Postgraduate taught 

Nuclear & Environmental Physics MSc

Energy And Environment PHYS4006

  • Academic Session: 2024-25
  • School: School of Physics and Astronomy
  • Credits: 10
  • Level: Level 4 (SCQF level 10)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 1
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No

Short Description

This course will explore the underlying physical mechanisms of various methods of energy production, the principles of energy consumption and efficiency and their influence on environment and climate. The course will equip future physics graduates with a solid foundation in key physical principles and ideas that underpin climate change science and sustainable energy.

Timetable

Approx. 2 class meetings per week, times yet to be determined.

Excluded Courses

None

Assessment

Examination (75%)

Small individual/group project report (25%)

Main Assessment In: April/May

Are reassessment opportunities available for all summative assessments? No

Reassessment of the main diet examination is normally available for students on PGT degree programmes if they do not achieve an overall course grade of C3 at their first attempt. Reassessment of the main diet examination is normally available for students on designated BSc degree programmes if they do not achieve an overall course grade of D3 at their first attempt. Reassessment of the main diet examination is not normally available for students on Honours degree programmes.

 

Reassessment is not normally allowed, for practical reasons, for any other assessed components of coursework.

Course Aims

To provide students with an opportunity to develop knowledge and understanding of the key physical principles and applications of physics relevant to the areas of sustainable energy and climate change.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Demonstrate basic understanding of the physical principles involved in relevant energy sources (fossil, nuclear fusion and fission, wind, photovoltaic, hydroelectric, wave, geothermal etc).

■ Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the various energy sources.

■ Identify potential energy saving methods and to suggest improvements in energy efficiency of any specific system (from a single building to a whole country).

■ Describe the relation between energy production/consumption and any potential climate change.

■ Apply objective tackling methods for 'hardly-solvable' problems, focussing on scientific aspects, but also taking financial, ethical and political constraints into account (trade-off techniques).

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

None