Physics Undergraduate

Course Handbook
2023-2024
Physics 2023 -

Second Year (Part A)

 Map of the Department of Physics Buildings

Useful Department Contacts

Head of Teaching Prof H Kraus

[email protected]
Assistant Head of Teaching Mrs C Leonard-McIntyre 72407
[email protected]
Disability Contact Mrs C Leonard-McIntyre 72407
[email protected]
Teaching Laboratory Manager Dr J Barnes 73491
[email protected]
Teaching Office Administration Miss H Glanville 72369
Officer [email protected]
Teaching Office email address [email protected]
Teaching lab support [email protected]
PJCC Website https://pjcc.physics.ox.ac.uk/

These notes have been produced by the Department of Physics. The information in this handbook is for
the academic year Michaelmas term 2023, Hilary term 2024 and Trinity term 2024.

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 Contents
Map of the Department of Physics Buildings .......................................................................................... 2
Useful Department Contacts .................................................................................................................... 2
Course Information Updates .................................................................................................................... 6
Introduction to the handbook .................................................................................................................. 6
Other useful sources of information: .................................................................................................... 6
Important dates and deadlines ................................................................................................................ 7
Introduction to the Department of Physics ............................................................................................. 8
The Department of Physics ................................................................................................................... 8
Policies and regulations ......................................................................................................................... 8
Data Protection ..................................................................................................................................... 8
University Policy on Intellectual Property Rights .................................................................................. 8
Copyright ............................................................................................................................................... 8
Good academic practice and avoiding plagiarism ................................................................................. 8
Disability ................................................................................................................................................ 9
Artificial Intelligence Tools .................................................................................................................... 9
Student life, support and guidance ....................................................................................................... 9
Complaints and appeals ........................................................................................................................ 9
Opportunities for skills training and development ............................................................................... 9
Employability and careers information and advice ............................................................................. 10
Departmental representation - The Physics Joint Consultative Committee (PJCC) ............................ 10
Opportunities to provide evaluation and feedback ............................................................................ 10
Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences (MPLS) Division and University Representation ............... 10
Enterprise and entrepreneurship ........................................................................................................ 10
The Institute of Physics (IOP) .............................................................................................................. 11
Second Year 2023-2024 .......................................................................................................................... 12
Introduction to the Second Year ......................................................................................................... 12
Aims and objectives ............................................................................................................................. 12
The BA and MPhys courses ................................................................................................................. 12
Practical Work ..................................................................................................................................... 12
Aims of Practical Work ........................................................................................................................ 12
Individual presentation ....................................................................................................................... 13
Physics Department Speaking Competition ........................................................................................ 13
Textbooks ............................................................................................................................................ 13

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 Short Options ...................................................................................................................................... 13
Short Options offered by other departments or faculties .................................................................. 13
(a) Language Options .................................................................................................................... 13
(b) Pre-approved Alternative Subjects.......................................................................................... 14
(c) Alternative Subjects ....................................................................................................................... 16
More practical work instead of a short option ................................................................................... 16
Substituting practical work with vacation placements and Physics in Schools................................... 18
Academic progress .............................................................................................................................. 18
Physics and Philosophy........................................................................................................................... 19
Second Year Patterns of Teaching .......................................................................................................... 20
Practical Work ......................................................................................................................................... 22
Organisation ........................................................................................................................................ 22
Assessment .......................................................................................................................................... 24
Summary of the experiment ............................................................................................................... 24
Mark scheme ....................................................................................................................................... 24
Assessed practical............................................................................................................................ 24
Physics Examinations .............................................................................................................................. 26
Examination entry ............................................................................................................................... 26
Examination dates ............................................................................................................................... 26
Examination regulations ...................................................................................................................... 26
Examination conventions .................................................................................................................... 26
Examination preparation ..................................................................................................................... 26
Past exam papers ................................................................................................................................ 27
External examiner and examiners’ reports ......................................................................................... 27
Sitting your examination ..................................................................................................................... 27
Part A Examination ................................................................................................................................. 28
Marking Individual Presentations........................................................................................................ 28
Assessment of Practical work .............................................................................................................. 28
Marking of the assessed practical ....................................................................................................... 29
Assessment of extra practicals and extended practicals .................................................................... 29
Assessment of class ............................................................................................................................. 29
Year outcome for Part A ...................................................................................................................... 30
Examination results ............................................................................................................................. 30
Part A examination prizes and commendation for practical work...................................................... 30

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 Eligibility for MPhys course ................................................................................................................. 30
The BA and MPhys course: which course should I do? ..................................................................... 30
Appendix A Recommended Textbooks – Second Year ..................................................................... 31
Second Year ......................................................................................................................................... 31
Short Options ...................................................................................................................................... 32
Appendix B Note on Calculators for ALL Public Examinations* ....................................................... 35
Appendix C Syllabuses for the Second Year (Final Honour School – Part A) .................................... 36
Mathematical Methods ....................................................................................................................... 36
Probability and Statistics ..................................................................................................................... 36
A1. Thermal Physics ............................................................................................................................. 37
A2. Electromagnetism and Optics ....................................................................................................... 38
A3. Quantum Physics ........................................................................................................................... 39
S01. Functions of a complex variable .................................................................................................. 40
S04. Energy Studies ............................................................................................................................. 40
S07. Classical Mechanics* ................................................................................................................... 40
S12. Introduction to Biological Physics................................................................................................ 41
S14. History of Physics ......................................................................................................................... 41
S26. Stars and Galaxies ........................................................................................................................ 42
S30. Exoplanets ................................................................................................................................... 42
S31. Numerical Methods ..................................................................................................................... 43
S32. Chaos, Random Processes and Predictability .............................................................................. 43
S33. Entrepreneurship for Physicists ................................................................................................... 43
S34. From Signal to Data ..................................................................................................................... 45
Appendix D Mark scheme for practicals ........................................................................................... 46
Appendix E Summary of Part A experiments ................................................................................... 48
Appendix F Complaints and Appeals ................................................................................................ 54

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 Course Information Updates
Adaptations to the physics undergraduate course may be necessary due to unforeseen developments,
e.g. the Coronavirus (Covid) etc. and will be derived from the university guidance and published on
Canvas.

Introduction to the handbook

A handbook is provided for each year of the programme and it is also useful to read the handbooks on
topics available in later years. This handbook contains, amongst other things, comprehensive
book/reading lists, also available via ORLO (Oxford Reading List Online); important dates for the
academic year; information about the undergraduate consultative committee (PJCC); and a list of
people involved in organising the course. Please read this handbook thoroughly and refer to it
frequently, as it will often contain the answers to many common questions. Course handbooks can be
found on Canvas. In this document, MT, HT, and TT refer to Michaelmas, Hilary and Trinity terms of the
academic year, respectively. The weeks in each term are numbered as 1st week, 2nd week and so on,
with 0th week being the week immediately before the start of full term.

Other useful sources of information:

Full details about the Practical work can be found in this handbook and on Canvas.
Undergraduate course information is available at Physics Undergraduate Degree. For particular
information about college teaching, students should contact their tutors.
Please refer to the Physics and Philosophy Course Handbook for all details of the Physics and Philosophy
course that are not covered in the Physics Undergraduate Course Handbook.
For full and up-to-date lecture information, see the lecture timetables.
The examination times given in this handbook are based on information available in September 2023.
These may change and the definitive times are those published at
https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/exams/timetables.
The Examination Regulations relating to this course are available at https://examregs.admin.ox.ac.uk/.
If there is a conflict between information in this handbook and the Examination Regulations then you
should follow the Examination Regulations. If you have any concerns, please contact the Assistant Head
of Teaching by email at [email protected]
The information in this handbook is accurate as at 10 October 2023; however, it may be necessary for
changes to be made in certain circumstances. If such changes are made, the Department will publish a
new version of this handbook together with a list of the changes and students will be informed.

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 Important dates and deadlines
Michaelmas term Event Time Location

Week 1 Introduction to the Second Year Mon 09:00 Lindemann lecture theatre

Week 1 Teaching Physics in Schools *** ***

Week 2 Applications for Short Options: S20;

S21 and S27

Week 4 Application for more practical work, Fri noon

vacation placement closing date

Week 8 Entry for Part A Fri *

Trinity term Event Time Location

Week 3 Entry for Short Option choices Fri *

Week 4 Last day to do practicals Tues Teaching Laboratories

Week 5 Year Group meeting ***

Week 5 Last day to get practicals assessed Tues BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

Week 5 Deadline for marking Fri noon Teaching Laboratories

practical work

Week 6 Assessed practicals Tues/Wed/ To be confirmed

Thurs

Week 6 Hand in extra practical and extended Mon 12:00 Online submission
practical reports

Week 6 Individual presentation marks from Fri

college tutors to Teaching Office for
examiners

Weeks 7- 8 Part A examination **

Week 9 Alternative subject applications Fri [email protected]

closing date

* Students submit their entries via their College Office and Student Self Service.
** See https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/exams/timetables for the exam timetables.
*** See https://www3.physics.ox.ac.uk/lectures/ for lecture details.

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 Introduction to the Department of Physics
The Department of Physics
Please see the introductory section to the first-year handbook for a broader introduction to the
Department, the Faculty and lecture theatres etc. if you would like a refresher on those things. We
recommend that all students obtain/have use of a computer, either their own personal laptop or use of
a college computer.

Policies and regulations

The University has a wide range of policies and regulations that apply to students. These are easily
accessible through the A-Z of University regulations, codes of conduct and policies available on the
Oxford Students website www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/regulations/a-z. In particular, see the
Policy on lecture recordings by students at https://academic.admin.ox.ac.uk/educational-recordings-
policy.

Data Protection
The Physics Department follows the general guidelines laid down by the University in regard to the
provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998 (see https://compliance.admin.ox.ac.uk/data-protection-
policy for details.) Only student information relevant to the organisation of the physics courses is held
by the Department.

University Policy on Intellectual Property Rights

The University of Oxford has arrangements in place governing the ownership and exploitation of
intellectual property generated by students and researchers in the course of, or incidental to, their
studies. More details are available at https://researchsupport.admin.ox.ac.uk/innovation/ip/policy

Copyright
Guidance about copyright is published at https://www.ox.ac.uk/public-affairs/images/copyright. The
University holds a licence from the Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA) which permits multiple copying
(paper to paper) from most copyright-protected books, journals, law reports, conference proceedings
and magazines for use by students and the course tutor on registered taught courses and non-credit-
bearing short courses.

Good academic practice and avoiding plagiarism

Specific guidance on academic good practice and topics such as time management, note-taking,
referencing, research and library skills and information literacy can be found at
https://www.ctl.ox.ac.uk/turnitin-plagiarism-awareness
“Plagiarism is presenting someone else’s work or ideas as your own, with or without their consent, by
incorporating it into your work without full acknowledgement. All published and unpublished material,
whether in manuscript, printed or electronic form, is covered under this definition. Plagiarism may be
intentional or reckless, or unintentional. Under the regulations for examinations, intentional or reckless
plagiarism is a disciplinary offence.” [Ref: https://www.ctl.ox.ac.uk/turnitin-plagiarism-awareness ]
The Teaching Office uses ‘Turnitin’ to check material e.g., reports, projects and papers submitted by
students against material previously submitted. All work submitted will be checked with Turnitin.

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Copying sources (e.g., Wikipedia) word for word will not be accepted, unless speech marks are used
around a very short extract from the source and the source is correctly referenced.

Disability
Disability is a much broader term than many people realise. It includes all students who experience
sensory and mobility impairments, mental health conditions, long-standing health conditions, social
communication conditions or specific learning difficulties where the impact on day-to-day life is
substantial and long term. If you have a disability and have not already been in touch with Disability
Advisory Service (DAS) we strongly encourage you to contact them to discuss what support and/or
adjustments may be appropriate for you. Agreeing a Student Support Plan (SSP) with DAS is an essential
step to ensuring that you get whatever reasonable adjustments, advice and assistance you may need to
give you the best experience and benefit from your time at the University.]

The Examination Regulations provide guidance for students with special examination needs. See
https://examregs.admin.ox.ac.uk/ for more information. The Disability Contact for the Department is
the Assistant Head of Teaching, Carrie Leonard-McIntyre.

Artificial Intelligence Tools

“New Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT have the potential to change the way we teach
and learn in many positive ways. However, the University made clear to students in the Student News
(dated 6 February 2023) that the unauthorised use of AI tools in exams and other assessed work is a
serious disciplinary offence. University websites and materials are being updated to underline that
unauthorised use of AI for exams or submitted work is not permitted, and further guidance to students
will be issued soon.” [ref: https://academic.admin.ox.ac.uk/article/unauthorised-use-of-ai-in-exams-
and-assessment]

Student life, support and guidance

Every College has their own system of support for students. Please refer to your College handbook or
website for more information on who to contact and what support is available through your College.
Details of the wide range of sources of support are available more widely in the University and from the
Oxford Students website (www.ox.ac.uk/students/welfare), including information in relation to mental
and physical health and disability. Your College tutors provide advice about the Physics courses, and
information is also available from the Physics Teaching Office.

