PHY3024 : Atoms, Molecules, and Nuclei
- Offered for Year: 2024/25
- Module Leader(s): Dr Angela Dyson
- Owning School: Mathematics, Statistics and Physics
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 5.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
To present the quantum theory of atoms including spin, fine structure and many electron atoms.
To present the quantum theory of molecules, including a quantum treatment of their binding, electronic structure, rotation, vibration and spectroscopy.
To present a treatment of the structure of the nucleus, its binding and treatments of decay.
Outline Of Syllabus
Atomic Structure:
The hydrogen atom: radial functions, spherical harmonics, angular momentum. Properties of solutions.
Spin, Pauli Principle, multiplets, fine structure; Zeeman effect; LS and JJ coupling.
Molecular Physics:
Molecular Hamiltonian, Born Oppenheimer approximation, electronic structure: bonding
Vibration and rotation: harmonic motion and beyond, rigid rotator and energy levels.
Spectroscopy: microwave, infrared optical spectra. Selection rules, Franck-Condon principle.
Nuclear Physics:
Nuclear masses and binding energies; models of the nucleus, theories of radioactive decay, fission and fusion nuclear power.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 15 | 1:00 | 15:00 | Completion of in course assignments |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 24 | 1:00 | 24:00 | Formal Lectures and Problems Classes |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 61 | 1:00 | 61:00 | Preparation time for lectures, background reading, coursework review |
| Total | 100:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Lectures are used for the delivery of theory and explanation of methods, illustrated with examples, and for giving general feedback on marked work. Some in-person sessions will be used for formative problem solving.
The teaching methods are appropriate to allow students to develop a wide range of skills, from understanding basic concepts and facts to higher-order thinking.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written Examination | 90 | 2 | A | 80 | N/A |
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prob solv exercises | 2 | M | 6 | Problem-solving exercises assessment |
| Prob solv exercises | 2 | M | 7 | Problem-solving exercises assessment |
| Prob solv exercises | 2 | M | 7 | Problem-solving exercises assessment |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prob solv exercises | 2 | M | Problem Exercises - Formative Assessment |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
A substantial formal unseen examination is appropriate for the assessment of the material in this module as some elements are required essential knowledge for a Physicist. The format of the examination will enable students to reliably demonstrate their own knowledge, understanding and application of learning outcomes. The assurance of academic integrity forms a necessary part of programme accreditation.
Examination problems may require a synthesis of concepts and strategies from different sections, while they may have more than one ways for solution. The examination time allows the students to test different strategies, work out examples and gather evidence for deciding on an effective strategy, while carefully articulating their ideas and explicitly citing the theory they are using.
The coursework assignments allow the students to develop their problem solving techniques, to practise the methods learnt in the module, to assess their progress and to receive feedback; these assessments have a secondary formative purpose as well as their primary summative purpose.
Additional formative problems will be tackled in class to further support and enhance students learning.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- PHY3024's Timetable