2024/25 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

PHYS3160 Joint Honours (Science): Project

20 Credits Class Size: 20

Module manager: Dr Peter Adams
Email: P.G.Adams@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

Mutually Exclusive

PHYS3001 Advanced Techniques in Experimental Physics
PHYS3002 Advanced Techniques in Astrophysics
PHYS3003 Advanced Techniques in Theoretical Physics
PHYS3004 Advanced Techniques in Physics (Joint Honours)
PHYS3152 Project
PHYS5014M Research Project

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Objectives

For all projects, the student should:
- Carry out an independent research programme, under the supervision of one or more members of staff within one of the existing research groups of the School.
- Prepare and plan out a programme of research (experimental/ computing/ theoretical/ education) or an extended review of the literature (dissertation) in Physics or a related discipline under the guidance of the supervisor.
- Carry out some analysis of data from the literature or new data generated during the project.
- Execute this programme of work independently.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module students will be able:
1. Search and assess the existing literature of scientific publications in a research field.
2. Plan and execute independent scientific research, which will involve one or a combination of the following activities: experiments and/or computations and/or simulations and/or building apparatus or software and/or educational research and/or critical analysis of scientific literature.
3. Interpret the results of the scientific research and evaluate their accuracy as compared with theoretical predictions and/or published data.
4. Engage productively with a project supervisor to discuss the progress of the research and gain feedback, which allows plans to be updated.
5. Present scientific concepts, results and methodology in extended formal scientific English with illustrations and figures and references to literature sources as necessary.
6. Deliver presentations including scientific concepts, results and methodology s and answer related questions.
7. Manage time and plan work to meet deadlines

Skills outcomes

For all projects, the student should gain the following skills:
- Planning and executing experimental/computing/theoretical/literary projects.
- Confidence in report writing and ability to present work to a small group of peers through an audiovisual presentation.

Syllabus

I) Research Projects:
Selection of project; literature search; laboratory/computational/theoretical/educational research to carry out project; preparation of draft report; preparation of final report (approximately 3,500 words); presentation.

II) Dissertations:
Selection of dissertation topic; comprehensive literature search and critical analysis; preparation of draft report; preparation of final report (approximately 5,000 words); presentation.

Note: Physics with Astrophysics students carry out projects in astrophysics.

Teaching Methods

Delivery type Number Length hours Student hours
Supervision 10 0.5 5
Independent Learning 40 2 80
Private study hours 115
Total Contact hours 85
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) 200

Private study

“Private study” includes the following aspects:
- Report writing: 95 hours
- Preparation for presentation: 20 hours.

“Independent Learning” comprises the planning and carrying out the Experimental/Computing/Theoretical/Educational research or Literature analysis and dissertation development

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

- Weekly meetings with the supervisor in Semester 1 and Semester 2 until Easter break
- Feedback on draft reports and draft presentation slides from the supervisor in Semesters 1 and 2.

Methods of Assessment

Coursework
Assessment type Notes % of formal assessment
Assignment Project notebook (Pass/Fail) 0
In-course Assessment Continuous assessment during Semester 1 35
Report Final project report 45
Presentation Presentation 20
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) 100

Students must submit a serious attempt at all assessments, in order to pass the module overall. Students who only need to resit the components that need no further continuously assessed work may be allowed to resit this module as an external student. Students who have not satisfactorily completed the continuously assessed components will be required to resit the module with teaching. Such students will usually be assigned a new project, but may be restricted in the choice of projects available.

Reading List

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 4/29/2024

Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team