Complaints and appeals

If you have any issues with teaching or supervision, please raise these as soon as possible so that they
can be addressed promptly. In Appendix F you will find precise details on making complaints and
appeals.

Opportunities for skills training and development

A wide range of information and training materials are available to help you develop your academic
skills – including time management, research and library skills, referencing, revision skills and academic
writing - through the Oxford Students website.

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Employability and careers information and advice
The University Careers Service (at 56 Banbury Road) provides careers advice for both undergraduates
and graduates. One of their staff specialises in advising physics students. The service has excellent
contacts with many employers, and maintains links with ex-Oxford students working in many different
fields. The Careers Service also has comprehensive details on post-graduate study in the UK or abroad.
Information on research opportunities is also available from the sub-departments within Physics and
from tutors.

Departmental representation - The Physics Joint Consultative Committee (PJCC)

The PJCC has elected undergraduate members who meet twice in Michaelmas term and Hilary term,
and once in Trinity term to discuss both academic and administrative matters with academic staff
representatives. The Department values the advice that it receives from this committee for improving
the quality of lectures, practicals and other aspects of the physics courses. The PJCC responsibilities
include updating The Fresher’s Guide, updating the PJCC web site. See https://pjcc.physics.ox.ac.uk/.

Opportunities to provide evaluation and feedback

The Teaching Office organises the feedback from students about lectures and the practical course
Feedback is a valuable source of information for the Department’s Academic Committee, which
organises the lectures and is in charge of the Physics courses. The feedback provided is used as part of
the continuing review and development for Departmental, University and QAA quality assurance.
Students are encouraged to make full use of the on-line management system for feedback on the
practicals.
Students on full-time and part-time matriculated courses are surveyed once per year on all aspects of
their course (learning, living, pastoral support, college) through the Student Barometer. Previous results
can be viewed by students, staff and the general public at: https://www.i-
graduate.org/services/student-barometer/. Final year undergraduate students are surveyed instead
through the National Student Survey. Results from previous NSS can be found at
https://www.thestudentsurvey.com/.

Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences (MPLS) Division and University Representation
Student representatives sitting on the Divisional Board are selected through a process organised by the
Oxford University Student Union (OUSU). Details can be found on the OUSU web page
https://www.oxfordsu.org/ along with information about student representation at University level.
An undergraduate student, usually a student member of the PJCC, is a representative on the
Undergraduate Joint Consultative Committee of the Division. More details can be found at
https://www.mpls.ox.ac.uk/intranet/divisional-committees/undergraduate-joint-consultative-forum.

Enterprise and entrepreneurship

EnSpire Oxford is an online map and guide to innovation and entrepreneurship in Oxfordshire,
developed at the University of Oxford. Whether you have an idea, a start-up or a well and truly
established venture, EnSpire Oxford highlights opportunities to develop further or help support others.
See https://eship.ox.ac.uk/ for more information.

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The Institute of Physics (IOP)
This organisation offers a number of facilities for students through its ‘Nexus’ network. They also have
information about careers for physicists. Students are encouraged to join the IOP. See
https://www.iop.org/ for more information.

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 Second Year 2023-2024
Introduction to the Second Year
All Physics and Physics and Philosophy second years are required to attend the introduction to the
second year on Monday morning at 09:00 of 1st week of Michaelmas term. There you will hear a brief
introduction to the second-year course.

Aims and objectives

The first-year handbook contains an overview of the course intentions, and includes information about
subject benchmark statements, the split of Department and College teaching, expectations of study and
workload etc. Please refresh your knowledge of these areas as appropriate. This handbook focuses on
new information needed for the second year of the course.

The BA and MPhys courses

Part A is the same for the BA (3-year) and MPhys (4-year) courses.

Practical Work
Aims of Practical Work
As in Prelims, the major aim of practical work is to train you in the basic skills of experimental physics.
More specifically, we intend that you learn how to carry out (and ultimately design) experiments and to
appreciate the contribution that experimentalists make to the subject.
Thus, our aims are to enable you to:

• see, investigate and understand some of the important phenomena in physics

• become familiar with the basic scientific method

• become familiar with commonly used instrumentation and measurements in physics

• become familiar with the skills required for experimental work such as data acquisition, data
analysis and computer programming

• learn how to clearly document your work in a logbook

• learn how to analyse experimental data

• learn how to present your work clearly, both orally and in writing

• learn about safe working practice

• learn how to design and develop experiments.

The requirement for practical work for Part A is 12 days. It is possible to substitute 6 days of practical
work with alternatives as detailed below and in the Part A Practicals course on Canvas
(www.canvas.ox.ac.uk). The Examination Conventions show more details.

12
Individual presentation
There will be a lecture giving guidance on how to give a talk (see www.physics.ox.ac.uk/lectures) in
preparation for the short talk each student will be required to do within colleges. This talk is usually
given in Hilary term as training in oral communication skills.
The talks should be written to last for 15 minutes, with a further 5 minutes allowed for questions. Topics
on any branch of science and mathematics or the history of science may be chosen, but your title must
be approved by your College tutor.
During Hilary term, second year students give short talks within Colleges, as training in oral
communication skills. There will be a lecture (see www.physics.ox.ac.uk/lectures ) giving guidance on
how to give a talk (see the Hilary term lecture list). Student talks should be written to last for 15 minutes,
with a further 5 minutes allowed for questions. Topics on any branch of science and mathematics or the
history of science may be chosen, but your title must be approved by your college tutor. Your tutor will
mark your talk with a percentage.

Physics Department Speaking Competition

The Departmental Competition is held early in Trinity term. College tutors may nominate one student
to enter for this competition, based on college individual presentations.
Each entrant will be allowed a maximum of ten minutes for the presentation and up to two minutes for
questions. Students must provide the Teaching Office with their presentation 24 hours before the
competition.
The winner of the Department’s competition may be eligible for a prize. Examples of these talks can be
found on Canvas to give students an idea of what a good talk should be like. Please note that the talks
are meant to be technical and must include scientific or mathematical content.

Textbooks
A list of the books recommended by the lecturers is given in Appendix A and is also available via ORLO
(Oxford Reading List Online). Your tutor will advise you as to what books you should obtain.

Short Options
Short Options are intended to introduce either specialist topics or subjects outside the mainstream
courses. They allow students to experiment with new material without significant prejudice to their
degree class, as they carry a low weighting.
At least one Short Option must be offered in Part A. A second Short Option may be offered in place of
6 days of practical work. Students electing to take this choice must inform the Assistant Head of
Teaching by email at [email protected] by the end of Michaelmas term.

Short Options offered by other departments or faculties

(a) Language Options
Courses are offered in French, German and Spanish every year. Students need to have some prior
knowledge of the language and will need to take a preliminary online language level evaluation test to
ascertain their current level and be placed in a suitable Fast Track course. The minimum entry
requirement is normally an A at GCSE in the relevant language (or equivalent).

13
The language options will be taught over two terms in Hilary and Trinity terms. The courses will involve
32 hours (2 hours a week in Hilary and Trinity terms) of classes together with associated work. It can be
used to replace the Short Option paper.
Specific details about the language options will be circulated to students in Michaelmas term by email.
The Examination Regulations read: “Approval shall not be given to candidates who have, at the start of
the course, already acquired demonstrable skills exceeding the target learning outcomes in the chosen
language”.
The language options final assessment is based on the syllabus and learning outcomes published by the
Language Centre.
Students may offer to do the language option on more than one occasion provided it is a different
language. For example, a student can do French in their second year and Spanish (or German) in their
third year, subject to eligibility.
Please apply to do an alternative subject if you would like to do a language not offered above, see
https://canvas.ox.ac.uk/courses/67877/pages/general-undergraduate-information and the
appropriate section in this Course handbook for further information.

(b) Pre-approved Alternative Subjects

Several alternative subjects that have been pre-approved and are offered by other faculties or
departments can be studied in place of one short option. These are:
(i) Supplementary Subject (History and Philosophy of Science): this is a paper offered within the
University by other department(s).

This course offers an introduction to contemporary issues in the History and Philosophy of Science -
academic fields committed to understanding the nature and development of science. It also addresses
larger questions concerning science denialism, the nature of evidence, science policy, and social and
cultural influences on scientific practice. By taking this course you'll gain skills and experience in dealing
with the ethical, philosophical, and policy-focused questions that accompany scientific work and which
embody the urgent problems facing us today.
Part one of the course runs in Michaelmas term and explores the History of Science.
Part two, an introduction to the Philosophy of Science, runs in Hilary term.
In the second year, students can choose:
1. S20: History of Science can be offered as one short option or
2. S21: Philosophy of Physics can be offered as one short option.
3. The Supplementary Subject (History and Philosophy of Science) paper which counts as two
short options.
S20: History of Science and S21: Philosophy of Physics are examined in the Supplementary Subject
(History and Philosophy of Science) paper.

Students wanting to do any of the above must enrol for the short option(s) and/or paper at
https://canvas.ox.ac.uk/enroll/EBTYRD or visit the Canvas page and click the button labelled “Join this
Course” on the right-hand side of the screen. The Canvas pages also contain the course syllabus, reading
lists, exam information, and more.

14
All lectures in Michaelmas term will be in person on Tuesdays of weeks 1-8 at 12.00 noon in the History
Faculty Lecture Theatre, located in the History Faculty Building on George Street.
There will be 4 tutorials on the History of Science in Michaelmas term, beginning from week 3. At the
start of week 1, a tutorial assignment will be made available in Canvas, to allow you to sign up for History
of Science tutorials. Philosophy of Science lecture and tutorial arrangements for Hilary term will be
confirmed during the academic year.
(ii) Physics students interested in the foundational/conceptual implications of relativity and/or quantum
mechanics might be interested in taking a Philosophy of Physics short option.

There are two Philosophy of Physics short options available for those studying single-honours Physics
(either three-year or four-year): S27: Philosophy of Space-Time and S28: Philosophy of Quantum
Mechanics. Both of these papers are assessed via a 1.5-hour examination, in which candidates are
expected to answer two essay questions from a list of approximately six. Past papers are available on
OXAM. These short options are examined in the Intermediate Philosophy of Physics paper.

Students who elect to study either of these short option papers can expect four one-hour tutorials from
an expert in the Philosophy of Physics (typically either a DPhil student or member of the Faculty of
Philosophy). Ratios in these tutorials can vary, but typically they are two students per tutor. In each
tutorial, the student is expected to write an essay on a relevant topic assigned by the tutor, and to
submit this to the tutor in advance of the tutorial. Exact meeting times and deadlines should be fixed in
correspondence with the tutor. (For a flavour of the kinds of topics and readings on each short option,
please consult e.g. James Read's reading list.)

Tutorials for both short options take place in Hilary term of the academic year. Students wishing to study
for either paper should let James Read know by the beginning of Week 10 of Michaelmas term, so that
appropriate teaching can be put into place and so that there is time to assign vacation reading.

Students taking either short option will benefit greatly from attending the lectures for the course.
Lecture times can be found on the Faculty of Philosophy website. Please note that typically the
Philosophy of Quantum Mechanics is lectured in Michaelmas term i.e. one term before tutorial teaching
takes place.

Students wanting to offer any of the above options, please inform the Assistant Head of Teaching by
email at [email protected] by 2nd week of Michaelmas term.
Please note: Students must seek permission from their College tutors to study these topics as there will
be a financial implication for classes and/or tutorials. The examination dates for the Supplementary
Subject (History and Philosophy of Science) and the Intermediate Philosophy of Physics papers are
different from the Physics Short Option examination date. No examination results will be released
before the completion of all the Physics examinations.

15
(c) Alternative Subjects
Students may request to substitute their short option with another pre-existing course from another
department of similar level and workload and where an appropriate pre-existing examination paper or
other method of assessment is available.

If you are a second-year student wanting to do an alternate subject in your third year, you must
apply by 9th week of Trinity term of your second year.
The closing date (deadline) for all applications for alternative subjects is Friday of 9th week, Trinity term,
of the year preceding the examination.

Students must provide precise details of the subjects (courses) and/or topics:
1. Name of paper: e.g., Group Theory on Paper ASO
2. Assessment Unit Number: e.g. A13752W1
3. Year the paper is normally taken: e.g., Year 2 or Part A.
4. An electronic copy of the examination paper
5. The electronic link to the subject (course) and/or topic
6. All other information about the proposed course(s) - i.e., the number of lectures and/or
classes

These necessary requirements have to be met:

• Approval by the other department

• Approval by your college
• Approval by the Head of Teaching

The application will only be agreed if the proposed course and an examination paper already exists
within the University, and the alternative subject is considered appropriate.

