26th October 2021

We removed the 'Important information' box on the page following University approval:

Important information
We are making some exciting changes to our Physics with Astrophysics (MPhys) degree for 2022 entry. Our core and optional modules are currently undergoing approval through the University's rigorous academic processes. As changes are confirmed, we will update the course information on this webpage. It is therefore very important that you check this webpage for the latest information before you apply and prior to accepting an offer.

On the 'Modules' tab we revised the modules listed for Year One:

Previous content:

Year One

Mathematics for Physicists

Classical Mechanics and Relativity

Physics Foundations

Astrophysics Laboratory I
The Laboratory introduces experimental science. There are experiments in physics and astronomy. The experiments can help give a different and more 'tangible' perspective on material treated theoretically in lectures and teach the skills required for successful laboratory work. These include how to work with apparatus, how to keep a laboratory notebook, how to handle data and quantify errors and how to write scientific reports. The experiments provide experience in using a range of equipment. The module also asks you to think critically and solve problems.

Electricity and Magnetism

Electronics Workshop
Electronic instrumentation is widely used in virtually all areas of experimental physics. Whilst it is not essential for all experimental physicists to know, for example, how to make a low noise amplifier, it is extremely useful for them to have some knowledge of electronics. This workshop introduce some of the basic electronics which are used regularly by physicists.

Physics Programming Workshop

Introduction to Astronomy

Quantum Phenomena
This module begins by showing you how classical physics is unable to explain some of the properties of light, electrons and atoms. (Theories in physics, which make no reference to quantum theory, are usually called classical theories.) You will then deal with some of the key contributions to the development of quantum physics including those of: Planck, who first suggested that the energy in a light wave comes in discrete units or 'quanta'; Einstein, whose theory of the photoelectric effect implied a 'duality' between particles and waves; Bohr, who suggested a theory of the atom that assumed that not only energy, but also angular momentum, was quantised; and Schrödinger who wrote down the first wave-equations to describe matter.

Key Skills for Physics
This module develops problem solving skills and promotes the skill of self-learning. Problem solving forms a vital part of the learning process, particularly in Physics. This module addresses problems from the core lecture modules and gives support in developing the important habits of continuous self-assessment required for self-study.

Revised content:

Year One

• Mathematics for Physicists
• Classical Mechanics and Special Relativity
• Physics Foundations
• Astrophysics Laboratory I
• Electricity and Magnetism
• Physics Programming Workshop
• Astronomy
• Quantum Phenomena

We revised the modules listed for Year Two:

Previous content:

Year Two

Electromagnetic Theory and Optics
You will develop the ideas of first year electricity and magnetism into Maxwell's theory of electromagnetism. Maxwell's equations pulled the various laws of electricity and magnetism (Faraday's law, Ampere's law, Lenz's law, Gauss's law) into one unified and elegant theory. The module shows you that Maxwell's equations in free space have time-dependent solutions, which turn out to be the familiar electromagnetic waves (light, radio waves, X-rays, etc.), and studies their behaviour at material boundaries (Fresnel Equations). You will also cover the basics of optical instruments and light sources.

Mathematical Methods for Physicists

Quantum Mechanics and its Applications

Thermal Physics II
Any macroscopic object we meet contains a large number of particles, each of which moves according to the laws of mechanics (which can be classical or quantum). Yet, we can often ignore the details of this microscopic motion and use a few average quantities such as temperature and pressure to describe and predict the behaviour of the object. Why we can do this, when we can do this and how to do it are the subject of this module. The most important idea in the field is due to Boltzmann, who identified the connection between entropy and disorder. The module shows you how the structure of equilibrium thermodynamics follows from Boltzmann's definition of the entropy and shows you how, in principle, any observable equilibrium quantity can be computed.

Astrophysics Laboratory II and Skills

Stars
People have been studying stars for as long as anything else in science. Yet, the subject is advancing faster now than almost every other branch of physics. With the arrival of space-based instruments, the prospects are that the field will continue to advance and that some of the most exciting discoveries reported in physics during our lifetimes will be in astrophysics. In this module, you will study the physics of stars and learn how we explain their behaviour. The module covers the main classifications of stars by size, age and distance from the earth and the relationships between them.

The Solar System
The study of the Solar System has been one of the most important in the history of physics with ramifications beyond science - Galileo was convicted of heresy for arguing that the earth moved round the Sun. Newton developed his theory of gravitation to explain Kepler's observations of the Solar System planets and effectively established what we now call the scientific method. In this module, we will introduce some of the intriguing phenomena observed in our Solar System. Questions we will touch on include: How does the Sun work? How do planets move and form? Do they have atmospheres? While the answers to some of these questions are complicated and still not completely known, we will construct convincing, qualitatively correct and appealing explanations of many of these phenomena using physics studied in the first year.

Revised content:

Year Two

• Statistical Mechanics, Electromagnetic Theory and Optics
• Mathematical Methods for Physicists
• Quantum Mechanics and its Applications
• Astrophysics Laboratory II and Skills
• Stars and the Solar System

We also revised the modules listed for Year Three:

Previous content:

Year Three

Quantum Physics of Atoms

Cosmology

Black Holes, White Dwarfs and Neutron Stars

Electrodynamics

Plasma Electrodynamics
Plasmas are 'fluids' of charged particles. The motion of these charged particles (usually electrons) is controlled by the electromagnetic fields which are imposed from outside and by the fields which the moving charged particles themselves set up. This module will cover the key equations which describe such plasmas. It will examine some predictions derived on the basis of these equations and compare these with results from laboratory experiments and with observations from in situ measurements of solar system plasmas and remote observations of astrophysical systems. It will also be important to look at instabilities in plasmas and how electromagnetic waves interact with the plasmas.

Astrophysics Group Project

Astrophysics Laboratory III

Revised content:

Year Three

• Quantum Physics of Atoms
• Galaxies and Cosmology
• Black Holes, White Dwarfs and Neutron Stars
• Electrodynamics
• Mathematical Methods for Physicists III
• Astrophysics Group Project
• Astrophysics Laboratory III

As well as revising the optional modules listed:

Previous content:

• Computational Physics
• Environmental Physics
• Hamiltonian Mechanics
• Nuclear Physics
• Physics in Medicine
• Physics of Fluids
• Planets
• Exoplanets and Life
• Solar Magnetohydrodynamics

Revised content:

• General Relativity
• Planets, Exoplanets and Life
• Solar and Space Physics
• High Performance Computing in Physics
• The Distant Universe
• Condensed Matter Physics
• Quantum Computation and Simulation
• Advanced Quantum Theory

4th March 2021

We have added an important information notice to the ‘modules’ tab:

Important information

We are making some exciting changes to our Physics with Astrophysics (MPhys) degree for 2022 entry. Our core and optional modules are currently undergoing approval through the University's rigorous academic processes. As changes are confirmed, we will update the course information on this webpage. It is therefore very important that you check this webpage for the latest information before you apply and prior to accepting an offer.

Initial launch

This page was launched on 2nd March 2020.