PH22009: Further physics: from neutrinos to black holes
[Page last updated: 09 August 2024]
| Academic Year: | 2024/25 |
| Owning Department/School: | Department of Physics |
| Credits: | 15 [equivalent to 30 CATS credits] |
| Notional Study Hours: | 300 |
| Level: | Intermediate (FHEQ level 5) |
| Period: |
- Academic Year
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| Assessment Summary: | EXCB 33%, EXOB 67% |
| Assessment Detail: |
- MCQ examination (EXCB 33%)
- Written examination (EXOB 67%)
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| Supplementary Assessment: |
- Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
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| Requisites: |
While taking this module you must take PH22006
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| Learning Outcomes: |
After taking this unit the student should be able to:
describe the characteristics of the fundamental forces, and quote and use conservation laws to determine allowed particle reactions;
apply decay laws to problems in particle and nuclear physics, and define and perform simple calculations on cross section and centre of mass frame;
discuss binding in nuclei and explain the energetics and mechanisms of radioactive decay;
describe the liquid drop and shell models of nuclei and use them to calculate and interpret nuclear properties;
describe the physical processes involved in fission and fusion reactions and in stellar nucleosynthesis;
give a qualitative description of the early stages of the Universe, the condensation of particles, nuclei and the evolution of stars.
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| Synopsis: | One of the great things about physics is that the fundamental ideas, laws and theories hold from the smallest, most ephemeral sub-atomic particles to the largest scale structures in the Universe. You will explore the foundations of particle physics and nuclear physics, learn about the life cycle of stars and expand your knowledge of cosmological models and the Big Bang.
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| Content: | Particle & nuclear physics (16 lecture hours): Particle physics: Quarks, leptons and mediators. Antiparticles. Quark model of hadrons. The four forces. Exchange particles and Feynman diagrams. Conservation laws; decays and reactions, half life and mean lifetime. Unification of forces. Recent developments in particle physics (e.g. pentaquarks, neutrino oscillations). The nucleus: Nucleon interactions and binding energy. Nuclear size and mass (isotopes and isobars). Radioactive decay; beta-decay, electron and positron emission. K-capture. Alpha decay; energetics and simplified tunnelling theory. The liquid drop model and semi-empirical mass formula. The shell model; nuclear spin, excited states.
Further astrophysics (16 lecture hours): Stars: Stellar evolution. Stellar nucleosynthesis. Stellar death; neutron stars, supernova, cosmic ray bursts. The Big Bang. Hubble's Law. Cosmic background radiation and ripples therein. Separation of unified forces. Inflation theory. Formation of elementary particles. Cosmic nucleosynthesis.
Further physics (28 lecture hours): detailed content TBD.
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| Course availability: |
PH22009 is Compulsory on the following courses:
Department of Physics
- USPH-AFB20 : BSc(Hons) Physics (Year 2)
- USPH-AFB22 : BSc(Hons) Physics with Astrophysics (Year 2)
- USPH-AKB22 : BSc(Hons) Physics with Astrophysics with professional placement (Year 2)
- USPH-AKB22 : BSc(Hons) Physics with Astrophysics with study abroad (Year 2)
- USPH-AKB20 : BSc(Hons) Physics with professional placement (Year 2)
- USPH-AKB20 : BSc(Hons) Physics with study abroad (Year 2)
- USPH-AFB24 : BSc(Hons) Physics with Theoretical Physics (Year 2)
- USPH-AKB24 : BSc(Hons) Physics with Theoretical Physics with professional placement (Year 2)
- USPH-AKB24 : BSc(Hons) Physics with Theoretical Physics with study abroad (Year 2)
- USPH-AFM20 : MPhys(Hons) Physics (Year 2)
- USPH-AFM22 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Astrophysics (Year 2)
- USPH-AKM22 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Astrophysics with professional placement (Year 2)
- USPH-AFM23 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Astrophysics with research placement (Year 2)
- USPH-AKM23 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Astrophysics with research placement and professional placement (Year 2)
- USPH-AKM23 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Astrophysics with research placement and study abroad (Year 2)
- USPH-AKM22 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Astrophysics with study abroad (Year 2)
- USPH-AKM20 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with professional placement (Year 2)
- USPH-AFM21 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with research placement (Year 2)
- USPH-AKM21 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with research placement and professional placement (Year 2)
- USPH-AKM21 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with research placement and study abroad (Year 2)
- USPH-AKM20 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with study abroad (Year 2)
- USPH-AFM24 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Theoretical Physics (Year 2)
- USPH-AKM24 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Theoretical Physics with professional placement (Year 2)
- USPH-AFM25 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Theoretical Physics with research placement (Year 2)
- USPH-AKM25 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Theoretical Physics with research placement and professional placement (Year 2)
- USPH-AKM25 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Theoretical Physics with research placement and study abroad (Year 2)
- USPH-AKM24 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Theoretical Physics with study abroad (Year 2)
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Notes: - This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2024/25 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2025/26 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2024/25.
- Courses and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
- Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
- Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.
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