Applications to replace the compulsory Short Option paper must be made via the Teaching Office
([email protected] ). The deadline is Friday, 9th week Trinity Term, of the year preceding
the examination. Applications submitted late will not be considered.

Students will be notified formally of the outcome decision of their application by email as soon as
possible after 1st week of Michaelmas term.

The assessment mark provided by the other department will be used directly by the Physics Examiners.

More practical work instead of a short option

There are two ways to do extra practical work instead of a short option; extra practicals, or an extended
practical. Extra practicals are simply more of the same experiments carried out for the basic quota,
whereas extended practicals are effectively small projects. Permission to do extra practical work can be
obtained by emailing [email protected] , clearly stating which of the options below you wish to
apply for.
The application must be made before noon on Friday of 4th week of Michaelmas term. Applications
submitted late will not be considered.

16
(a) Extra practicals
Extra practicals are an additional six days of standard practicals. You can only book for those practicals
allocated to you by SPIRe (Student Practical Information Record). If you want to work out of allocation.
you must see what is free on the day. Each of the extra practicals must be marked on your SPIRe record,
and you must write up one of the practicals, selected at random. Students will be informed which
practical to write up by noon on Wednesday of 4th week of Trinity term. No tutor input for this report
will be allowed. Students must submit an electronic copy (by email attachment to
[email protected]) of their report to the Physics Teaching Office (neither Examination Schools
nor the Physics Teaching Laboratories will accept your reports) before noon on Monday of 6th week of
Trinity term. All work submitted will be checked with Turnitin.

• Your work must be identified only by your candidate number (which can be found by
visiting Student Self-Service). Your candidate number does NOT appear on your University
card.
• Your report should not contain any other pieces of information that could identify you to the
marker of your paper.
• The file name should follow the format: Candidate number_Report Title e.g. 1234457_My
Ideal Practical.

The six extra days practical work will begin only when the normal practical quota has been completed.
They should be booked on SPIRe as usual. Part A students doing the six additional days of practicals in
Part A will not be allowed to repeat this option for Part B. You may work alone or with a partner. It
does not matter which course your partner is registered for or if they are not doing extra practicals.
(b) Extended practicals
Extended practical work must have the support of an appropriate supervisor, and must be equivalent
to six days practical work. If you need assistance finding a supervisor, please email
[email protected] once you have decided which area of physics you would like to work in.
Students must submit an electronic copy (by email attachment to [email protected]) of their
report to the Physics Teaching Office (neither Examination Schools nor the Physics Teaching
Laboratories will accept your reports) before noon on Monday of 6th week of Trinity term. All work
submitted will be checked with Turnitin.
• Your work must be identified only by your candidate number (which can be found by
visiting Student Self-Service). Your candidate number does NOT appear on your University
card.
• Your report should not contain any other pieces of information that could identify you to the
marker of your paper.
• The file name should follow the format: Candidate number_Report Title e.g. 1234457_My
Ideal Practical.

Your supervisor may read and comment upon one draft only of your report before submission.

17
Substituting practical work with vacation placements and Physics in Schools
It is possible to replace some of the practical quota with a report on a Physics-related vacation
placement by taking an extra short option or by taking the Teaching and Learning Physics in Schools
option.
(a) Vacation placements

Work carried out during a vacation placement may be submitted for practical course credit. Students
wanting to gain credit for vacation work must apply for approval via [email protected] after the
placement by returning the form AD12. All applications for project substitution for practical work in
must be received before noon on Friday of 4th week of Michaelmas term. The outcome of these
applications will be communicated by email. It is possible to submit vacation work for practical credit
in both Parts A and B, providing that the projects are distinct pieces of work.
You may only submit one vacation project per year for practical credit. More information is provided
on the Part A Practicals Canvas course.
(b) Teaching and Learning Physics in Schools

This popular option is offered to 2nd year physics undergraduates in Hilary term and is run jointly by the
Department of Physics and the Department of Education. The eight sessions provide students with an
opportunity to explore key issues in physics education, looking at evidence from physics education
research and discussing current developments in policy and practice. Students also spend six days in
local secondary schools, working closely with experienced physics teachers in lessons and gaining
valuable insights into schools from the teachers’ perspective.
An introductory lecture is given, see the Physics Lecture list at http://www.physics.ox.ac.uk/lectures/
for details. Those wishing to take the option are asked to submit a piece of writing (one side of A4) by
the deadline to Dr Judith Hillier ([email protected])
(i) why it is important to teach physics and
(ii) why the student wants to be accepted onto the option.
A modified version of the course is available for Physics and Philosophy students.
Teaching and Learning Physics can only be offered as a second short option.

Academic progress
Departments and colleges have responsibility for monitoring academic progress, including the use of
TMS (Teaching Management Scheme). Colleges are responsible for monitoring the academic progress
of their undergraduate students.

18
 Physics and Philosophy
Part A is examined at the end of Trinity term and consists of three Physics papers: A1. Thermal Physics
and A3. Quantum Physics, from Physics Part A with syllabuses given in Appendix C, and a short paper
A2P. Electromagnetism from the Physics Prelims syllabus (paper CP2 without the topics in circuit theory
or optics, see First Year (Prelims) Course handbook). You should also attend the 20-lecture course on
Mathematical Methods in Michaelmas term.
There are no philosophy examination papers in Part A. The philosophy covered in both the second and
third years (for details see the Physics and Philosophy Course Handbook) is examined in Part B, at the
end of the third year.
The three Part A papers taken together have a weight for the purposes of the Finals algorithm of 2,
made up of ¾ for A1 and A3 and ½ for A2P.
For the experimental requirements in Physics and Philosophy Finals Part A, see Part A Practicals on
Canvas for more details.
There will be a lecture in Hilary term giving guidance on how to give a talk (see the Hilary term lecture
list) in preparation for the short talk each student will be required to do within colleges. This talk is
usually given in Hilary term as training in oral communication skills and does not count towards your
degree.
A modified version of the Physics in Schools option is available to Physics and Philosophy students as an
alternative to the individual presentation training - interested students should attend the introductory
lecture, see the Physics Lecture list at http://www.physics.ox.ac.uk/lectures/ for details. The Physics in
Schools option cannot replace the compulsory practical work requirement.
You have to attend the 1st year ‘Introduction to Practicals’ and the Safety Lecture at the beginning of
your second year. Only students who are recorded as having attended the Safety Lecture are allowed
to carry out practicals.

19
 Second Year Patterns of Teaching
Timetable

The full Physics Undergraduate Lecture Timetable will show you when lectures are scheduled for all
years.
Course structure

Course structure: three Compulsory Papers A1, A2, A3; Short Option paper, Individual Presentation and
Part A Practical Work.
Most colleges are able to do two classes or tutorials per week. Tutorials are done in pairs, or sometimes
in threes. Classes are normally made up of all the students in that year in a College. There is
approximately one tutorial or class per four lectures. As a guide, about eight hours of independent study
are expected for each hour of tutorial or class teaching.
Numbers have been generated based on the above ratio but there is no recommendation on balance of
classes vs tutorials.
Students undertake nominally 12 days of practical work, although this can vary as detailed earlier on in
this handbook and on the Part A Practicals course on Canvas (www.canvas.ox.ac.uk).
Please note the total number of lectures is provided as a guide.

Paper Faculty Teaching College Teaching

Term Lectures Classes/Tutorial

A1. Thermal Physics MT 16 ~11

Kinetic Theory, Heat Transport, Thermodynamics HT 24

Statistical mechanics TT 3

A2. Electromagnetism and Optics MT 20 ~10

Electromagnetism and Optics HT 16

TT 2

A3. Quantum Physics MT 12 ~10

Quantum Mechanics and Further Quantum Mechanics HT 24

TT 12

Additional lectures MT 32 ~6

Analogue Electronics MT 5

Mathematical Methods HT 1

Probability and Statistics TT 2

S01. Functions of a Complex Variable TT 12

S04. Energy Studies TT 12

20
Paper Faculty Teaching College Teaching

Term Lectures Classes/Tutorial

S07. Classical Mechanics HT 12

S12. Introduction to Biological Physics TT 12

S13. Teaching and Learning Physics in Schools HT 8

S14. History of Physics MT 8

S20. History of Science MT 8

S21. Philosophy of Science HT 16

S22. Language Options HT & TT 2(3) hours per week

S26. Stars and Galaxies TT 12

S27. Philosophy of Space-Time MT 16

S30. Exoplanets TT 12

S31. Numerical Methods TT 12

S32. Chaos, Random Processes and Predictability TT 12

S33. Entrepreneurship for Physicists TT 12

S34. From Signals to Data TT 12

21
 Practical Work
Most of the information you require for practicals can be found online on the Part A Practicals pages on
Canvas (www.canvas.ox.ac.uk). The information here details some of the most important information
but you must also study the pages on Canvas as well.

Organisation
Part A students are able to book experiments on Mondays and Tuesdays every other week, except in
Computing where you can ask to arrange to be marked in any week the computing lab is open. Your
allocated weeks and labs will be shown on your page of SPIRe. In Michaelmas term, Optics/EM and
Thermal labs are available in weeks 1-8 and Electronics labs in weeks 3-8. In Hilary term, only Electronics
and Computing labs are available in weeks 1-8. In Trinity erm, all labs are available but only in weeks 3-
4.

Students are allocated at least one session in each laboratory plus two free choice sessions, so there is
some flexibility. You are encouraged to do experiments across a broad range of labs (and this will be
taken into account when prizes are allocated), but only Electronics and Computing are compulsory.

Practical work timetable: Labs are open 10:00 -17:00

Term Part A

Optics/EM, Thermal labs: weeks 1-8

Michaelmas
Electronics lab: weeks 3-8

Hilary Electronics, Computing labs: weeks 1-8

All labs: weeks 3 and 4 only

Trinity
Assessed practicals week 6

Laboratories are staffed by demonstrators. Demonstrators are university staff or postgraduate students
who are there to help you with the experiments. They provide advice and assistance whilst you are
doing the experiment and will assess your performance. If you are in doubt about any aspect of the
experiment, ask a demonstrator. There are also lab technicians who have an engineering knowledge of
the experiments and will help set up and fix equipment.
At the beginning of the academic year, students are allocated to the different laboratories on a rota
system. SPIRe (the Student Practical Information Record) will show your allocation and you can only
book experiments within your allocation. It is possible to work out of allocation (i.e. at a time not offered
to you by SPIRe), though not to book yourself. If you must work at a different time to your allocated
slot, it is recommended you contact [email protected] for advice. Please pre-book all
experiments before turning up to the labs – if you are not able to pre-book and are interested in which

22
practicals might be available each week, please email [email protected] or look out for
announcements on Canvas.
To fulfil the practical work requirements for the second year (Part A) you must complete the following
days of practicals:

12 days if taking one short option, including two compulsory electronics

practicals and at least one piece of computing work
6 days if taking two short options, including one compulsory electronics
Requirements for Part A
practical and at least one piece of computing work
practical
4 days if taking the Teaching and Learning Physics in Schools option,
including one compulsory electronics practical and at least one piece of
computing work

Note that the compulsory electronics practicals are EL20, EL21 and EL22.

A completed experiment is one that has been carried out, assessed as satisfactory by a demonstrator,
and the grade entered in your computer record on SPIRe (the Student Practical Information Record).
Your computer record can be examined by your tutor(s) at any time, and reports on your progress are
regularly sent to tutors.
You should prepare for the experiments you choose by obtaining and reading its instructions, called a
‘script’, in advance (available from SPIRe and Canvas). Scripts may also contain additional explanation
or theory (in Electronics the background material is in a separate manual). Demonstrators may ask you
to leave if you do not show adequate knowledge of the practical at the start of the session. You must
decide in advance which experiment you intend to do next and book it. Most experiments also have
pre-lab quizzes on Canvas which you should complete before you do the experiment to make sure you
have understood the key points you will learn from the practical.
After you have completed the practical you must ensure that it is marked and that your computerised
mark record on SPIRe is kept up to date. You must meet the deadlines for practical work as detailed in
this handbook and on the Part A Practical pages on Canvas. If you think your record is incorrect, please
email [email protected] with details of the issue.
You work in pairs in all labs except computing, but reports are always written individually. Your practical
partner is usually from the same college as you but it is possible to change lab partners; SPIRe has details
on how to do this. Please try and stay with the same lab partner for the year if possible. Please note:

• Both practical partners should be simultaneously present throughout the lab, i.e. logbooks
cannot be copied up by an absent partner retrospectively. Partners should synchronise their
breaks.
• If one member of a pair is absent for more than an hour without giving prior notice, leaving one
person to do the experiment alone, it will be assumed they have withdrawn from the
assessment, and a mark of 0 will be given to the absent student.
Unavoidable absences of one partner (e.g. a medical appointment, job interview) should be discussed
with the demonstrators well before (e.g. the previous week) starting the experiment. It is often
possible to rearrange - email [email protected] for assistance with rearrangements. The

23
Frequently Asked Questions page on the Part A Practicals Canvas course explains how to deal with
common issues, such as what to do if you are unwell.

