Introductory Practical Physics I
- Sciences
- 100 level
- 1 credit unit
- 91 pages
- 3 units
This course provides a foundation in physics practical skills, focusing on mechanics, heat, and properties of matter. It emphasizes the development of manipulative skills in handling physics apparatus and reinforces theoretical concepts. Students will learn to identify variables, analyze errors, and determine physical constants through experimentation and graphical analysis. The course also covers report writing and data interpretation, preparing students for further studies and practical applications in physics.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Study hours
- 40 hours
- Maths
- Basic
- Content
- Practical, problem solving
- Practical work
- Yes
- Assignments
- Tutor marked assessments
- Final examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of PHY191, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
PHY191 · UNIT 1: GRAPHS
As a physics student, you will be involved in observing some physical phenomena and measuring physical quantities such as length, mass, time, temperature and current of electricity. These are called fundamental physical quantities.
What you should be able to do
- Identify variables in physical phenomena
- Analyze errors in measurements
- Determine physical constants through experimentation
- Apply graphical methods to analyze data
- Write comprehensive experiment reports
What it prepares you for
- Laboratory Technician
- Research Assistant
- Physics Teacher
- Data Analyst
- Education
- Research
- Quality Control
- Engineering
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 1: Graphs and Measurement
Unit 1: Graphs
Requires understanding of different types of graphs and their applications in physics.
- Module 2: Error Analysis and Experiments
Unit 3: Error Analysis
Involves complex calculations and statistical analysis to quantify uncertainties in measurements.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 32 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: Graphs and Measurement
Unit 1: Graphs · 2 hours
Study the introduction to graphs, including independent and dependent variables.. Understand the importance of graphs in determining physical constants..
- Week 2Module 1: Graphs and Measurement
Unit 1: Graphs · 2 hours
Learn about different types of graphs: linear through the origin, linear not through the origin, and non-linear graphs.. Practice reducing non-linear equations to linear equations..
- Week 3Module 1: Graphs and Measurement
Unit 1: Graphs · 2 hours
Study the determination of the gradient of a non-linear graph at a point.. Complete Tutor Marked Assignments related to graphs..
- Week 4Module 1: Graphs and Measurement
Unit 2: Measurement · 2 hours
Understand the concept of errors in measurements.. Distinguish between precision and accuracy..
- Week 5Module 1: Graphs and Measurement
Unit 2: Measurement · 2 hours
Learn to express measurements in scientific notation.. Practice computations with approximate numbers, including multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction..
- Week 6Module 2: Error Analysis and Experiments
Unit 3: Error Analysis · 2 hours
Study the types of errors: systematic and random errors.. Learn how to determine the size of errors..
- Week 7Module 2: Error Analysis and Experiments
Unit 3: Error Analysis · 2 hours
Understand the propagation of errors in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.. Learn about error propagation in graphing..
- Week 8Module 2: Error Analysis and Experiments
Unit 3: Error Analysis · 2 hours
Study the uses of π in calculations.. Complete Tutor Marked Assignments related to error analysis..
- Week 9Module 2: Error Analysis and Experiments
Experiment 1: Determination of acceleration due to gravity by means of the Simple Pendulum · 3 hours
Perform Experiment 1: Determination of acceleration due to gravity by means of the Simple Pendulum.. Record observations and analyze the data..
- Week 10Module 2: Error Analysis and Experiments
Experiment 2: Acceleration due to gravity by means of the simple pendulum from inaccessible height · 3 hours
Perform Experiment 2: Acceleration due to gravity by means of the simple pendulum from inaccessible height.. Record observations and analyze the data..
- Week 11Module 2: Error Analysis and Experiments
Experiment 3: The determination of the force constant of a spiral spring · 3 hours
Perform Experiment 3: The determination of the force constant of a spiral spring.. Record observations and analyze the data..
- Week 12Module 2: Error Analysis and Experiments
Experiment 4: Determination of effective mass of a spiral spring and the spring constant · 3 hours
Perform Experiment 4: Determination of effective mass of a spiral spring and the spring constant.. Record observations and analyze the data..
- Week 13Module 2: Error Analysis and Experiments
Review and Preparation · 4 hours
Review all experiments and concepts covered in the course.. Prepare for final assessments..
Preparing for the exam
- Review all experiments and their theoretical backgrounds.
- Practice graphical analysis and calculations.
- Focus on understanding error analysis techniques.
- Solve numerical problems from the textbook.
- Prepare well for the final examination.
Questions students ask about this course
What is PHY191 about?
This course provides a foundation in physics practical skills, focusing on mechanics, heat, and properties of matter. It emphasizes the development of manipulative skills in handling physics apparatus and reinforces theoretical concepts. Students will learn to identify variables, analyze errors, and determine physical constants through experimentation and graphical analysis. The course also covers report writing and data interpretation, preparing students for further studies and practical applications in physics.
How many units does PHY191 have?
PHY191, Introductory Practical Physics I, has 3 units across 1 module, over 91 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is PHY191?
PHY191 carries 1 credit unit, at 100 level in Sciences.
Is PHY191 hard?
PHY191 is rated beginner level, with basic mathematical content. It is mostly practical and problem solving work, and it has a practical component.
How long does PHY191 take to study?
About 40 hours of study, spread across its 3 units.
How is PHY191 assessed?
PHY191 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assessments and final examination.
What can I do with PHY191?
Laboratory Technician, Research Assistant, Physics Teacher and Data Analyst.