To pass this unit you need to receive a total mark of greater than 50%.

Assignments

There will be one assignment on the first half of the course on electromagnetism. 3000-level students should not need to be reminded that working on problems is an essential part of any physics course.  It is only by attempting problems that an understanding of new (and sometimes strange) concepts is obtained.  The purpose of the assignment is to help you cement ideas, practice solving common problems from this topic area, and give you a sense of how you are progressing; While the assignment is AI open, inappropriate use of AI will negate these purposes, and you will be a less able physicist as a result. Try to use AI in a way that enhances your learning rather than diminishing it.

Late submission will be permitted in line with the FSE policy below.  

Laboratory work

During the session, you are required to carry out four experiments, each taking two weeks.

You must keep a logbook record for each experiment. Logbooks will be assessed for readability, layout, completeness and clarity. The record of the experiment in your logbook must include relevant calculations and graphs for each experiment. Raw results with no analysis are not acceptable. You will also submit a full report for one experiment of your choice. The distinction between logbook records and reports will be explained on iLearn, but is the same as it was in PHYS2020.

You submit all items at the due date. Please ask for early feedback if you wish. The formal report is worth 10%, and the logbook records 25%, for a total of 35% for the laboratory assessment.

Late submission will be permitted in line with the FSE policy below.  

End-of-session examination

There will be a 3 hour end-of-session final exam to be held in the University Examination Period.

You should have a scientific calculator for use during the final examination. Note that calculators with text retrieval are not permitted for the final examination.

If you receive special consideration for the final exam, a supplementary exam will be scheduled. By making a special consideration application for the final exam you are declaring yourself available for a resit during the supplementary examination period and will not be eligible for a second special consideration approval based on pre-existing commitments. Please ensure you are familiar with the policy prior to submitting an application. Approved applicants will receive an individual notification one week prior to the exam with the exact date and time of their supplementary examination.

Late Submission Policy

• 5% penalty per day: If you submit your assessment late, 5% of the total possible marks will be deducted for each day (including weekends), up to 7 days.

  • Example 1 (out of 100): If you score 85/100 but submit 20 hours late, you will lose 5 marks and receive 80/100.

  • Example 2 (out of 30): If you score 27/30 but submit 1 day late, you will lose 1.5 marks and receive 25.5/30.

• After 7 days: Submissions more than 7 days late will receive a mark of 0.

• Extensions:

  • Automatic short extension: Some assessments are eligible for automatic short extension. You can only apply for an automatic short extension before the due date.

  • Special Consideration: If you need more time due to serious issues and for any assessments that are not eligible for Short Extension, you must apply for Special Consideration.

Need help? Review the Special Consideration page HERE

The unit comprises a sequence of two-hour SGTAs, and 8 weeks of three-hour lab sessions. 

STGAs start in week 1. Please consult iLearn for the lab schedule. 

Each week, before the SGTA, you should engage with online materials as provided, to become familiar with the concepts we are learning that week. In the SGTA, it will be assumed that you have familiarity with that material, and we will focus on active problem solving.

Online materials will be a mixture of assigned reading, and short videos on key concepts or standard mathematical tools.  

Schedule of topics

· Review of Maxwell’s Equations of electro and magneto statics in vacuum

· Electrodynamics in vacuum

· Dipole radiation, plane wave solutions

· Properties of electromagnetic waves in homogenous regions and at interfaces between different materials

· Gaussian beams

· Descriptions of polarisation states and control

· Interference

· Fabry-Perot interferometer

· Diffraction

- Laser rate equations

- Nonlinear optics

Prior years had a more extensive and sequential assessment structure. The unit has moved from a one-hour lecture and two-hour SGTA each week, to just a two-hour SGTA supported by online materials.