Assessment
Your practical work is assessed in several ways. Demonstrators will observe your work and inspect the
records in your logbook during the experiment. It is important to be able to present your scientific
results clearly, as several write-ups are required. Training in written presentation of your work is
provided by the writing of Part A Computing reports assessed by demonstrators. Remember that for
Computing assessment, you must also be prepared to execute your program if the demonstrator asks.
Demonstrators will visit your experiment regularly. They will
• discuss the experiment with you; you will need to show them that you understand the
underlying physics
• check what you have been recording in your logbook
• check analysis of the data and the accompanying errors
• check that you have adequately summarised your experiment in writing.

If your record is satisfactory, the demonstrator will sign your logbook and write a comment on your
progress so far. If changes need to be carried out (e.g. extra comments written in), the demonstrator
will request that these are done before you continue. Analysis and plotting should be done as you go
along unless you are instructed otherwise.

Summary of the experiment

When you have finished the experiment and data analysis, you should hand-write a brief (approximately
half a page) summary of the work in your logbook. You should state the aims of the experiment, the
method, and summarise the results and conclusions, quantitatively if possible. This is to both
consolidate your understanding and to provide training in written skills. The ability to concisely report
a piece of work by appropriate selection of material is an important skill both in physics and elsewhere.
This should be written immediately after the experiment, and before marking.

Mark scheme
At the end of the experiment and a short discussion of your work, the demonstrator will then give you
a mark. The criteria for each mark for practicals and reports is given in Appendix D. A mark of 0 or 1
shows an unacceptable level of understanding and you will be asked to do the experiment or report
again. A mark of 2 is required to pass and obtain the credit for the practical. Once a student has a mark
of 2 or higher, they cannot be remarked for the same practical. The marks will be used to work out
practical prizes at the end of the year. A demonstrator may refuse to mark an experiment which is
presented more than three weeks after the booked lab time (excluding vacations).

Assessed practical
The assessed practical is compulsory for all Part A Physics students. It is a short oral examination that
takes place in Trinity term. The assessed practicals normally take place during week 6. You will receive
an email with an appointment stating the practical to be assessed about a week in advance. The
assessed practical is chosen at random from the student's logbook and marked by a senior

24
demonstrator, with a junior demonstrator observing. Marks will be based on both the quality of the
entire logbook (including commented code for a computing practical) and the understanding of the
assessed practical demonstrated by the student. Students must upload all the logbooks they have used
during Part A to Canvas at least 24 hours before the assessment.

Do not spend time retrospectively ‘improving’ your logbook - this is bad practice, as the logbook is meant
to be a contemporary record, and also will not help your marks. Copying logbook material from other
students during or after the practical is plagiarism. If you cannot find one of your logbooks, you will not
be penalised if you inform the Teaching Laboratory Manager of this more than 24 hours before your
appointment.

If you miss the assessed practical appointment without good reason, you will lose marks.

The Part A Practical pages on Canvas (www.canvas.ox.ac.uk) have a variety of additional information
including links to SPIRe and useful documents on, for example, experimental errors. A full list of the
experiments in Part A can be found in Appendix E.

25
 Physics Examinations
The FHS (Final Honour School in Physics), also called Finals, is taken in parts over the final two (BA) or
three (MPhys) years of your course. The Examiners are a committee set up each year under the Proctors.
The Finals Examiners include external examiners from other UK universities and may be assisted by a
number of Assessors to set and mark some individual papers, projects, etc. In general, papers for Prelims
and Part A of Finals are not set and marked by the course lecturers; indeed, the identity of the examiner
for any paper is confidential. The identity of the candidates is hidden from the examiners; no
communication between the examiners and the candidate (or the candidate’s tutor) is allowed except
via the candidate’s College’s Senior Tutor and the Junior Proctor. Examination questions are required to
be set in conformity with the syllabus, whose interpretation is guided by previous papers except where
there has been an explicit change of syllabus. The current syllabuses for the final examinations in physics
are printed in Appendix C.

Examination entry
Entry for the FHS Part A exam is at the end of 8th week of Michaelmas term, and 3rd week of Trinity
term for Short Option choices (except for certain alternatives).
The Examination Regulations provide guidance for students with special examination needs. “... An
application ... shall be made as soon as possible after matriculation and in any event not later than the
date of entry of the candidate’s name for the first examination for which special arrangements are
sought.” Please see The Examination Regulations https://examregs.admin.ox.ac.uk for more
information.

Examination dates
After the examination timetables have been finalised, they are available at
https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/exams/timetables.

Examination regulations
The regulations for the Final Honours School examinations are published in the Examination Regulations
https://examregs.admin.ox.ac.uk.

Examination conventions
Examination conventions are the formal record of the specific assessment standards for the course or
courses to which they apply. They set out how your examined work will be marked and how the resulting
marks will be used to arrive at a final result and classification of your award. They include information
on: marking scales, marking and classification criteria, scaling of marks, progression, resits, use of viva
voce examinations, penalties for late submission, and penalties for over-length work.
The Academic Committee is responsible for the detailed weightings of papers and projects. The
definitive version will be published not less than one whole term before the examination takes place.
The precise details of how the final marks are calculated are published in the Examination
Conventions.

Examination preparation
There are a number of resources available to help you. Advice is available from your College tutor and
the Oxford Student Union. See http://www.oxfordsu.org/ for the Student Union.
26
Past exam papers
Past examination papers and the data sheet are available at
https://canvas.ox.ac.uk/courses/67877/modules/items/738729.

External examiner and examiners’ reports

The Examiner reports are published on Canvas. The names of the examiners are published in the
Examination Conventions but students are strictly prohibited from contacting external examiners and
internal examiners directly.

Sitting your examination

Information on (a) the standards of conduct expected in examinations and (b) what to do if you would
like examiners to be aware of any factors that may have affected your performance before or during an
examination (such as illness, accident or bereavement) are available on the Oxford Students website
(www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/exams/guidance).
Students are allowed calculators, except when the Examination Conventions published on the official
examiners’ page explicitly forbid their use. The calculators must conform to the rules set out at
“Regulations for the Conduct of University Examinations: Part 10 Dictation of Papers,..., Calculators
and the types of calculators which may be used in the Public examinations are in Appendix B.

27
 Part A Examination
The examinations will take place towards the end of Trinity term.

Physics Physics and Philosophy

Three compulsory papers A1, A2, A3 Three Physics papers A1, A2P, A3
Individual Presentation Practical work
Short Option paper
Practical work

Full details of the syllabuses for the written papers are given in Appendix C.

Marking Individual Presentations

Individual talks are marked as a percentage using the University Standardised Marks (USM) scale:

70%+ 1st class First Class

60-69% 2.1 Upper second
50-59% 2.2 Lower second
40-49% 3rd class Third
30-39% Pass Pass
<30% Fail Fail

Assessment of Practical work

It is important that students consult their tutors early in the event of difficulty with practical work.
The practical mark for the second and third year consists of marks for completing experiments and an
assessed practical.

Practical Work Part A

Completing Experiments a 30

Assessed Practical b 20
Total 50

The relative marks are made up as follows:

a Up to 30 marks as indicated for completing all experiments. Failure to complete the practical quota
will attract the following penalty:
(i) A penalty of 5 marks will be deducted for each missed day of experiments.
(ii) If 6 or more days of experiments are missed, the Examiners may further penalise the
student by lowering the final degree by one class.
(iii) If no experiments are completed, without good reason, the examiners can award a fail
outcome for this part of the examination.
b
Up to 20 marks awarded by the Senior Demonstrator, based on both the quality of the entire
logbook and the understanding of the Assessed Practical (chosen at random in advance for Part A)
demonstrated by the student.

28
The precise details of how the practical marks are calculated are published in the Examination
Conventions.

Marking of the assessed practical

The marks, which will be awarded by a Senior Demonstrator, will be based on both the quality of the
entire logbook and the understanding of the assessed practical demonstrated by the student. An
average student with an average logbook should expect to achieve ~15 marks.
Specific details pertaining to practical work are published in the Part A Practicals Canvas course.
Recommendations to the Finals examiners based on the practical marks will be used for practical prizes
and commendations. These recommendations will be made to the Finals examiners.
More information on how to write up experiments can be found on the Extra Practical Work page of the
Part A Canvas course.

Assessment of extra practicals and extended practicals

The marking of the extra practicals and extended practicals is based upon the following:
• Introduction and abstract
• Description of method/apparatus
• Experimental work/results and errors
• Analysis of results
• Conclusions
• Good argument in the analysis, the use of clear English and writing style. Clear diagrams/plots and
references will also be taken into account
• Penalties for late work will be published in the Examination Conventions.

Assessment of class
How the examiners work is their responsibility, subject to guidance from the Physics Academic
Committee and regulations laid down by the central bodies of the University. However, the following
gives some indication of recent practice. Each paper is marked numerically. The numerical marks for
each paper may be scaled to remove any first-order effect of a difficult (or easy) paper and these (scaled)
marks are combined to give a total numerical mark.

Class Descriptor
Class I (1) the candidate shows excellent problem-solving skills and excellent knowledge of the
material, and is able to use that knowledge in unfamiliar contexts
Class II.1 (2.1) the candidate shows good problem-solving skills and good knowledge of the material
Class II.2 (2.2) the candidate shows basic problem-solving skills and adequate knowledge of most of
the material
Class III (3) the candidate shows some problem-solving skills and adequate knowledge of at least
part of the material
Pass the candidate has made a meaningful attempt of at least one question

For the BA degree, FHS Parts A and B are approximately weighted 2: 3; for the MPhys, FHS Parts A, B, C
are approximately weighted 2: 3: 3.

29
Final degree classes are assigned on the basis of a careful consideration of the total numerical mark with
the project and practical work taken into account.

Year outcome for Part A

Year Outcome Descriptor

P (Pass) Pass and allowed to continue to the third year (Part B).

Examination results
After your examination, your tutor will be told the scaled marks that you obtained in each paper and
your overall rank amongst candidates in your year. Ranking information will not be published, but will
be provided to enable your tutor to give you some confidential feedback and guidance. Students are
able to view their examination results at https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/exams/results.
Marks displayed in the Student Self Service are given as percentages.
If you are unhappy with an aspect of your assessment you may make a complaint or academic appeal
(see https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/complaints).

Part A examination prizes and commendation for practical work

Prizes may be awarded for excellence in various aspects of the second-year examination, for example:
• Winton Capital prize
• Scott prizes
• Gibbs prizes
• Speaking Competition prizes
• Practical work prizes
Information about prizes available is normally published in the Examination Conventions for Physics and
Physics and Philosophy. Commendations are awarded to approximately the top 10% of students. Prizes
and commendations are published at https://canvas.ox.ac.uk/courses/67877/pages/physics-prizes-
and-commendations?module_item_id=1261517

Eligibility for MPhys course

All students will be eligible for the MPhys courses and the only possible result in Part A Physics is “Pass”.
However, the Examiners will calculate a detailed mark for the year, with the weightings of the
contributing papers, practicals, etc. Candidates achieving a mark below a nominal 2:1 classification, that
is a mark below 60%, are strongly advised to discuss their options with their college tutors before
deciding to proceed to the MPhys course.

The BA and MPhys course: which course should I do?

Should you be undecided as to which course you should be doing, discuss your options with your College
tutor. Students should realise that the MPhys course is demanding.
Students are contacted during the long vacation in order to capture intentions regarding which route
they intend to take to enable the Department to plan for numbers of projects etc. This reporting of
intentions is not binding, but students must make the decision about doing the BA or MPhys course by
the beginning of MT 0th week with a firm deadline of Friday noon of 1st week.

