| Academic Year |
2023 |
| Offering Department |
Physics |
Quota |
---
|
|
Course Co-ordinator |
Dr J K C Leung, Physics < jkcleung@hku.hk > |
|
Teachers Involved |
(Dr J K C Leung,Physics)
|
|
Course Objectives
|
In this course, students will learn about various kinds of radiations in the environment, the experimental techniques to detect them, the methods to trace them and to assess their hazard to the environment, and the ways to reduce the hazard in events of nuclear accidents or incidents.
|
|
Course Contents & Topics |
The course will cover naturally occurring radiation sources and man-made radiation sources including nuclear power plants; transport models for radionuclides in the environment; nuclear accidents and its impact to the environment; radiation risk assessment and emergency preparedness; techniques for measuring low level radioactivities; nuclear techniques in ecology; concept of radiation protection to human species and non-human species.
|
|
Course Learning Outcomes |
On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:
|
CLO 1 |
realise sources and transport of radionuclides in the environment |
|
CLO 2 |
explain and assess the impact to the environment from the use of nuclear energies |
|
CLO 3 |
detect and measure low level radioactivities in environmental samples |
|
CLO 4 |
justify, optimize, and assess the risk of using radiation and nuclear technologies |
|
CLO 5 |
compare and contrast the environmental impacts from nuclear energy and other forms of energy |
|
Pre-requisites
(and Co-requisites and
Impermissible combinations) |
Pass in CHEM2041 or ENVS2001 or ENVS2002 or PHYS2265
|
| Course to PLO Mapping |
|
| Offer in 2023 - 2024 |
N
To be confirmed
|
Examination |
To be confirmed
|
|
Offer in 2024 - 2025 |
N
|
|
Course Grade |
A+ to F
|
|
Grade Descriptors |
| A | Demonstrate thorough mastery at an advanced level of extensive knowledge and skills required for attaining all the course learning outcomes. Show strong analytical and critical abilities and logical thinking, with evidence of original thought, and ability to apply knowledge to a wide range of complex, familiar and unfamiliar situations. Apply highly effective organizational and presentational skills. Apply highly effective lab skills and techniques. Critical use of data and results to draw appropriate and insightful conclusions. |
|---|
| B | Demonstrate substantial command of a broad range of knowledge and skills required for attaining at least most of the course learning outcomes. Show evidence of analytical and critical abilities and logical thinking, and ability to apply knowledge to familiar and some unfamiliar situations. Apply effective organizational and presentational skills. Apply effective lab skills and techniques. Correct use of data of results to draw appropriate conclusions. |
|---|
| C | Demonstrate general but incomplete command of knowledge and skills required for attaining most of the course learning outcomes. Show evidence of some analytical and critical abilities and logical thinking, and ability to apply knowledge to most familiar situations. Apply moderately effective organizational and presentational skills. Apply moderately effective lab skills and techniques. Mostly correct but some erroneous use of data and results to draw appropriate conclusions. |
|---|
| D | Demonstrate partial but limited command of knowledge and skills required for attaining some of the course learning outcomes. Show evidence of some coherent and logical thinking, but with limited analytical and critical abilities. Show limited ability to apply knowledge to solve problems. Apply limited or barely effective organizational and presentational skills. Apply partially effective lab skills and techniques. Limited ability to use data and results to draw appropriate conclusions. |
|---|
| Fail | Demonstrate little or no evidence of command of knowledge and skills required for attaining the course learning outcomes. Lack of analytical and critical abilities, logical and coherent thinking. Show very little or no ability to apply knowledge to solve problems. Organization and presentational skills are minimally effective or ineffective. Apply minimally effective or ineffective lab skills and techniques. Misuse of data and results and/or unable to draw appropriate conclusions. |
|---|
|
|
Communication-intensive Course |
N
|
|
Course Type |
Lecture with laboratory component course
|
Course Teaching
& Learning Activities |
| Activities |
Details |
No. of Hours |
| Field work |
|
8 |
| Laboratory |
|
2 |
| Lectures |
|
36 |
| Tutorials |
|
8 |
| Reading / Self study |
|
80 |
|
Assessment Methods
and Weighting |
| Methods |
Details |
Weighting in final
course grade (%) |
Assessment Methods
to CLO Mapping |
| Assignments |
debate question performance |
10 |
CLO 1,2,4,5 |
| Examination |
2-hour written exam |
50 |
CLO 1,2,4,5 |
| Presentation |
|
40 |
CLO 2,4,5 |
|
Required/recommended reading
and online materials |
Merril Eisenbud and Thomas Gesell: Environmental Radioactivity: from Natural, Industrial, and Military Sources (Academic Press, 1997)
Robert C. Morris: The Environmental Case for Nuclear Power (Paragon House, 2000)
David Bodansky: Nuclear Energy - Principles, Practices and Prospects (American Institute of Physics Press, 1996)
|
|
Course Website |
http://moodle.hku.hk
|
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Additional Course Information |
NIL
|