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Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

No Banner module data is available

Module Title
Module Code (ITS)
Faculty School
Module Co-ordinatorSemester 1: Eilish McLoughlin
Semester 2: Eilish McLoughlin
Autumn: Eilish McLoughlin
Module TeachersEilish McLoughlin
NFQ level 8 Credit Rating
Pre-requisite Not Available
Co-requisite Not Available
Compatibles Not Available
Incompatibles Not Available
Coursework Only
Description

To introduce the student to general wave motion, optics and acoustics and to provide the student with a general introduction to special relativity and to atomic and nuclear physics.

Learning Outcomes

1. Discuss the physical processes that underlie wave motion, optics, acoustics, special relativity and atomic and nuclear physics.
2. Describe the physical basis and experimental observations of wave motion, optics, acoustics, special relativity and atomic and nuclear physics.
3. Derive relevant equations describing wave motion, optics, acoustics, special relativity and atomic and nuclear physics from basic laws and principles.
4. Solve numerical problems, from information provided, on the topics covered.
5. Discuss the importance of wave motion, optics, acoustics, special relativity and atomic and nuclear physics in applied physics.



Workload Full-time hours per semester
Type Hours Description
Lecture242 hours of asychronous lectures per week accessed as pre-recorded videos
Online activity242 hours of scheduled synchronous online activities per week
Tutorial24Student learning support facilitated through small-group tutorials with flexible provision.
Fieldwork53Student self directed learning
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Oscillations and Waves
Oscillations and simple harmonic motion: transverse and longitudinal waves, superposition, speed, reflection, harmonic waves.

Sound
sound waves, sound intensity, Doppler effect.

Light
EM Spectrum, Sources of light, Geometrical optics; reflection, refraction, dispersion, achromatic optics; Physical optics; interference,diffraction, diffraction gratings, polarisation

Optical systems
the microscope, the telescope, the eye.

Special Relativity
Einstein's Postulates, time dilation, length contraction, the Lorentz Transformation, relativistic momentum and energy conservation.

Atom
Classical models, Planck's quantum hypothesis, the Bohr atom, The photoelectric effect; quantized energy; the de Broglie wavelength.

The nucleus
nucleons; isotopes; nuclear structure; binding energy. Radiation: X rays, alpa, beta and gamma radiation, the law of radioactive decay. fission and fusion; nuclear reactors. Detection, dosage.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment% Examination Weight%
Course Work Breakdown
TypeDescription% of totalAssessment Date
Completion of online activitySolve physics problem based on mathematical/quantitative aspects of module concepts.100%As required
Indicative Reading List

  • Young and Freedman: 2020, University Physics with Modern Physics,, 15 Ed.,,, https://www.pearson.com/us/higher-education/program/Young-Modified-Mastering-Physics-with-Pearson-e-Text-Standalone- Access-Card-for-University-Physics-with-Modern-Physics-15th-Edition/PGM2485469.html,
  • Eugenia Etkina, Gorazd Planinsic and Alan Van Heuvelen: 2019, College Physics: Explore and Apply,, 2nd Ed. [ISBN: 978- 01346018],
  • Raymond A. Serway and John W. Jewett: 2007, Physics for Scientists and Engineers 7th Edition, Brooks Cole,
Other Resources

0, Simulations, 0, Phet simulations, https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations /,

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