30
Appendix A Recommended Textbooks – Second Year
(** main text * supplementary text) Books listed as far as possible by Short Options and Examination Papers
Lecturers will give more details at the start of each course

Second Year
Mathematical Methods
See first year list.
‘Mathematical Methods for Physicists’, Arfken and Weber (Elsevier)
A1. Thermal Physics
Statistical and Thermal Physics
Textbook based on the Oxford course as taught up to 2011:
‘Concepts in Thermal Physics,’ S. J. Blundell and K. M. Blundell (2nd edition, OUP 2009) **

More undergraduate textbooks:

‘Fundamentals of Statistical and Thermal Physics,’ F. Reif (Waveland Press 2008) *
‘Equilibrium Thermodynamics,’ C. J. Adkins (3rd edition, CUP 1997) *
‘Statistical Physics,’ F. Mandl (2nd edition, Wiley-Blackwell 2002)
‘Elementary Statistical Physics,’ C. Kittel (Dover)
‘Thermodynamics and the Kinetic Theory of Gases,’ W. Pauli (Volume 3 of Pauli Lectures on Physics,
Dover 2003) *
‘Thermodynamics: a complete undergraduate course’, A. M. Steane (OUP 2017)

More advanced-level books:

‘Statistical Thermodynamics,’ E. Schroedinger (Dover 1989) * [a beautiful and very concise treatment of
the key topics in statistical mechanics, a bravura performance by a great theoretical physicist; may not
be an easy undergraduate read, but well worth the effort!]
‘Statistical Physics, Part I,’ L. D. Landau and E. M. Lifshitz (3rd edition, Volume 5 of the Landau and Lifshitz
Course of Theoretical Physics, Butterworth-Heinemann, 2000) ** [the Bible of statistical physics for
theoretically inclined minds]
‘Physical Kinetics,’ E. M. Lifshitz and L. P. Pitaevskii (Volume 10 of the Landau and Lifshitz Course of
Theoretical Physics, Butterworth-Heinemann, 1999)
‘The Mathematical Theory of Non-uniform Gases: An Account of the Kinetic Theory of Viscosity,
Thermal Conduction and Diffusion in Gases,’ S. Chapman and T. G. Cowling (CUP 1991) [the Cambridge
Bible of kinetic theory, not a page-turner, but VERY thorough]
‘Statistical Physics of Particles,’ M. Kardar (CUP 2007)

31
A2. Electromagnetism and Optics
Electromagnetism
‘Introduction to Electrodynamics’, 4th Edition, David J. Griffiths **
‘Electricity and Magnetism’, 3rd Edition, Edward M. Purcell and David J. Morin*
‘Classical Electrodynamics’, 3rd Edition, John D. Jackson*
‘The Feynman Lectures on Physics’, Volume II, Richard P. Feynman, Robert B. Leighton and Matthew
Sands*
Optics
‘Optical Physics’ 4th Edition, Ariel Lipson, Stephen G. Lipson, Henry Lipson (Cambridge University Press
2010)**
‘Optics’, E Hecht, 4th ed (Addison-Wesley, 2002) *
‘Modern Classical Optics’, G.A. Brooker, Oxford Masters Series (Oxford University Press, 2003)
‘Principles of Optics’, M Born and E Wolf, 7th ed (Pergamon, 1999)

A3. Quantum Physics

Quantum Physics
‘The Physics of Quantum Mechanics’, J Binney and D Skinner, (Cappella Archive
http://www.cappella.demon.co.uk/cappubs.html#natsci) ISBN 978-1-902918-51-8; **
‘Introduction to Quantum Mechanics’, D. J. Griffiths, (Pearson)*
Modern Quantum Mechanics, J. J. Sakurai and J. Napolitano (Pearson)*
‘Principles of Quantum Mechanics’, 2nd ed, R. Shankar (Plenum Press)*
‘The Principles of Quantum Mechanics’, P Dirac (International Series of Monographs on Physics) (OUP
paperback) A very beautiful book for those who appreciate mathematical elegance and clarity.*
‘Quantum Mechanics: L. D. Landau and E. M. Lifshitz (Elsevier)* A terse classic.
‘Quantum Mechanics’ (2 vols), C Cohen-Tannoudji, B Diu and F Laloë, (Wiley-VCH 1977) *. A brilliant
example of the more formal French style of physics textbook.
‘The Feynman Lectures on Physics ‘Vol. 3, R. Feynman, Leighton & Sands A classic but unorthodox QM
text. Full of deep physical insight

Short Options
S01. Functions of a Complex Variable
‘Mathematical Methods for Physics and Engineering: A Comprehensive Guide’, K F Riley, M P Hobson
and S J Bence (CUP, 2002), ISBN 0521-81372 7 (HB), ISBN 0521-89067 5 (PB) **
‘Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences’, Boas
‘Mathematical Methods for Physicists’, Arfken
‘Complex Variables’, Spiegel

S04. Energy Studies

‘Energy Science’, John Andrews and Nick Jelley (OUP 2013) **
‘Renewable Energy Resources’, Twidell & Weir (E&FN Spon)
‘Energy’, a guide book, J Ramage
Sustainable Energy- without hot air,’ David MacKay, http://www.withouthotair.com/
‘Elementary Climate Physics’, F W Taylor, OUP
‘Beyond Smoke and Mirrors’, B. Richter, CUP
32
‘Farewell Fossil Fuels – Reviewing America’s Energy Policy’, Borowitz

S07. Classical Mechanics†

‘Mechanics (Course of Theoretical Physics), Vol 1’, L D Landau and E Lifshitz (Butterworth Heinemann):
Physics the Russian way - first volume of the celebrated ‘Course of Theoretical Physics’.
‘Classical mechanics’, 5th ed, T.W.B. Kibble & F.H. Berkshire – good solid book `Analytical Mechanics’ L.
Hand + J. Finch – good solid book ‘Classical mechanics’, 3rd ed H. Goldstein, C. Poole & J. Safko. A classic
text. In the US probably plays the same role for classical mechanics that Jackson does for
electrodynamics.
For the mathematically erudite: ‘Mathematical methods of classical mechanics’, V.I. Arnold.
† also for B7. Classical Mechanics

S12. Introduction to Biological Physics

‘Biochemistry’, D. Voet and J. Voet (Wiley)
‘Molecular Biology of the Cell’, B. Alberts et al. (Garland)
‘Mechanics of Motor Proteins and the Cytoskeleton’, J. Howard (Sinauer)

S14. History of Physics

‘The beginnings of Western Science: the European Scientific Tradition in Philosophical, Religious and
Institutional Contexts’, D.C. Lindberg, (Chicago, 1992)
‘A History of Natural philosophy from the Ancient World to the Nineteenth Century E. Grant, ‘,
(Cambridge, 2007)
‘Leviathan and the Air-Pump: Hobbes, Boyle and the Experimental life’, S. Shapin and S. Schaffer,
(Princeton, 1995)
‘Galileo’, J. Heilbron, (Oxford, 2010)
‘The Birth of a New Physics’, I.B. Cohen, (Norton 1985)
‘Discipline and Experience’, P. Dear, (Chicago, 1994)
‘The Cambridge History of Eighteenth Century Science’, R. Porter, ed., (Cambridge, 2002)
‘The Maxwellians’, B. Hunt, (Ithaca, 1991)

Reading:

‘From Watt to Clausius’, DSL Cardwell, (Heineman 1971)

‘Image and Logic: A Material Culture of Microphysics’, P. Galison, (Chicago, 1997)
‘Gravity’s Shadow: the search for Gravitational Waves’, H. Collins, (Chicago, 2004)

33
S30. Exoplanets
‘The Exoplanet Handbook’, Michael Perryman, (Cambridge University Press)
‘Exoplanets’, edited by Sara Seager, (University of Arizona Press)
The following more specialised textbooks are suitable for students who wish to read in detail beyond the
examination syllabus:
‘Transiting Exoplanets’, Carole Haswell, (Cambridge University Press)
‘Astrophysics of Planet Formation’, Philip J. Armitage, (Cambridge University Press)
‘Exoplanet Atmospheres’, by Sara Seager, (Princeton Series in Astrophysics)

S31. Numerical Methods

‘Computer Simulation using Particles’, R.W. Hockney and J.W. Eastwood, Taylor and Francis (1988)
‘Numerical Methods in Astrophysics’, Bodenheimer, Laughlin, Rozyczka and Yorke, Taylor and Francis
(2007)
‘Riemann Solvers and Numerical Methods for Fluid Dynamics ’, E.F. Toro, Springer (2009)
‘Finite Volume Methods for Hyperbolic Problems’, R. LeVeque, Cambridge University Press (2002)
‘Finite Difference Methods for Ordinary and Partial Differential Equations: Steady-State and Time-
dependent Problems’, R. LeVeque, Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (2007)

S32. Random Processes and Predictability

Strogatz “Chaos” (MIT press)

S33. Entrepreneurship for Physicists

The Mom Test by Rob Fitzpatrick
Business Model Generation by Alexander Osterwalder
Mullins, John (2017) The New Business Road Test, Pearson 5th edition
Disciplined Entrepreneurship by Bill Aulet

S34. From Signals to Data

Paul Horowitz & Winfield Hill, The Art of Electronics, Cambridge University Press.
Mark Owen, Practical Signal Processing, Cambridge University Press.

34
Appendix B Note on Calculators for ALL Public Examinations*
The regulations are likely to follow recent practice which is:

A candidate may bring a pocket calculator into the examination provided the calculator meets the
conditions set out as follows:
• The calculator must not require connection to any external power supply.
• It must not be capable of communicating (e.g. by radio) with any other device.
• It must not make a noise that could irritate or distract other candidates.
• It must not be capable of displaying functions graphically.
• It must not be capable of storing and displaying text, other than the names of standard
functions such as ‘sin’ or ‘cosh’.
• It must not be able to store programs or user-defined formulae.
• It must not be able to perform symbolic algebra, or perform symbolic integration or
differentiation.
• Within the above, the calculator may be capable of working out mathematical functions such
as sin(x), log(x), exp(x), xy and it may contain constants such as π.
• The examiners may inspect any calculator during the course of the examination.

Notes:

These guidelines follow closely the regulations on the ‘Use of calculators in Examinations’ in the
University Examination Regulations (‘The Grey Book’) and https://examregs.admin.ox.ac.uk. The exact
requirements in a given year will be published by the Examiners.

The intention of the rules is to prevent the possibility of a candidate obtaining an advantage by having
a powerful calculating aid (or of reading stored information as a substitute for knowing it). It is
appreciated that candidates may already own calculators that are excluded by these rules. In such a
case the candidate is responsible for obtaining a more basic calculator that is within the rules, and for
becoming familiar with it in advance of the examination.

* for the Physics papers when the use of calculators is permitted

35
Appendix C Syllabuses for the Second Year (Final Honour School – Part A)
A knowledge of the topics in the syllabuses for the four compulsory physics Prelims papers will be
assumed. Emphasis will be placed on testing a candidate’s conceptual and experimental understanding
of the subjects, apart from explicitly mathematical questions.
Non-examinable topics. Material under this heading will be covered in the lectures (with associated
problems). Questions on these topics will not be set in Part A, but general knowledge of the material will
be assumed by the 3rd year lectures. Only if these topics appear in the Part B syllabus may explicit
questions be set on them in that examination.
Each of the three A Papers is a 3-hour paper in two sections
Section A: Short compulsory questions (total marks 40)
Section B: Answer 3 problems from 4 (total marks 60)

Mathematical Methods
Matrices and linear transformations, including translations and rotations in three dimensions and
Lorentz transformations in four dimensions. Eigenvalues and eigenvectors of real symmetric matrices
and of Hermitian matrices. Diagonalization of real symmetric matrices; diagonalization of Hermitian
matrices. The method of separation of variables in linear partial differential equations in two, three and
four variables; and for problems with spherical and planar symmetry. Use of Cartesian, spherical polar
and cylindrical polar coordinates (proofs of the form of D2will not be required). Eigenvalues and
eigenfunctions of second-order linear ordinary differential equations of the Sturm–Liouville type;
orthogonality of eigenfunctions belonging to different eigenvalues; simple eigenfunction expansions
including Fourier series. Fourier transform, its inverse, and the convolution theorem. Concept and use
of the delta function. Solution by separation of variables for problems with spherical and planar
symmetry. Steady-state problems, initial-value problems.

Probability and Statistics

Essential properties and applicability of basic probability distributions (Binomial, Poisson, Normal, Chi-
squared); The Central Limit Theorem. Covariance and independence. Appropriate application of “Trial
penalties” in the case of multiple, independent tests. Simple applications of Bayes’ Theorem. Basic error
propagation. Basic notions of likelihood and parameter estimation. [Non-examinable: Assessment of
data/model consistency via probability distributions; maximum likelihood.]

The above material on mathematical methods, probability and statistics is not attributed to a specific
paper.

Short questions on mathematical methods, probability and statistics will be set in one or more of papers
A1, A2 and A3. It is expected that the total credit for these short questions will amount to about 15% of
the total credit for short questions, as this is roughly the length of the mathematical methods course as
a fraction of all courses for papers A1, A2 and A3. One long question on mathematical methods may be
set in one of papers A1, A2 or A3.

