| CODE | BLH4038 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Scientific Principles for Conservation; Physics 1 | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 04 - Years 4, 5 in Modular UG or PG Cert Course | ||||||||
| EQF/MQF LEVEL | Not Applicable | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 2 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Conservation and Built Heritage | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit introduces and explores the fundamental principles and interactions of physics that are essential to the fields of heritage, its preservation, and conservation. Students will identify and classify key physical concepts—such as energy, forces, thermodynamics, light, and the properties of materials—that are critical to an understanding of heritage artefacts and their environments. Learners will define and memorise core terminology and principles, while also being encouraged to label and order fundamental laws and theories. They will illustrate physical phenomena, depict their interactions with materials, and explain how these relate to heritage and its preservation. The study-unit is structured to reinforce scientific understanding through a range of activities designed to apply and practise these issues in real-world heritage scenarios. Students will solve relevant problems and conduct experiments or simulations that mirror the conditions and challenges found in heritage situations. In addition, students will analyse and differentiate between various material behaviours and environmental influences, investigate material/environment interactions, and understand how these are manifested. They will be required to research and examine case studies and examples to relate theoretical knowledge to practical applications. For students from non-scientific backgrounds, the study-unit is designed to establish scientific literacy by organising and translating abstract physical principles into understandable and usable knowledge. All students will be encouraged to compose and synthesise informed approaches to heritage challenges. Ultimately, this study-unit aims to equip students to evaluate, assess, and justify the use of scientific methods in the understanding of change in heritage objects, and to lay strong scientific foundations to then, in later stages of their studies, be able to propose, design, or implement informed solutions in future restoration work. Study-Unit Aims: The main of this study-unit is to equip students with the essential mathematical tools, structural mechanics and thermal physics required to understand how artifacts interact with their immediate physical environments. Core aims: Measurement & Mathematics - Students learn to identify SI units, master scientific notation, and apply significant figures. In a practical conservation setting, this is essential for precisely mixing chemical solvents, accurately logging microclimate environmental data, and calculating scales. Structural Mechanics - This area covers torque, pivots, moments, and static equilibrium. Conservators use these principles to design safe display mounts, stabilize heavy sculptures, and handle structural engineering challenges when moving fragile artifacts. Matter Materials - By exploring density, elasticity, and the states of matter, students gain insight into the physical makeup of objects. This knowledge guides them in selecting appropriate materials for infills and repairs, ensuring that adhesives can stretch and bend without causing the original artwork to fail. Thermal physics This focus area breaks down pressure, the critical difference between heat and temperature, and thermal expansion. This science directly informs museum climate control and helps conservators prevent the cracking that occurs when composite artifacts expand at different rates. Generic aims: Quantitative Precision - Students move away from guesswork, learning to use standard scientific units and precise mathematics to calculate material changes and environmental risks. Structural Safety - Students can analyse whether an object or its support structure is physically stable, preventing warping or toppling under its own weight. Thermal Awareness - Students learn exactly how heat transfers through different states of matter, giving them a scientificbasis for managing climate control and mitigating the risks of thermal expansion. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: (Fundamentals of Measurement and Representation) • Identify and state the base and derived Physical Quantities and their corresponding standard international (SI) units. • Apply foundational Mathematics for physical processes (e.g., unit conversions, significant figures, scientific notation) to solve basic physics problems. Mechanics: Motion and Forces • Analyse situations involving Turning Forces (torque), defining the terms pivot and moment, and apply the Principle of Moments for objects in equilibrium. Properties of Matter and Energy • Describe the General Properties of Matter, including density, elasticity, and the three states of matter. • Explain the concepts of Pressure, Temperature, and Heat, and differentiate between temperature (a measure of average kinetic energy) and heat (the transfer of thermal energy). • Describe the phenomenon of Thermal Expansion in solids, liquids, and gases, and explain its practical implications. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: (Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills) • Demonstrate analytical thinking and problem-solving skills in scientific contexts. • Interpret quantitative data accurately. (Scientific and Observational Skills) • Express how their observational skills have been enhanced, particularly in relation to art restoration-relevant concepts. (Generic Professional Skills) • Apply critical reasoning to evaluate information. • Communicate effectively technical and scientific concepts. • Work effectively both independently and collaboratively within a team. |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Pre-requisite Qualification: First degree as stipulated in the relevant Bye-Laws. | ||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Tutorial | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Paul Xuereb Howard J. Zammit |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2026/7. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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