PHYSICS A - 2025/6

Module Overview

This module introduces several principles and processes which underpin most physical science and engineering disciplines, which you are likely to study beyond the Foundation Year. Specifically, you will study topics that include vectors and scalars, equations of motion under constant acceleration, momentum conservation, simple harmonic motion and wave theory. You will attend several lectures and a tutorial each teaching week alongside guided independent study opportunities to develop your understanding of topics more deeply, supported by the use of the university’s virtual learning platform.

Module provider

Sustainability, Civil & Env Engineering

Module Leader

BAKER Lewis (Chst Chm Eng)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 3

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

N/A

Module content

This module provides opportunities to explore key concepts of static, dynamic, and rotational mechanics, systems modelled under the equations of motion for constant acceleration, wave mechanics, and the conditions for specific dynamic system including simple harmonic motion and circular motion. Across all subject content, several opportunities are provided to develop understanding through a range of problem-solving whilst simultaneously honing fundamental mathematical competencies that are integral to a solid foundation in physics. By engaging in these activities, you will build resilience to complex and compound problem-solving and develop resourcefulness in navigating solution strategies, drawing on other areas of your Foundation Year studies.

Indicative content includes:

Statics

• Vector and scalar quantities, resolution of coplanar forces

• Conditions for equilibrium

• Moments, torques and couples

• Tension and compression and interpretation of stress/strain graphs

• Centres of mass and centroids

Linear Dynamics

• Equations of motion and their graphical representation

• Newton’s laws of motion

• Systems with friction, limiting friction

• Efficiency of processes and sources of energy loss

• Conservation of momentum in two body collisions

Oscillations and Waves

• Vibrations and waves

• Measuring waves, (including path difference and phase difference)

• Properties of waves

• Stationary and progressive waves

Gravitational Fields

• Newton’s Law

• Gravitational field strength

• Gravitational potential

• Orbits of planets and satellites

Rotational Dynamics

• Circular motion at constant speed, centripetal acceleration

• Angular displacement, speed, acceleration, frequency and period

• Circular motion with constant acceleration

• Rotational energy and momentum, moment of inertia

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate that all learning objectives have been met by the end of the module.

 

Your summative assessment (assessments which are directly used to determine a pass) for this module consists of:

1.  Timed Online (Open Book) Test administered through SurreyLearn (1 hour) [LOs 1 – 4] 30%.
   
   
   
   
   1. Feedback will be provided in the form of an examiner’s report, which details the common areas the cohort struggled with, and learning objectives you personally struggled with. You can use this feedback to help identify areas which would likely benefit from deeper review before the final exam.
   
   
   
   


2. Timed Online (Open Book) Test administered through SurreyLearn (2 hours) [LOs 1 – 9] 70%.
   
   
   
   1. You can seek appropriate feedback for this terminal examination when preparing for a resit examination, if appropriate.
   
   
   
   

1. Lectures and tutorials will provide you with key opportunities to ask questions, review your knowledge of taught content and deepen your understanding through a range of practice questions and opportunities for discussions with staff and other students.


2. You will find that the vast majority of lecture material and practice questions have detailed model solutions which you should use to mark your work and identify areas for further development. You can bring such work to a tutorial to discuss with staff or other students as well.

Module aims

• This module aims to introduce you to key physical properties and phenomena relevant to engineering and the physical sciences, as well as provide you with the opportunity to develop your theoretical knowledge of experimental work during your Foundation Year studies.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

• You will access in-depth and high-quality lecture resources – tailored for face-to-face lectures with integrated question and feedback breaks allowing you to rapidly gain feedback on new learning. This also provides you with valuable asynchronous learning materials which are carefully organised with lecture-captured content into a coherent online environment. You will find that all lectures are mapped onto recommended reading texts, including where possible, eBooks.


• You will find that each lecture articulates learning objectives which are systematically reviewed within the lecture material. Additional lecture questions will provide you with ample opportunities to develop your understanding of any one specific learning objective in your independent study.


• Your tutorials are closely linked to the preceding lectures of that teaching week. A breadth of question types and contexts are provided to expose you to different problems to deepen your understanding of key concepts. The tutorials provide you with an excellent flipped learning opportunity, where tutorial questions are released early in the week for self-study, and feedback can be sought in the scheduled tutorial where model solutions are discussed in the small group environment.


• The module resources will signpost you to extended resources (such as the British Physics Olympiad) which provides a great opportunity to develop your understanding of key concepts well beyond the Foundation Year.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: ENG0015

Other information

Foundation Year programmes are committed to developing students with strengths in Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability, Resourcefulness and Resilience. This module is designed to develop knowledge and skills in the following:

Employability: You will develop competencies in subject-specific terminology, problem-solving strategies, and specialist knowledge and understanding, highly sought after by many of the likely graduate employers you may choose to work with. This will likely include an ability to critique facts and fiction, approach unfamiliar scenarios with an informed perspective and be capable of mapping an appropriate knowledge and skill set to navigate towards a solution. You will, in turn, develop not only your scientific knowledge and skills but further enhance your ability to communicate science effectively to a range of audiences.

Resourcefulness and resilience: The module is designed in such a way as to encourage and support the progressive development of independent thinking and resourcefulness through scaffolded activities and assessments. You will be exposed to challenging authentic scenarios which invariably lead to setbacks and frustration. You are encouraged to reflect, fault-find and question your strategy if the outcome of a problem-solving process is not as expected. You will learn how to seek verification of your output through independent research or peer collaboration and how to respond constructively to formal and informal feedback. 

Sustainability: Through the introduction of more complex and connected scenarios in science and engineering, you will begin to appreciate that there are often many ways of approaching the same problem and the solutions have differing impacts on society and the environment. You will seek to incorporate societal and environmental impact considerations in “real-world” examples that are included in the module teaching and learning.

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2025/6 academic year.