36
A1. Thermal Physics
Kinetic Theory
Maxwell distribution of velocities: derivation assuming the Boltzmann factor, calculation of averages,
experimental verification. Derivation of pressure and effusion formulae, distribution of velocities in an
effusing beam, simple kinetic theory expressions for mean free path, thermal conductivity and viscosity;
dependence on temperature and pressure, limits of validity. Practical applications of kinetic theory.
Heat transport
Conduction, radiation and convection as heat-transport mechanisms. The approximation that heat flux
is proportional to the temperature gradient. Derivation of the heat diffusion equation. Generalization
to systems in which heat is generated at a steady rate per unit volume. Problems involving sinusoidally
varying surface temperatures.
Thermodynamics
Zeroth & first laws. Heat, work and internal energy: the concept of a function of state. Slow changes and
the connection with statistical mechanics: entropy and pressure as functions of state. Heat engines:
Kelvin’s statement of the second law of thermodynamics and the equivalence and superiority of
reversible engines. The significance of ∫dQ/T=0 and the fact that entropy is a function of state. Practical
realization of the thermodynamic temperature scale. Entropy as dQ (reversible)/T. Enthalpy, Helmholtz
energy and Gibbs energy as functions of state. Maxwell relations. Concept of the equation of state;
thermodynamic implications. Ideal gas, van der Waals gas. Reversible and free expansion of gas;
changes in internal energy and entropy in ideal and non-ideal cases. Joule–Kelvin expansion; inversion
temperature and microscopic reason for cooling. Impossibility of global entropy decreasing: connection
to latent heat in phase changes. [Non-examinable: Constancy of global entropy during fluctuations
around equilibrium.] Chemical potential and its relation to Gibbs energy. Equality of chemical potential
between phases in equilibrium. Latent heat and the concepts of first-order and continuous phase
changes. Clausius–Clapeyron equation and simple applications. Simple practical examples of the use of
thermodynamics.
Statistical mechanics
Boltzmann factor. Partition function and its relation to internal energy, entropy, Helmholtz energy,
heat capacities and equations of state. [Non-examinable: Quantum states and the Gibbs hypothesis.]
Density of states; application to: the spin-half paramagnet; simple harmonic oscillator (Einstein model
of a solid); perfect gas; vibrational excitations of a diatomic gas; rotational excitations of a
heteronuclear diatomic gas. Equipartition of energy. Bosons and fermions: Fermi–Dirac and Bose–
Einstein distribution functions for non-interacting, indistinguishable particles. Simple treatment of the
partition function for bosons and fermions when the particle number is not restricted and when it is:
microcanonical, canonical and grand canonical ensemble. Chemical potential. High-temperature limit
and the Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution. [Non-examinable: Simple treatment of fluctuations.] Low-
temperature limit for fermions: Fermi energy and low-temperature limit of the heat capacity;
application to electrons in metals and degenerate stars. Low-temperature limit for boson gas: Bose–
Einstein condensation: calculation of the critical temperature of the phase transition; heat capacity;
relevance to superfluidity in helium. The photon gas: Planck distribution, Stefan–Boltzmann law. [Non-
examinable: Kirchhoff’s law.]

37
A2. Electromagnetism and Optics
Electromagnetism

Electromagnetic waves in free space. Derivation of expressions for the energy density and energy flux
(Poynting vector) in an electromagnetic field. Radiation pressure.

Magnetic vector potential. [Non-examinable: The change of E and B fields under Lorentz transformations
in simple cases.]

Dielectric media, polarisation density and the electric displacement D. Dielectric permittivity and
susceptibility. Boundary conditions on E and D at an interface between two dielectrics. Magnetic media,
magnetisation density and the magnetic field strength H. Magnetic permeability and susceptibility;
properties of magnetic materials as represented by hysteresis curves. Boundary conditions on B and H
at an interface between two magnetic media. Maxwell’s equations in the presence of dielectric and
magnetic media.

Electromagnetic wave equation in dielectrics: refractive index and impedance of the medium. Reflection
and transmission of light at a plane interface between two dielectric media. Brewster angle. Total
internal reflection. [Non- examinable: Fresnel equations] The electromagnetic wave equation in a
conductor: skin depth. Electromagnetic waves in a plasma; the plasma frequency. Dispersion and
absorption of electromagnetic waves, treated in terms of the response of a damped classical harmonic
oscillator.

Treatment of electrostatic problems by solution of Poisson’s equation using separation of variables in

Cartesian, cylindrical or spherical coordinate systems.

Theory of a loss-free transmission line: characteristic impedance and wave speed. Reflection and
transmission of signals at connections between transmission lines and at loads; impedance matching
using a quarter-wavelength transmission line.

[Non-examinable: Rectangular loss-less waveguides and resonators.]

Optics

Diffraction, and interference by division of wave front (quasi-monochromatic light). Questions on

diffraction will be limited to the Fraunhofer case. Statement of the Fraunhofer condition. Practical
importance of Fraunhofer diffraction and experimental arrangements for its observation. Derivation of
patterns for multiple slits and the rectangular aperture using Huygens-Fresnel theory with a scalar
amplitude and neglecting obliquity factors. (The assumptions involved in this theory will not be asked
for.) The resolving power of a telescope. Fourier transforms in Fraunhofer diffraction: the
decomposition of a screen transmission function with simple periodic structure into its spatial frequency
components. Spatial filtering. The resolving power of a microscope with coherent illumination.
Transverse and temporal coherence.

Interference by division of amplitude (quasi-monochromatic light). Two-beam interference, restricted

to the limiting cases of fringes of equal thickness and of equal inclination. Importance in modern optical
and photonic devices as illustrated by: the Michelson interferometer (including its use as a Fourier-
transform spectrometer); the Fabry–Perot etalon (derivation of the pattern, definition of finesse).

38
Distinction between completely polarized, partially polarized and unpolarized light. Phenomenological
understanding of birefringence; principles of the use of uniaxial crystals in practical polarizers and wave
plates (detailed knowledge of individual devices will not be required). Production and analysis of
completely polarized light. Practical applications of polarized light.

Basic principles of lasers and laser action: population inversion, Einstein coefficients, pumping;
coherence length, as measured using the Michelson Interferometer.

Electronics

Non-ideal Operational amplifiers with finite, frequency dependent gain. Bipolar Junction transistors and
simple one-transistor amplifiers. Extension to long-tailed pairs and current mirrors.

A3. Quantum Physics

Probabilities and probability amplitudes. Interference, state vectors and the bra-ket notation,
wavefunctions. Hermitian operators and physical observables, eigenvalues and expectation values. The
effect of measurement on a state; collapse of the wave function. Successive measurements and the
uncertainty relations. The relation between simultaneous observables, commutators and complete sets
of states.

The time-dependent Schroedinger equation. Energy eigenstates and the time-independent

Schroedinger equation. The time evolution of a system not in an energy eigenstate. Wave packets in
position and momentum space.

Probability current density.

Wave function of a free particle and its relation to de Broglie’s hypothesis and Planck’s relation. Particle
in one-dimensional square-well potentials of finite and infinite depth. Scattering off, and tunnelling
through, a one-dimensional square potential barrier. Circumstances in which a change in potential can
be idealised as steep; [Non examinable: Use of the WKB approximation.]

The simple harmonic oscillator in one dimension by operator methods. Derivation of energy eigenvalues
and eigenfunctions and explicit forms of the eigenfunctions for n=0,1 states.

Amplitudes and wave functions for a system of two particles. Simple examples of entanglement.

Commutation rules for angular momentum operators including raising and lowering operators, their
eigenvalues (general derivation of the eigenvalues of L2and Lz not required), and explicit form of the
spherical harmonics for l=0,1 states. Rotational spectra of simple diatomic molecules.

Representation of spin-1/2 operators by Pauli matrices. The magnetic moment of the electron and
precession in a homogeneous magnetic field. The Stern–Gerlach experiment. The combination of two
spin-1/2 states into S=0,1; [non-examinable: Derivation of states of well-defined total angular
momentum using raising and lowering operators]. Rules for combining angular momenta in general
(derivation not required). [Non-examinable: term symbols.]

Hamiltonian for the gross structure of the hydrogen atom. Centre of mass motion and reduced particle.
Separation of the kinetic-energy operator into radial and angular parts. Derivation of the allowed
energies; principal and orbital angular-momentum quantum numbers; degeneracy of energy levels.

39
Functional forms and physical interpretation of the wavefunctions for n<3.
First-order time-independent perturbation theory, both non-degenerate and degenerate (questions will
be restricted to systems where the solution of the characteristic equation can be obtained by
elementary means). Interaction of a hydrogen atom with a strong uniform external magnetic field. The
linear and quadratic Stark effects in hydrogen.
Exchange symmetry for systems with identical fermions or bosons; derivation of the Pauli principle.
Gross-structure Hamiltonian of helium. Implications of exchange symmetry for wavefunctions of
stationary states of helium; singlet and triplet states. Estimation of the energies of the lowest few states
using hydrogenic wavefunctions and perturbation theory.
The variational method for ground-state energies; application to helium.
The adiabatic and sudden approximations with simple applications.
Time-dependent perturbation theory. The interaction of a hydrogen atom with an oscillating external
electric field; dipole matrix elements, selection rules and the connection to angular-momentum
conservation. Transition to a continuum; density of states, Fermi’s golden rule.
[Non-examinable -Classical uncertainty in quantum mechanics: pure and impure states. The density
matrix and trace rules. Time-evolution of the density matrix. Measurement and loss of coherence.]

S01. Functions of a complex variable

Complex differentiation and definition of analytic functions, Cauchy-Riemann equations, orthogonal
families of curves and complex mapping, conformal transformations and applications.
Complex integration, Cauchy’s integral theorem and integral formula, Taylor series, isolated singularities
and Laurent series, residue theorem and evaluation of real integrals, Jordan’s lemma and other types
of integral, branch points, branch cuts and Riemann surfaces, integration with cuts or with removable
singularities, other selected applications of complex calculus.

S04. Energy Studies

Historical development of power generation, global issues. Conservation laws. Application of
thermodynamic reasoning to power generation.
Physical principles of thermal power plant. Generation from mechanical sources (hydro, tidal, wave,
wind), Solar energy (PV and solar thermal), Biomass, Nuclear fission reactors. Fusion power. Energy
storage. Risk assessment. Environmental and economic issues. Future trends.

S07. Classical Mechanics*

Calculus of variations: Euler‐‐Lagrange equation, variation subject to constraints. Lagrangian
mechanics: principle of least action; generalized co‐ordinates; configuration space. Application to
motion in strange co‐ordinate systems, rigid bodies, small oscillations, Noether’s theorem and
conservation laws, particle in an electromagnetic field.
Hamiltonian mechanics: Legendre transform; Hamilton’s equations; principle of least action again;

40
Liouville’s theorem and flows in phase space; Poisson brackets; symmetries and conservation laws.
[Non‐examinable: Canonical transformations; Hamilton‐‐Jacobi equation; action‐angle coordinates;
ray tracing theory and Hamilton’s equations for a wave group; derivation of Schrödinger's equation.]
*Note: the above Classical Mechanics syllabus is also that for the Physics and Philosophy paper
B7. Classical Mechanics but includes the non-examinable material.

S12. Introduction to Biological Physics

Introduction to biological molecules, the structures and processes of life: organisms, organs, cells,
molecules and molecular machines. DNA and RNA; the double helix, the “central dogma” and DNA code,
DNA processing in cells, genes, inheritance. Proteins; the importance of water, amino acids and their
properties, forces in protein folding, primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary structure, methods of
structure determination, proteins as catalysts and machines. Lipid bilayer membranes; self-assembly of
lipids, vesicles, electrical properties, ionic solutions and Nernst potential. Biological membranes; ion
channels and other membrane proteins.

Proteins as nanotechnology: importance of thermal energy, self assembly, examples of protein nano-
machines.

S14. History of Physics

Medieval natural philosophy: the basic Aristotelian scientific views that dominated learned thought
until the Seventeenth Century, and why the system became increasingly implausible by the end of the
Sixteenth Century.

The instrumental origins of the Scientific Revolution: how in the first three decades of the Seventeenth
Century there was a transformation in the way that researchers understood nature, such that for the
first time it became conceivable that experiments and scientific instruments could give improved
evidence about the natural world.

The Mathematization of Nature: the introduction by Galileo and Newton of new and immensely
powerful mathematical approaches to nature, the ways in which they argued for these approaches and
the response to them.

The Evidential Basis of the Newtonian system: the experimental and observational corroboration of the
Newtonian system in the Eighteenth Century, including the shape of the Earth, the prediction of the
return of Halley’s comet in 1759, and the triumph of celestial mechanics.

Electromagnetism from Oersted to Maxwell: the work of Oersted, Faraday, Maxwell and Heaviside, and
resulting contemporary technological innovations.

Carnot’s Inheritance and the Creation of Thermodynamics: Carnot’s analysis of Watt engines, his
idealisation of a perfect engine by means of the Carnot cycle, and the later work of Joule, William
Thomson, and Clausius leading to the concept of energy.

Small Particles and Big Physics from Marie Curie to CERN: the twentieth century elaboration of the
structure of matter, from the pioneering work of Wilson, JJ Thomson, and Rutherford, the work of Marie

41
and Pierre Curie, Moseley’s use of X-Ray spectroscopy to demonstrate the physical foundation of the
Periodic Table, to the beginnings of particle physics

Einstein’s Universe: Finding Evidence for the General Theory of Relativity from Eddington to LIGO.

S26. Stars and Galaxies

Measurement of physical properties of stars and galaxies. Parallax and the distance ladder. Magnitude
systems and their relationship to quantitative measurements of luminosity and effective temperature.
Observational properties of stars and galaxies: the H-R diagram, stellar clusters, basic description of the
structure of the Milky Way; the Hubble classification of galaxies; galaxy luminosity functions.

