| CODE | PHY2235 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Experimental Physics | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 8 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Physics | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | Building on the experience and knowledge of Fundamental of Experimental Physics, this study-unit will encompass a host of six general experimental projects. In the main these will be related to the research areas of the department of physics with an emphasis on computational modelling and advanced experimental techniques as well as statistical analyses. Each project will take approximately five weeks to complete. Study-unit Aims: This study-unit aims to introduce various concepts used in experimental physics as well as to establish a grounding in the subject in preparation for the final year projects. It will provide students with the necessary background knowledge to understand and appreciate advanced techniques and principles of Experimental Physics. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Understand contrasting methodological strategies to achieve experimental objectives; - Appreciate the link between theoretical predictions and realities of laboratory work; - Understand further best practices in health and safety in the laboratory; - Describe experimental errors and how they can be mitigated or reduced; - Observe good practices in Python data handling and plotting; - Identify and derive errors from using theoretical predictions and incorporate them into experimental results; - Describe orally and in written form the reasoning behind an experimental procedure; - Describe improvements and propose further investigations based on numerical and experimental evaluations; - Appreciate and contrast the difference between validity, reliability and accuracy of experiments; - Be familiar with FAIR data principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable); - Understand the connection between theory and experimental measurements. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Design an experiment given an objective and apparatus; - Connect theoretical predictions with experimental realities; - Observe health and safety principles in all aspects of laboratory work; - Reduce experimental errors where possible; - Perform error and data analysis using Python; - Identify sources of error in an experimental strategy; - Use laboratory apparatus to take experimental measurements and compute results; - Use word processor software to write and format a report; - Develop practical measurement test systems for automated and/or remote measurements; - Further develop a Standard Operating Procedure for a process/use of a device; - Workout an uncertainty budget based on error propagation. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: All required material will be provided to the students. |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Pre-Requisite Study-unit: Fundamentals of Experimental Physics | ||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Independent Study & Practical | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Rebecca Briffa Maria Caruana Lourdes Farrugia Alessio Magro |
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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 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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