PH101-Physics of the Natural World

Module Provider: Meteorology
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:4
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Prof Matt Owens
Email: m.j.owens@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:
A lecture and tutorial course which covers the physics essential to understanding the natural world, namely classical mechanics, thermodynamics and electromagnetism.

Aims:
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.

Assessable learning outcomes:

• Ability to describe and explain the fundamental principles of classical physics (i.e., mechanics, thermal physics and electromagnetism);


• Ability to manipulate equations in order to quantitatively solve simple classical physics problems;


• Ability to analyse a problem or system and determine which physical processes are most important/relevant;


• Ability to then make appropriate approximations in order to simply/conceptualise complex sys tems;


• Ability to recognise and apply familiar physical processes in unfamiliar systems.

Additional outcomes:

Outline 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).

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
Lectures and tutorials.