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PHYC30370

Academic Year 2026/2027

Study Abroad Physics Labs (5) (PHYC30370)

Subject:
Physics
College:
Science
School:
Physics
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Thomas McCormack
Trimester:
Autumn and Spring (separate)
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

The module is undertaken in a laboratory designed to provide an educational environment where students are exposed to experimental projects which both support and complement material which they encounter in their lecture courses. The module requires that each student attend a series of introductory sessions and complete 2 experimental mini-projects. The set up of the laboratory encourages students to actively engage with the physics contents of their work. Students will be given introductory sessions covering techniques they will require and are expected to attend for all timetabled hours (6 hours/week). The experiments, covering a wide range of topics, are designed in such a way that the best students are challenged, and motivated students allowed to pursue their own extensions. Students are also introduced to risk assessment. The ethos of the laboratory is one that encourages students to ask questions and the aim is to provide a supportive environment in which students are secure enough to take full advantages of the educational opportunities on offer.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

Specific learning outcomes include familiarisation with a wide range of experimental equipment and techniques used in research and industry, development of programming skills (Python) applied to the interfacing of computers to scientific equipment and physical simulation, application of data analysis methods (including curve fitting and statistics) to experimental data, and the development of a capability to carry out a complete experimental project from the planning/setting-up stage to the production of a report/publication detailing the results.The practical laboratory also provides a natural environment for students to develop their transferable skills. These include time management, report writing, critical thinking, experimental planning, problem solving and co-operative work.

The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

46
Laboratories

66
Total

112

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Students may use generative AI tools for limited support in this module. You may use AI for planning and researching your experimental work, debugging your own code or refining the language of text you alone have authored, but not to generate text, interpret experimental results, formulate scientific conclusions or write the code required in your computational physics project. Students remain fully responsible for the accuracy and reliability of their learning, and should be able to demonstrate their understanding of the experimental work undertaken during the discussions with staff which will follow each experiment. Specifically, students are expected to be able to explain and justify the theory, procedures, analysis and conclusions provided in their laboratory reports, as well as the structure and workings of any code used. Any use of AI must be cited appropriately, including details of the tools used and the prompts submitted

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

The module is designed for students who have physics laboratory experience.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Participation in Learning Activities: The assessment will include all aspects of practical work, including attendance, commitment, understanding of the work that has been performed and practical skills. Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
20
 No
Report(s): Each laboratory report should be submitted after approximately three weeks. An interview will follow for each report. See https://physicslabs.ucd.ie/info/stage3/ for further report submission details. Week 10 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
80
 No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Remediation Type Remediation Timing
Repeat Within Two Trimesters
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback is provided on completion of each report and oral assessment through the module.

Name Role
Assoc Professor Luis Leon Vintro Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Thomas McCormack Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Professor John Quinn Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Professor Emma Sokell Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Mr Paul Hanratty Tutor

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Laboratory Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Thurs 14:00 - 15:50
Autumn Laboratory Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Wed 14:00 - 17:50
Spring Laboratory Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Tues 14:00 - 15:50
Spring Laboratory Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Wed 14:00 - 17:50
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