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PX424-15 Physics Group Project

Department
Physics
Level
Undergraduate Level 4
Module leader
Steven Dixon
Credit value
15
Module duration
12 weeks
Assessment
100% coursework
Study location
University of Warwick main campus, Coventry
Introductory description

The researching, evaluation and presentation of scientific information are important skills that you used in the 2nd year Physics Skills module. This project is designed to develop these skills further.

Module web page

Module aims

To provide experience of working as a member of a team, of taking responsibility for a component of a team activity and acting as chairperson and secretary. The project also provides the opportunity of studying in-depth some aspect of physics.

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

The class will be divided into groups with about six members. Each group will be allocated a topic in physics which should be wide-ranging and include sub-themes. A member of Academic Staff will act as group mentor. Each group will appoint, in rotation, a chairman and a secretary from among their number, and will have a formal meeting (with their group mentor) once each week. They may also decide to meet informally (perhaps in sub-groups) if they wish. Having obtained any necessary preliminary information, the group will allocate tasks to the individual members, and review progress on the problem at the subsequent weekly meetings.

Towards the end of the ten weeks each member of the group will give a formal presentation on their part of the problem to the other group members. The group mentor, with one other group mentor, will award a mark for this presentation (25%). The group will then arrange for the production of a joint Report of a maximum of 30 typed pages in which the contributions of the group members are combined together. The Report itself will be assessed by the group mentor and one other group mentor (50%). The group mentor will also award a mark for each student's contribution to the group activities (25%).

The primary function of the mentor (as well as assessing the work done by the individual members and by the group as a whole) will be to provide general advice on the group's strategy for producing the oral presentations and the final report.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

  • Work as a member of a group to assess a complex task and divide the work required between the members of the group
  • Achieve competence in a topic of physics (not covered in lecture modules)
  • Present results in a written report, which integrates with the contribution of all members of the group
  • Discuss the relationship of the results of investigations with others in the group
Subject specific skills

Knowledge of mathematics and physics. Analysis of research literature

Transferable skills

Analytical, collaborative, communication, group working, organisational, problem-solving, self-study

Study time

Type Required
Project supervision 11 sessions of 1 hour (7%)
Private study 139 hours (93%)
Total 150 hours
Private study description

Discussing regularly with other group members, reading and working through research papers and other material, writing and agreeing contribution to group report, preparing group presentation

Costs

No further costs have been identified for this module.

You must pass all assessment components to pass the module.

Assessment group A1
Weighting Study time
Report and Presentation 100%

Production and presentation of the project

Feedback on assessment

Written and oral feedback by markers.

Courses

This module is Core for:

  • Year 3 of UPXA-F303 Undergraduate Physics (MPhys)