PHYC10160 Physics for Engineers II

Academic Year 2024/2025

This is an introductory module for first year Engineering students. The course focuses on the basic principles of Electricity, Magnetism, Quantum and Nuclear physics. These topics are studied in four themes each lasting 3 weeks.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module, you will have gained a fundamental understanding of: Electricity and Magnetism, topics in quantum physics including the Bohr atom and laser, and topics in nuclear physics including radioactivity, fission and fusion. You will be able to solve numerical problems in these topic areas and in doing so will have an applied understanding of the physics that underpins Maxwells equations.

Indicative Module Content:

Syllabus: 4 themes (each of 3 weeks)
1. QUANTUM PHYSICS
Classical physics is not enough. Photoelectric effect. Einstein’s photon theory. Spectrum of Hydrogen. Bohr model of the atom. Energy level diagram. X-rays. Interactions of X-rays with matter. Laser.

2. ELECTRICITY
Brief history of electrostatics and electricity. Electric charge. Forces between charges. Electric field. Electric flux and flux density. Gauss’s law. Electric potential and its relationship to electric field. Dipoles. Capacitance. Dielectrics. Electric current. Resistance and resistivity. Conductors and insulators.

3. MAGNETISM
Brief history of magnetism and electromagnetics. Magnetic field. Magnetic flux density. Magnetic force on a current carrying wire. Hall effect. Biot-Savart law. Ampere’s law. Solenoids. Faraday’s law. Inductance: self and mutual. AC generator. Transformer. Energy stored in magnetic field. Magnetic materials. Diamagnetism, paramagnetism, ferromagnetism. Hysteresis.

4. NUCLEAR PHYSICS
Nucleus. Nuclear properties. Nuclear mass. Binding energy. Mass defect. Strong force. Fission. Fusion. Radioactivity. Law of Radioactive decay. Radiation dosage.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

36
Tutorial

5
Practical

12
Autonomous Student Learning

67
Total

120
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This course blends in-class learning and assessment with online learning and laboratories. Lecture notes and video-lectures are provided in advance online. You annotate these notes using the video-lectures and our weekly overviews in-class. This provides the core material which you pull upon for independent homework and for assessed classes and laboratories. Homework also includes reading sections and chapters that I recommend from the course text. Attendance is required throughout trimester for lectures, in-class numerical assessments and assessed laboratories.

Physics isn't best learnt by rote or in an ivory tower. Rather it is learnt from independent struggles with numerate problems whilst pulling on materials and discussion. We hold regular assessed sessions in class in which I go through examples and methods followed by you discussing and doing similar numerical problems yourself. We hold regular Q&A sessions online in which I address your questions raised by you in sync with the module delivery.









 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Recommendations:

Honours Mathematics Leaving Cert (Ireland) or equivalent
Leaving Certificate Physics or equivalent
PHYC10150: Engineering Physics I (1st semester)


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Co-requisite:
PHYC10150 - Physics for Engineers I

Incompatibles:
PHYC10010 - Physics I, PHYC10020 - Physics of the Cell for lifesc, PHYC10030 - Physics of Macro-organisms, PHYC10060 - Fields, Waves & Light, PHYC10070 - Foundations of Physics, PHYC10080 - Frontiers of Physics, PHYC10090 - Physics II, PHYC10120 - Physics in Medicine, PHYC10130 - Physics II Medical Science, PHYC10140 - Diagnostic Imaging: Physics, PHYC10180 - Physics for Ag. Science, PHYC10190 - Aspects of Physics for Ag. Sci

Equivalents:
Physics for Engineers II (EXPH10160)


 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade

Not yet recorded.

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

A 'post-quiz Q&A' is held in the session subsequent to each theme quiz. These sessions are directed by questions from students.

Lecture notes and recorded lectures are provided in advance. These are the core module materials. We focus to these materials and related homework problems.

Numerate problems are assigned as homework. You also read from the Wiley text that you have access to from first semester: “Fundamentals of Physics” 11 th (extended) edition 2018).