| Unit name | Foundations of Physics |
|---|---|
| Unit code | PHYS00001 |
| Credit points | 40 |
| Level of study | QCA-3 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Stancliffe |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
IELTS minimum 5.5 overall with a minimum of 5 in writing and 4.5 in all other components or equivalent Students should have the appropriate qualifications in Science and Mathematics at the equivalent of QCA level 2 |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
You will be expected to take appropriate academic and mathematical skills units alongside this unit. |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
The unit shares teaching with, and so cannot be taken as well as, PHYS10010 Foundation Physics. |
| School/department | School of Physics |
| Faculty | Faculty of Science |
Why is this unit important?
This Foundation Physics unit will allow you to develop the discipline-specific knowledge, understanding and skills to prepare you for your chosen undergraduate degree programme. You will learn about fundamental theories of physics and be able to apply your understanding to solve simple problems. You also have an experience of practical physics to allow you to become confident and proficient in experimentation.
How does this fit into your programme of study?
This is a core option in on the International Foundation Year (STEM Pathway). It will allow to you to develop the knowledge and understanding necessary to progress to your chosen undergraduate degree programme. It will also allow you to apply and put into practice some of the academic skills and mathematical methods that you have developed in the other units within
your programme.
An overview of content
The unit will cover
The practical component will include
How you will, personally, be different as a result of the unit
The unit will provide you with an insight and understanding into how fundamental physical concepts may be used to explain and predict behaviour in the natural world. It will inspire you to further your interests in science, engineering or mathematics and motivate you to want to explore more advanced theories and complicated problems. You will become a skilled practical scientist who works safely and competently in the laboratory. You will develop the confidence to perform experiments using both familiar and unfamiliar equipment to prepare you for more advanced experimental work in your further studies.
Learning Outcomes
Learning by Knowing
Learning by Doing
Learning by Being
Each week, you will engage in two, two-hour large-group seminars. The seminars will include some lecture-style content, some discussion and some activities. The seminars are intended to help you to develop your knowledge and to help you to apply it to understand applications and solve problems in physics. You will be provided with additional resources to help you to prepare for seminars, and to ensure that you develop your understanding further in your own time.
You will also engage in a weekly small-group tutorial. The tutorials provide an opportunity for you to receive feedback from your weekly problems sheets and seek individual help.
You will also be given the opportunity to undertake practical sessions. You will be expected to prepare for those sessions in advance, including completing online safety tests and quizzes, using the resources in the Dynamic Laboratory Manual. If you are unable, for valid reasons, to attend a practical session, you may be required to undertake an alternative assignment in order to develop the necessary experience and understanding of the practical and analytic techniques.
The teaching is intentionally structured, whilst also allowing some flexibility to allow you to learn at your own pace.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Each week, you will attempt a formative problem sheet to help you to explore and develop your understanding in the topic. Feedback will be given in weekly small-group tutorial sessions.
The first three practical assignments will be formative, to allow you to develop your skills and confidence in the laboratory and understand what is expected of your assessments.
These formative assessments are essential to your success in the unit and thus the Foundation Year overall, and you will be expected to complete all of them.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
You will undertake three short synoptic tests, at the end of each topic, each of which accounts for 10% of the overall mark for the unit. This will not only help you to consolidate your understanding, but also provide an insight into your academic progress. You will also complete an end-of-unit open-note examination, worth 50% of the overall mark for the unit, which will test all of the material. The final five practical assignments will contribute 20% to the overall unit mark.
When assessment does not go to plan:
The synoptic tests and practical assignments are essential parts of the assessment for the unit. If you are not able to complete these summative assessments because of validated extenuating circumstances, you will usually be given another opportunity to complete the assessment during the course of the unit. For a practical assignment, it will not usually be possible to reschedule so that you can perform the experiment, and you may therefore be given an alternative assignment. If you miss the end-of-unit examination because of validated extenuating circumstances, you will usually be offered a supplementary assessment. This would, however, delay confirmation of your progression onto your chosen degree programme.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. PHYS00001).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an
assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
