Modulecode
ModuleTitle
Degree/Diploma
TypeofModule
ModularCredits
SP-1203
ThermalPhysicsandOptics
BachelorofScience(AppliedPhysics)
MajorCore
4
Totalstudentworkload
Contacthours
A-levelPhysicsorequivalent
SP-1303ThermalPhysicsandOptics
10hours/week
4hours/week
Prerequisite
Anti-requisite
Aims
Thismoduleaimstoprovidestudentswithalogicalpresentationofthebasicconceptsandprinciples
ofthermalphysicsandopticsinphysicsandstrengthentheunderstandingoftheconceptsand
principlesthrougharangeofreal-lifeapplications.
LearningOutcomes:
Onsuccessfulcompletionofthismodule,astudentwillbeexpectedtobeableto:
Lowerorder: 30% -recognisethethreephasesofmatter:solid,liquidandgas,howtheirproperties
dependsonthermalmotionandtheforcesbetweenatomsandmolecules
-describethefundamentalconceptsrelatedtovariousformsofenergy:internal,
enthalpy,entropy,freeinternalenergyandfreeenthalpy
-describethebasicconceptofthermalequilibrium
-describethebasicphenomenaduetolightmatterinteraction.
Middleorder: 60% -describepolarizationandthepropertiesofpolarizingcomponents
-describetheconceptofquantumnatureoflightanddiscussthelimitationsof
classicaloptics,derivethethermodynamictemperaturescalefromthe
operationofanidealCarnotheatengine
-recognisethefundamentallimitsfortheefficiencyofheatengine
Higherorder: 10% -describeinterferometerprinciplesanditsapplications.
-describeandapplythebasicprinciplesofgeometricaloptics.
-describethekinetictheoryofgasesandhowthistheorycanbeappliedtowhat
isactuallyobservedinrealgases
-explainanduselawsofthermodynamicstosolvesimpleproblemsrelatedwith
heatandworkchangestopracticalsystems.
ModuleContents
-ThermalPhysics:-TheZerothlawofthermodynamics,thermometryandtemperaturescales,
thermalexpansion,heatcapacityandphasechanges,heattransportanditsapplications,Firstlawof
thermodynamics,internalenergyandheatcapacity,reversibleandirreversibleprocesses,enthalpy,
thermalefficiency,applicationsoffirstlawofthermodynamics;Secondlawofthermodynamics,
entropy,entropychanges,applicationsofcombinedfirstandsecondlawsofthermodynamics;The
kinetictheoryofgases,adiabaticprocessesforanidealgas,theequipartitionofenergy,distribution
ofmolecularspeeds,meanfreepath,molarspecificheats,Maxwell-Boltzmannspeeddistribution
function,modificationofkinetictheoryforrealgases.
-Optics:Reviewoflighttheory;Rayapproximationingeometricaloptics,reflection,refraction,
Huygens’sprinciple,dispersionandprisms,Fermat’sprinciple,imageformation,thinlensequation,
multiplethinlenses,thicklenses,lensaberrations,Opticalsystems,interference,diffraction,thin-film
interference,Michelsoninterferometer,diffractiongrating,x-raydiffractionandpolarization.
Assessment
Formative
Classtest,discussionsandfeedback
assessment
Summative Examination:60%
assessment Coursework:40%
-2assignments(1persection)(40%)