31 Exam Entry 31 Physics and Philosophy 32 Fourth Year Patterns of Teaching 33 4 How to use this handbook Students in their first year should read the two sections ‘Introduction’ (see page 8) and ‘First Year’ (see page 18) in detail and skim the remainder for an overview of the courses. Students in later years should read the sections on the FHS (Final Honours School) examination structure, the details for the relevant year and be aware of the overall requirements and content of their chosen course. At the end of this handbook are appendices giving the syllabuses for the examination papers to be taken in Trinity Term 2018 for Physics Prelims, FHS Parts A and B for the three year BA and four year MPhys courses, and for the Physics papers for the Physics and Philosophy course. Syllabuses are also given for the Part C 4th year Major Option papers. The handbook gives a comprehensive book list for the whole course, important dates for the academic year, informa- tion about the undergraduate consultative committee (PJCC) and a list of people involved in organising the course. Full details about the Practical Course are given in the Practical Course Handbook at http://www2.physics.ox.ac.uk/students/undergraduates Please refer to the Physics and Philosophy Course Handbook at http://www2.physics.ox.ac.uk/students/undergradu- ates for all details of the Physics and Philosophy course that are not covered in the Physics Undergraduate Course Handbook. Everything regarding the course is written down in this handbook, however members of staff will be happy to an- swer what is not documented. For particular information about College teaching, students should contact their tutors. Further information about the courses can be obtained from the Department of Physics website http://www2.physics. ox.ac.uk/students/undergraduates and from the Physics Teaching Faculty. In this document, Michaelmas Term (MT), Hilary Term (HT), Trinity Term (TT), refer to Michaelmas (Winter), Hilary (Spring) and Trinity (Summer) Terms of the academic year, respectively. The weeks in each term are numbered as 1st week, 2nd week and so on, with 0th week being the week immediately before start of full term. Prof Hans Kraus, Head of Teaching For full and up-to date information on lecture timetables, see www.physics.ox.ac.uk/lectures. The examination times given in this handbook are based on information available in September 2017. These may be altered and the definitive times are those published by the examiners; these will be posted on the official examiners’ web page. The Examination Regulations relating to this course are available at https://weblearn.ox.ac.uk/portal/hierarchy/mpls/ physics/teaching/undergrads/exammatters. If there is a conflict between information in this handbook and the Exami- nation Regulations then you should follow the Examination Regulations. If you have any concerns please contact the Assistant Head of Teaching (Academic) by e-mail at [email protected]. The information in this handbook is accurate as at 3 October 2017, however it may be necessary for changes to be made in certain circumstances, as explained at http://www2.physics.ox.ac.uk/students/undergraduates. If such changes are made the department will publish a new version of this handbook together with a list of the changes and students will be informed. 5 Important dates and deadlines First Year Michaelmas Term Event Time Location Week 0 Introduction to the Fri Martin Wood Lecture Theatre & Department (Induction) 14:15 Dennis Sciama Lecture Theatre Week 1 Laboratory Introduction Mon Martin Wood Lecture Theatre 12:00 Week 1 Safety lecture Mon Martin