The equations of stellar structure: hydrostatic equilibrium, virial theorem, convection and energy
transport. Structure of main sequence stars; use of scaling relations to derive relationships between
stellar masses, luminosities, radii and lifetimes. The Chandrasekar limit and degenerate stellar cores;
introduction to post-main sequence evolution.

Galaxies treated as systems of stars in spherically symmetric gravitational potentials. The Collisionless
Boltzmann Equation; Jeans’ equations; moments of distributions. Stellar velocity dispersions and their
use to infer the potential. Influence of a point mass at the centre of the potential; observational
evidence for supermassive black holes in normal galaxies.

S30. Exoplanets
Overview of the main planet detection methods: radial velocities (Keplerian orbits and the radial velocity
equation, spectroscopy and Doppler shift measurement basics), transits (basics of stellar photometry,
unique solution of transit light curve), astrometry (astronomical distance and angular scales,
astronomical coordinate systems, parallax and proper motion), direct imaging (blackbody emission,
planetary albedo, expected contrast, spatial resolution of ground-based telescopes and the concept of
seeing, basics of adaptive optics and coronography), and microlensing (microlensing equation,
probability of microlensing event, timescale for planetary microlensing signals). Comparison of the
biases and limitations of the different techniques, key instruments/missions at present and in medium
term future.

Formation, dynamics and statistics: standard model of star formation, accretion discs basics,
introduction to planet formation models (core accretion / gravitational instability). Torque exerted by
the disk on the planet (planet migration). Star-planet interaction (tides). Overview of statistics of the
exoplanet population (mass, semi-major axis, eccentricity and radius distribution, properties of the host
stars) and comparison to theoretical expectations.

Evolution and atmospheres: evolution of a pure H/He sphere in the absence of heat source. Energy
budgets and mass-radius relation for different kinds of planets, qualitative introduction to the effect of
external heating (stellar irradiation). Hydrostatic equilibrium, atmospheric scale height, key constituents
of planetary atmospheres, key features of atmospheric spectra. Effects of small particles (Rayleigh

42
scattering). Habitable zone: definition, location for different star types. Biosignatures: notion of
chemical (dis-) equilibrium, techniques and prospects for detection of extra terrestrial life.

S31. Numerical Methods

Types of partial differential equations (elliptical, hyperbolic, parabolic); finite difference approximations
for partial differential equations: discretization on a grid, Taylor series and accuracy of discretization,
stability analysis of linear PDEs (one-dimensional heat conduction equation, scalar advection equation),
physical meaning of stability criterion.

Collisionless N-body dynamics: Poisson-Vlasov system; Monte-Carlo approach to N-body dynamics;

Time integration schemes for advancing positions and velocities of particles (e.g. explicit Euler method,
Runge-Kutta methods, leapfrog method); symplectic integration schemes; gravitational force
calculation: direct summation, particle mesh methods (mass assignment schemes, Fourier
methods, relaxation solvers), tree algorithms.

Lagrangian versus Eulerian hydrodynamics; Smooth Particle Hydrodynamics: kernel interpolation;

constructing derivatives from discrete tracer points; basic equations of smooth particle hydrodynamics;
artificial viscosity and shock capturing.

Grid-based hydrodynamics: Euler equations as a set of hyperbolic conservation laws; conservative

versus primitive variables; solution to linearized Euler equations and Riemann problem; solving non-
linear conservation laws: shocks and rarefaction waves.

S32. Chaos, Random Processes and Predictability

The geometry of dynamical systems; fixed points and stability; properties of the Jacobian; limit cycles;
control parameters and bifurcations; phase portraits; conservative versus dissipative systems; three-
dimensional systems and the Poincare-Bendixon theorem (qualitative account only); the Lorenz system;
phase-space volume contraction; strange attractors and fractals; introduction to random processes;
distinguishing between low-dimensional chaos and linear stochastic processes; predictability and error
growth; Liapunov exponents.

S33. Entrepreneurship for Physicists

The course comprises 12 hours direct teaching with a significant coursework element as the basis of
assessment. It has been designed by experts in the Saïd Business School and Oxford Foundry specifically
for Physics undergraduates.

Inspiration

Students will receive a series of short talks from ex-Physicists turned entrepreneurs (emphasis on
founders of Hard Tech Start-ups), current academics who have their own spin-outs, and academics
who license technologies to companies. Examples of start-ups could include those supported through
the OXFO L.E.V8 accelerator programme that have been founded by ex-Oxford Physics students such
as See-Through Scientific and Veratrak. Showcasing a combination of current academics who have

43
spin-outs and Oxford Physics alumni that have created start-ups will show students that they do not
need to leave academia to be enterprising.

Team Building

A leadership coach will help students form diverse high-performing teams of 2-4 people using Belbin
team formation methodology. The exercises will help students gain a greater self-understanding of
their strengths and how to manage their weaknesses, enabling them to better contribute to a team.
Students will form teams made up of a diverse mix of Belbin team roles.

Creative Thinking & Problem Discovery

Students will be provided with an introduction to design thinking to help them understand what
creative problem solving is and how it can be used for innovation. A common pitfall that scientists face
when developing products is starting with a solution and looking for a problem.

Design thinking is a powerful methodology to helping students engage with actual customer needs
and work towards building insightful and efficient solutions where there is a market opportunity.
Students would be shown case studies of Hard Tech companies related to Physics and be tasked with
applying the concepts of design thinking to generate an idea for a product or service and begin the
process of developing the idea for the people they are designing for.

Intellectual Property (IP) & Licensing

Students will be introduced to the principles of IP and why IP is so critical to new businesses.

The session will cover IP as a value driver for start-ups, how to monetize IP and various methods to
protect your IP. Speakers will have a background in managing IP and technology transfer and draw
upon their experiences of working with companies. Students will have the opportunity to get first-
hand accounts on how business strategy is formed around IP, what opportunities and challenges
companies have to face and how to maximise the value of IP.

Market Segmentation & Knowing Your Customer

Students in their newly formed teams will explore how to choose the market segment for their chosen
product or service and the methods of “seeing the problem through the customers’ eyes.” Students
will learn and apply the concepts of market segmentation, explore the foundations of primary market
research, and develop a customer persona.

Quantifying the Value Proposition & Designing a Business Model

Students will learn how to estimate the quantified value proposition for their team’s product or
service and gain an understanding of existing business models of companies across industries where
disruptive technologies have had a significant impact (e.g. Biotech and Quantum computing) to help
students capture some of the value their product or service brings to the customer. Students will be
guided through how to use the Business Model Canvas to map and design a business model for their
product or service.

The assessment for this course will be as follows:

44
25% Group presentation: Assessed based on an oral presentation of a business idea/plan.

25% Group written assessment: Student groups will be asked to submit an executive summary of no
more than 1000 words, and a slide presentation of no more than 10 slides.

50% Individual Feasibility Study: Individual students will be asked to write a portion (1000 words max)
of a document assessing the feasibility of a potential business venture, from one of the following
perspectives: the potential market (demand-side), the potential competition (supply-side), and the
skill-base of the team.

S34. From Signal to Data

Common sensors and their outputs, equivalent circuits, datasheets, multistage amplifiers, common
amplifier build blocks, negative feedback amplifiers, field effect transistors, analogue filters (2nd order
filters, active filters) in the time and frequency domain, phase locked loop, noise (types of noise, what
to do about noise), lock-in amplifier
Transistor as switch, CMOS, flip-flops, comparators (Schmitt trigger), coincidences, analogue-to-digital
conversion (including time-to-digital conversion), digitization error, sampling, aliasing, digital Fourier
transform and its use in signal processing, windowing, digital filters (FIR and IIR filters), reconstruction
of digital signals, up-/down-sampling, digital-to-analogue conversion

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Appendix D Mark scheme for practicals
Students must achieve at least 2 marks to obtain the credit for the practical or report. Once a student
has a mark of 2 or higher, they cannot be remarked for the same practical.
Criteria for practical marking
Mark Criterion
0 • Did not attend the practical
• Was absent for more than one hour during the practical: not applicable for online
practicals or ones where students spend only part of day in lab

1 • Did not complete the practical (*)

• Severe problems with some or all aspects of the practical
• Lacked understanding of the physics of the experiment, the method and the
apparatus
• Limited results
• No awareness of uncertainties or analysis marred by serious errors
• Notes, graphs and tables absent or totally unacceptable
• Commenting in any computer code is absent or inadequate
• The student is unwilling or unable to improve the standard to a higher level even
after substantial input from demonstrators.

2 • Basic results
• Minimally acceptable work with only limited awareness of uncertainties
• Plots present but lacking key aspects (e.g., axis labels, data points, clarity)
• Very basic data analysis
3 • Reasonable and competent attempt at all aspects of the practical
• Reasonable understanding of the physics of the experiment, the method and the
apparatus
• Notes, graphs and tables will be adequate, but could be improved
• Some units or quantities may be wrong
• There may be some inappropriate appreciation of numerical precision
• Basic commenting of computer code.
4 • Good attempt at all aspects of the practical
• Good understanding of the physics of the experiment, the method and the
apparatus
• Notes, graphs and tables are clear and correctly labelled in a well organised logbook
• Good analysis and awareness of a range of types of uncertainty
• Only minor errors in any calculations, units or quantities
• The appropriate numerical precision required will be shown.
5 • Excellent work, showing scientific maturity and evidence of analysis, ideas or
techniques well beyond those expected for the practical, for example a full
awareness of statistical and systematic errors
• Exhibits insight and possibly originality, combined with a very good ability to
analyse and synthesise the results
• Computer code will be thoroughly and clearly commented
• Demonstrates a full understanding of the physics in the practical
• Cannot be awarded for work submitted late.
*: Students who do not complete a practical can obtain a mark higher than 1 if the demonstrator feels
the student fully understood all parts of the experiment which were completed and/or progress was
hindered due to faulty equipment.

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 Criteria for report marking

Mark Criterion
0 • Did not a write a report
1 • Severe problems with some or all of the structure of the report and plots
• Limited results
• No awareness of uncertainties
• Referencing is absent or totally unacceptable
• Inadequate English.
2 • Basic results
• Minimally acceptable work with limited awareness of uncertainties
• Plots present but lacking key aspects (e.g. axis labels, data points, clarity)
• Very basic data analysis and discussion of results
• Minimal referencing (e.g. to experimental script only).
3 • Reasonable attempt at all aspects of the report
• Adequate plots, data and uncertainty analysis
• Evidence of reading beyond the script e.g. in a textbook
• Awareness of numerical precision
• Basic commenting of any included computer code.
4 • Well organised report of good quality
• Clear plots, labelled diagrams and good analysis
• Awareness of a range of types of uncertainty
• All references included appropriately, beyond just the lab script.
5 • Excellent work
• Shows scientific maturity and evidence of analysis, ideas or techniques well
beyond those expected, for example a full awareness of statistical and
systematic errors or using ideas from research papers
• Any included computer code will be thoroughly and clearly commented.
• Demonstrates a full understanding of the physics in the practical or contained in
the computer code (if applicable)
• Cannot be awarded for work submitted late.

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Appendix E Summary of Part A experiments
This section lists the experiments available. A completed experiment earns two day's credit unless
otherwise indicated. Scripts can be obtained from SPIRe or in the relevant section of Canvas.

Computing

Location: Room 221 (Online only for 2022-23) Head of Lab: Dr Elizabeth Gallas
Computing must not count for more than half your practical work. You must offer at least one piece of
computing work as part of your quota for the year and no more than 2 pieces of computing work in
total. Discussions with your colleagues are encouraged, but you must write each line of your own code.
Demonstrators are only available when the lab is open (Mondays and Tuesdays Hilary Term and weeks
three and four of Trinity Term --- see the table earlier on in this handbook giving details of when the
labs are open. The computer room in the teaching laboratories will be available for general use but
assistance will usually be provided online via Microsoft Teams.
Computing practicals are assessed by writing a report, which you submit online and then meet with a
demonstrator. Further information on report writing is available via Canvas as well as a sample report.
To prepare for assessment, see http://www-
pnp.physics.ox.ac.uk/~gallas/Lectures/index_2ndYear.html which summarises requirements, how to
upload your work to Canvas, and final preparations for meeting with a demonstrator for assessment
(how to book a marking time and what to bring with you).
Note that marking of experiments on Monday and Tuesday of fifth week of Trinity Term is only by
appointments arranged in fourth week. Please contact the Head of Lab, Dr Elizabeth Gallas to make an
appointment.
The lab is not open for demonstrating or marking in Michaelmas Term but if you would like to do
experiment CO20, you can arrange an appointment with Dr Gallas to discuss your plans during
Michaelmas Term.
Record keeping for computing experiments

Computing experiments still need logbook entries, although the ability to comment code means that
the logbook entry for a computing experiment is likely to be shorter than for other types of experiment.
Some experiments require derivations, for instance, which should be written in the logbook. The
logbook can also contain, for example, intermediate plots (with appropriate descriptions) especially if
they help you confirm that the results from the program are correct. Demonstrators will expect any
code that they are shown to be commented.
Our default language is Matlab, though you may code in any language in Part A. If you wish to use a
language other than Matlab, please check with a computing demonstrator first or email the Head of
Lab, Dr Elizabeth Gallas .

