PHYS1701 Physics for the Modern World

This topic will focus on the ways in which physics underpins our everyday life. Students will develop an understanding of natural phenomena through consideration of contemporary issues that humanity faces in the 21st century. Examples of these include understanding the universe and our place within it, securing the world's future energy needs, climate change, improving health and medicine. Exploration of these issues will demonstrate how Physics informs our modern world and the way in which it works.

The topic assumes no prior knowledge of Physics, and is designed to be accessible to anyone with an interest in understanding the world we live in.

This topic aims to:

• Demonstrate how a wide variety of everyday phenomena can be understood with just a few Physics principles
• Describe the cosmos and the celestial objects making up the large scale structure of the universe
• Describe atoms and atomic particles making up the small scale structure of the universe
• Provide an understanding of energy and its impact on society and environment

1. Appreciate how everyday phenomena can be understood in terms of just a few physics principles
2. Understand the universe and our place within it
3. Articulate the science behind global warming
4. Understand the role of radioactivity in the environment and its uses in technology and medicine
5. Understand the importance of energy and issues relating to our energy in our society
6. Improve quantitative reasoning skills
7. Perform practical exercises in the laboratory
8. Develop an appreciation for the processes by which scientific knowledge is obtained and evaluated
9. Solve problems relating to the concepts developed throughout the course