Department of Physics

Induction: module-specific tasks and events

Module-specific events and pre- or post-arrival tasks

PHYS1122 Foundations of Physics 1

  • Mathematics Workbook: We strongly encourage you to work through our Maths Workbook (http://www.dur.ac.uk/resources/physics/freshers/mathsworkbook.pdf) in advance of the beginning of the lectures or at least as soon as possible thereafter. Should you need a hard copy of this document, you will be able to get one at your arrival in the Department on Monday afternoon or from the Reception Desk later on. Answers are provided in the workbook. As explained in the preamble, your performances in this exercise will inform your choice of taking or not taking Maths Toolkit for Scientists as your elective module (if this choice is open to you).
  • JumpStart Workbook: This is a supplementary maths workbook addressed to students who are coming to Durham after a gap year during which they have done little or no Mathematics. Please ask for a copy of the documents from the Reception Desk if you feel a bit rusty in calculus or trigonometry.
  • MasteringPhysics: You will need to register online for the MasteringPhysics system, which we use for the homework associated with the module. All necessary instructions about how to do this will be included in the course pack which you will receive at your arrival in the Department on Monday. Also included in this course pack will be the details of a practice MasteringPhysics problem, with associated self-study of a few pages of the course textbook. Should you need help with this, a member of staff will be available in the computing lab of the Department (Room Ph140) on Thursday October 4 from 10 am to 12 pm and on Friday October 5 from 10 am to 12 pm and from 2 pm to 4 pm. Try your best to register and do the practice problem before your first Physics lecture.

PHYS1101 Discovery Skills in Physics

  • Excel tutorial: We invite to work through a self-study tutorial on the use of Microsoft Excel in the context of the first year labs, in advance of your first session (and ideally before arriving in Durham) – see http://labs.physics.dur.ac.uk/skills/skills/excel.php for this tutorial. If you have any query about this exercise, please note that a member of staff will be available in the computing lab of the Department (Room Ph140) on Thursday October 4 from 10 am to 12 pm and on Friday October 5 from 10 am to 12 pm and from 2 pm to 4 pm.
  • Introductory Lecture: Essential information about health and safety issues will be given in the first lecture, besides information about the homework, the structure of the module and the organisation of the labs. Attendance at this lecture is compulsory.
  • Python programming exercises: The Python programming language course notes and exercises will be available on the DUO site of the module from the start of the Induction Week. Although this course won’t start until much later in the term, hard copies of these notes will also be given out at the Introductory Lecture. Students are encouraged to work through these notes, do some of the exercises and familiarize themselves with this programming language in advance of the course.
  • Information Literacy Workshop: You will be invited to attend a workshop organised by the Library about finding and referencing information, in particular information on original research, which will take place in the sixth teaching week of the Michaelmas Term.

PHYS1081 Introduction to Astronomy

There are no induction events or pre- or post-arrival tasks specific to this module.

PHYS1141 Maths Toolkit for Scientists

There are no induction events or pre- or post-arrival tasks specific to this module (but please see the relevant information above regarding the Mathematics Workbook).