CO03 Strange mesons from proton-antiproton collisions at the CDF experiment (2 days)
In this practical, the student will analyze charged-particle track data at the CDF experiment, a proton-
antiproton collider experiment that took data at the Fermilab Tevatron until 2011. MATLAB will be used
to display collision events, calculate track intersections, and, ultimately, reconstruct strange mesons

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from their decay to two pions. Using special relativity, the lifetime of the strange meson can also be
estimated from the data, which has kindly been provided courtesy of CDF and Fermilab.

CO20 Computing project (up to 2 days)

This is an open-ended piece of work to develop and implement a program in an area of your own
interest. If you have an idea for a project, you MUST contact the Head of Lab to discuss it and plan the
work before you start.

CO22 Schrödinger's equation (2 days)

This problem requires you to find the solution of the time-independent Schrödinger equation for the
quantum harmonic oscillator, a good example of a stiff differential equation.

CO23 Soliton (2 days)

In this experiment you will solve a non-linear wave equation whose solution can have particle-like
properties (hence the name soliton). The exercise also illustrates wave steepening and breaking as well
as computational instability if the time-step constraints are not met.

CO24 Chaos (1 day)

This illustrates the use of Runge-Kutta techniques on the non-linear set of Lorenz equations. You will
investigate the presence of stable and unstable stationary points, the presence of a strange attractor
and chaotic behaviour. The relevance to weather forecasting is also demonstrated.

CO25 Laplace (2 days for normal practical + optional 1 extra day)

The solution of Laplace's equation by successive over-relaxation is found for a square domain, and
compared with the analytic solution. The solution is then found for Poisson's equation.

CO28 Ferromagnetism (2 days)

The Ising model is a simplified model of a ferromagnet. Its properties such as the magnetic moment and
the transition temperature can be studied using a method of random sampling of the configurations.

CO31 Structure of white dwarf stars (2 days)

The structure of white dwarf stars is a balance between gravitational forces, which act to compress the
star, and electron-degeneracy pressure, which acts to resist the compression. In this practical you will
investigate the structure of white dwarf stars by integrating the equations defining this equilibrium
state.

CO32 Fourier optics (2 days for normal practical + optional 1 extra day)

In this practical you will be investigating a particular form of the Fourier Transform that is particularly
suited to computational physics, the Discrete Fourier Transform, and using it to investigate diffraction
patterns.

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Electronics

Location: Room 129 Head of Lab: Dr Georg Viehhauser

Students doing the full practical quota of 12 days must do two out of the three compulsory practicals:
EL20, EL21 and EL22. Those doing a half quota of 6 days, or the Teaching and Learning 4 day quota, must
do one out of these three. All electronics practicals are 2 days in length.

EL20 Introduction to bipolar transistors (compulsory practical)

This practical teaches you (1) how to use bipolar transistors in amplifier circuits, (2) how to build an op-
amp using transistors, (3) about the functional groups in an op-amp and (4) about performance
parameters of real op-amps.

EL21 Digitization and sampling (compulsory practical)

In this practical you will learn about the transformation of analogue signals to digital information and
the errors introduced by this process. You will build a comparator circuit and use this in a time-to-digital
converter (TDC) and an analogue-to-digital converter (ADC). Then you will sample analog signals and
use digital Fourier transform to understand effects like aliasing or leakage. Finally, you will learn how to
reconstruct a sampled signal.

EL22 Introduction to the computer (compulsory practical)

The hardware and programming of a simple 8-bit machine are studied. You will first have to implement
a missing instruction in the instruction set of the machine using a network of logic components. When
the machine is complete it is used to solve a number of problems. Initially programs are written in
machine code, later an assembler language is used.

EL23 Amplifiers (non-compulsory practical)

This practical explores different negative feedback amplifier circuits based on op-amps. You will use
these circuits to amplify different types of inputs to generate output voltages or currents. It is
recommended to do this practical only after EL20.

EL24 Analogue computing (non-compulsory practical)

Integrator, adder and multiplier modules are combined to make a small analogue computer. Solutions
of linear simultaneous and differential equations are investigated. A predictable non-linear problem
(rabbits and foxes) and an equation with chaotic solutions are also examined. It is recommended to do
this practical only after EL20.

EL25 Microcontrollers (non-compulsory practical)

This practical introduces the popular Arduino microcontroller and explores the timing performance of
this device, and tricks how to improve it. You will learn about interrupts for applications with time-
critical response. You will then use the skills you acquired to program the Arduino to perform various
time-critical measurements. It is recommended to do this practical only after EL22.

EL 26 Filters (non-compulsory practical)

This practical explores how signals can be filtered (to remove noise or select specific frequency
components) using both analogue and digital techniques. You will build a variety of passive and active

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analogue filters, and program a range of digital filters on a computer. It is recommended to do this
practical only after EL21.

Thermal physics

Location: Room 127 Head of Lab: Dr Moon-Sun Nam / Prof. Robin Nicholas

GP17 Crystal vibrations on a wire (1 day)

Normal modes of vibration of a monatomic and a diatomic crystal are modelled by vibrations of a wire
containing point masses. Dispersion curves are investigated.

GP27 Vacuum techniques (1 day)

The experiment involves the operation of a modern vacuum system and the use of a variety of gauges.
Because so much experimental work involves high vacuum, all students are strongly recommended to
do this experiment. The physics of the Pirani gauge will also be investigated.

GP32 The latent heat of evaporation of liquid nitrogen (1 day)

The rate of evaporation of liquid nitrogen as a function of heat input is determined by a flow meter,
calibrated with gas produced electrolytically.

GP37 Thermal conductivity of copper and sapphire (2 days)

The role of phonons in the thermal resistivity of metals and insulators is illustrated by measuring the
thermal conductivity of copper and of a single crystal of sapphire over a range of temperatures from
10K to 300K using a modern cryocooler.

GP46 Refrigeration by the Joule-Kelvin effect (1 day)

A study is made of the cooling or heating of nitrogen and helium by Joule-Kelvin expansions.

GP47 Ultrasonic interference and diffraction (2 days plus optional 1 extra day)
The objective of this experiment is to demonstrate in a quantitative way the diffraction and interference
patterns from a number of different objects and to show how these are related to one another.

GP49 Thermal waves (2 days)

The aim of this experiment is to study the transport of heat along a copper bar. The heat input at one
end of the bar can be varied with time and the temperature profile along the bar recorded both as a
function of position and time. Solution of the heat conduction equation gives predictions for the
dispersion and thus the group and wave velocities.

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Electromagnetism and Optics

Location: Rooms 209 and 210 Head of Lab for Part A: Prof Alexander Lvovsky

EM07 Wave phenomena on electrical transmission lines (2 days)

The propagation and the reflection of electrical signals on coaxial transmission lines are studied. Using
directional couplers, a quantitative study is made of the amplitude and the phase of reflected pulses.
When driven by a sinusoidal signal the impedance matching properties of a quarter-wave line are
investigated.

EM09 Total internal reflection and the evanescent wave (1 day)

Total internal reflection can occur as light passes from glass to air if the angle of incidence is too large.
The angle of transmission would then exceed 90 degrees. Under these conditions, is there any
electromagnetic wave in the second medium? These phenomena are studied at a wavelength of 3cm,
enabling distances comparable with the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave to be measured easily.

EM10 Electrodynamic Confinement (2 days)

In this practical you will investigate the use of oscillating electric fields to confine ions in an "ion trap".
These traps are widely used in industry for mass spectrometry, and in research into quantum computing.

OP22 The Michelson interferometer as a spectrometer (2 days)

The use of the Michelson as a Fourier transform spectrometer is explained. The width of the mercury
green line and the separations of the resonance lines of the alkalis Na, K, Rb and Cs are measured.

OP24 Emission spectrum of sodium (plane grating spectrograph) (2 days)

Various lines in the sodium spectrum are examined and identified. These are mostly lines which connect
to the lowest P level (principal, sharp and diffuse series). The results can be used to locate the energies
of a number of S, P and D levels. A limitation is that only a few lines of each series are observed.

Additional work can be carried out by comparing the one-electron spectra of several elements (Na, K,
Rb, Cs, and H lamps are available); with different alkali atoms, different features of the energy level
diagram are made available for investigation.

OP25 Stern-Gerlach experiment (1 day)

There have been many surprising results in the history of physics, but few can have been quite so
unexpected as that which Stern and Gerlach obtained in 1921 when they tried to measure the magnetic
moment of silver atoms by deflecting them in an inhomogeneous magnetic field. The atoms split up into
two well-defined beams, the first direct evidence of space quantisation.

Not only that, the fact that the number of beams was even suggested that there could be half-integral
quantum numbers. It was four years before anyone realised that this was associated with the intrinsic
spin of the electron. In this experiment, you verify these remarkable findings for yourself.

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OP26 The Faraday effect (1 day)
Measurement of the rotation of the plane of polarization of light traversing glass in a longitudinal
magnetic field. Illustrates ideas from the classical theory of dispersion and of the Zeeman effect.

OP27 Analysis of polarized light (2 days)

Polarisation patterns of light: linear, circular, elliptical. Preparation, manipulation and measurement of
these patterns. Primary optical elements for polarisation control: polarisers and wave plates. Fresnel
equations and Brewster angle. Effect of external and total internal reflection on the polarisation.

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Appendix F Complaints and Appeals
Complaints and where to go if you need help and support
The University, the MPLS Division and Department of Physics all hope that provision made for students
at all stages of their course of study will result in no need for complaints (about that provision) or appeals
(against the outcomes of any form of assessment). Where such a need arises, an informal discussion
with the person immediately responsible for the issue that you wish to complain about (and who may
not be one of the individuals identified below) is often the simplest way to achieve a satisfactory
resolution. Many sources of advice are available from colleges, faculties/departments and bodies like
the Counselling Service or the OUSU Student Advice Service, which have extensive experience in
advising students. You may wish to take advice from one of those sources before pursuing your
complaint.

Complaints and Concerns regarding teaching provision or facilities

If your concern or complaint relates to teaching or other provision made by the Department of Physics,
then you should initially contact [email protected] for matters relating to lectures or
major option classes, or [email protected] for matters relating to the Teaching
Laboratories. General areas of concern about provision affecting students as a whole should be raised
through the Physics Joint Consultative Committee or via student representation on the
faculty/department’s committees.
If you feel your concern is not dealt with, you can raise it with the Head of Teaching, Prof Hans Kraus.
Complaints about departmental facilities should in the first instance be sent to
[email protected] so it can be forwarded to the most appropriate individual within the
department. If you feel unable to approach one of those individuals, you may contact the Head of
Department, Prof Ian Shipsey. The person concerned will attempt to resolve your concern/complaint
informally. If you are dissatisfied with the outcome, you may take your concern further by making a
formal complaint to the Proctors under the University Student Complaints Procedure
(https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/complaints).
If your concern or complaint relates to teaching or other provision made by your college, you should
raise it either with your tutor or with one of the college officers, Senior Tutor or Tutor for Graduates (as
appropriate). Your college will also be able to explain how to take your complaint further if you are
dissatisfied with the outcome of its consideration.

Concerns regarding conduct and ED&I matters

The Department is committed to promoting and nurturing an inclusive and equal culture where diverse
perspectives and experiences are encouraged; where individuals are valued, respected and treated
alike; and where individuals of all backgrounds can come together, fully contribute their talents, and
thrive. If you have concerns, for example, about issues of discrimination, harassment or mental health
issues, please visit the Physics Department ED&I webpage which has links to further sources of help and
support. Alternatively, or in addition, you could consult the ED&I pages of the MPLS Division which have
plenty of advice and useful contacts. You may also find it useful to consult the relevant University page,
and in particular the sections regarding student and staff conduct on that page.

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Academic appeals
An academic appeal is an appeal against the decision of an academic body (e.g., boards of examiners,
transfer and confirmation decisions etc.), on grounds such as procedural error or evidence of bias. There
is no right of appeal against academic judgement. If you have any concerns about your assessment
process or outcome it is advisable to discuss these first informally with your subject or college tutor,
Senior Tutor, course director, director of studies, supervisor or college or departmental administrator
as appropriate. They will be able to explain the assessment process that was undertaken and may be
able to address your concerns. Queries must not be raised directly with the examiners. If you still have
concerns you can make a formal appeal to the Proctors who will consider appeals under the University
Academic Appeals Procedure (see https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/academic/complaints).

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