Offered to students admitted to Year 1 in ALL
Major/Minor ALL
Course Type
Offer in 2023 - 2024 Y N
Course Code PHYS2260
Date2023/09/24 20:37
Enquiry for Course Details
   <<< This course is not offered in 2023 - 2024. Course details are subject to change. >>>
PHYS2260 Heat and waves (6 credits) Academic Year 2023
Offering Department Physics Quota ---
Course Co-ordinator Dr M Su, Physics < mengsu84@hku.hk >
Teachers Involved (Dr M Su,Physics)
Course Objectives This course covers the foundation of heat and waves in one semester. It serves as a core course for students who are planning to take physics, astronomy, or mathematics/physics as major. It also serves students who intend to take physics as minor. Both conceptual ideas and mathematical treatment in heat and waves are emphasized.
Course Contents & Topics Topics include: type of waves; Sinusoidal wave including transverse velocity and phase, Wave propagation through a stretched string as an example for transverse wave, Sound wave as an example for longitudinal wave, Wave equation, Energy in wave motion, The principle of superposition, Interference of waves, Standing waves and resonance, Beats, The Doppler Effect, Light wave as an electromagnetic wave, Reflection, Refraction, Double slit interference, Interference from thin films, Single slit diffraction, Multiple slit and grating, Polarization, Temperature and equilibrium, Ideal gas law, Molecular view of pressure, Mean free path, distributions of molecular speed and energy, Concept of heat, First law of thermodynamic, Work done on or by an ideal gas, Internal energy of an ideal gas, Molar heat capacities at constant volume and constant pressure, Different thermodynamic processes including adiabatic, isothermal, constant-volume, cyclical and free expansion, Reversibility of process, definition of entropy change, The second law of thermodynamic, Carnot engine, Statistical view of entropy.
Course Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

CLO 1 describe and explain the fundamental physical principles
CLO 2 apply these principles, together with logical and mathematical reasoning, to situations of the physical world
CLO 3 analyse and solve problems with the aids of mathematics
CLO 4 acquire and interpret experimental data to examine the physical laws
Pre-requisites
(and Co-requisites and
Impermissible combinations)		 Pass in PHYS1050 or PHYS1250
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
Laboratory 6
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 10 CLO 1,2,3,4
Examination 2-hour written exam 50 CLO 1,2,3
Laboratory reports 15 CLO 1,4
Test 25 CLO 1,2,3
Required/recommended reading
and online materials		 P. A. Tipler and G. Mosca: Physics for Scientists and Engineers (Freeman, 2008, 6th edition)
R. Resnick, D. Halliday, and K. Krane: Physics Volume 1 (John Wiley and Sons, 2002, 5th edition)
R. Resnick, D. Halliday, and K. Krane: Physics Volume 2 (John Wiley and Sons, 2002, 5th edition)
Course Website NIL
Additional Course Information NIL
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