The aims of first year practical work in physics are to illustrate the subject matter covered in the first year lectures to introduce students to some of the modern equipment that is used in physics laboratories to teach the principles of experimental techniques and methods of analysis underlying experimental procedures. For each physics module there will be one afternoon period of 2 hours per week of practical work. The laboratory programme is closely linked to the lecture courses and makes extensive use of computers for data collection and processing and for simulations, e.g. in special relativity. Further details about the arrangements for practical work are published separately. The aims of practical work are to encourage, through carrying out simple exercises, an appreciation of the physical properties of objects in the universe, e.g. planetary motions, the masses and temperature of stars, distances to stars and galaxies, and the age of the universe.
Students learn also by computer simulation the location and movement of the Earth in space.
Voluntary evening sessions introduce students to the night sky and help to develop an appreciation of its natural beauty. Laboratory sessions in practical astronomy are held for 2 hours per week during afternoons. Students work individually or in pairs at their own pace on four experiments selected from a range which covers planetary motions, radiation laws, properties of the Sun and of the stars, the distribution of stars and galaxies in space, and the expansion of the Universe. In addition, voluntary observing sessions are arranged on clear Tuesday and Thursday evenings at the University Observatory, so that the night sky can be studied and experience gained in the operation of telescopes. The topics of these essays will be determined by the lecturers, and essays must be handed in for marking by a due date.