PHYS400 SPECIAL PROBLEMS IN PHYSICS
| Course Code: | 2300400 |
| METU Credit (Theoretical-Laboratory hours/week): | 3 (2.00 - 2.00) |
| ECTS Credit: | 6.0 |
| Department: | Physics |
| Language of Instruction: | English |
| Level of Study: | Undergraduate |
| Course Coordinator: | Assoc.Prof.Dr. HANDE TOFFOLİ |
| Offered Semester: | Fall and Spring Semesters. |
Course Objectives
In PHYS 400 you are given the opportunity to study a problem important in Physics and important to the instructor which you have chosen to work with. Your instructor is your mentor, and he/she will guide you in reporting on the problem effectively. Upon completion of this course you will experience what it means to do research in Physics, write a concise scientific report/paper, and present your work to a committee of physicists. Not all problems and work done towards investigating that problem is equal. However, all are important. And what is most important is that you enjoy the subject matter of the problem you are working on. This course does not expect you to solve a new problem and it does not expect for you to become an expert on that problem, what is expected of you is that you understand the problem and are able to explain it to others both in your presentation and report/paper. Some students end up publishing their investigation in a scientific journal, while others continue to work with their instructor at the completion of this course towards this goal. And some others use the experience gained in this course to look for jobs. PHYS 400 is the first and only time you are given a chance to work independently in Physics. You are given a rare opportunity to show your skill and commitment as a young physicist.
Course Content
One-term short research project to give practical experience.
Course Learning Outcomes
Student, who passed the course satisfactorily will be able to:
- work towards solving a problem in physics
- utilize and learn different tools to solve that problem such as: computers, numerical simulations, specialized software packages, design or use experimental set-ups
- learn how to present their work
- learn how to write a scientific report
- and may even get a chance to publish their work in a respected international journal
Program Outcomes Matrix
| Level of Contribution | |||||
| # | Program Outcomes | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 1 | Can understand, model and analyze the fundamental physical processes of nature. | ✔ | |||
| 2 | Can suggest mathematical models to problems they face and solve them by various (approximate/analytical/numerical) approaches. | ✔ | |||
| 3 | Can use basic measurement devices; can choose and apply the best measurement technique. | ✔ | |||
| 4 | Can adequately record their observations, e.g., in a lab book. | ✔ | |||
| 5 | Can design and carry out experiments. | ✔ | |||
| 6 | Can access scientific information sources. | ✔ | |||
| 7 | Can critically analyze and contribute to scientific information. | ✔ | |||
| 8 | Can present scientific information clearly. | ✔ | |||
| 9 | Can analyze systems that contain probabilistic parts; can do error analysis. | ✔ | |||
| 10 | Has the basic programming skills; can solve a simple physical problem or can simulate one with an appropriate language they choose. | ✔ | |||
| 11 | Can actively and skillfully conceptualize, apply, analyze, synthesize and evaluate information. | ✔ | |||
| 12 | Can produce new ideas and products by using their background in physics. | ✔ | |||
| 13 | Can systematically design, evaluate, and implement a strategy to respond to an existing problem. | ✔ | |||
| 14 | Is effective in oral and written communication skills by using both Turkish and English languages. | ✔ | |||
| 15 | Can do leadership and take initiative. | ✔ | |||
| 16 | Tries to find physics based solutions to the problems of the world that we live in. | ✔ | |||
| 17 | Obeys the ethical rules in the workplace and the society and ascertains that they are obeyed by others. | ✔ | |||
| 18 | Can use the digital communication and computation tools in the most efficient and effective way. | ✔ | |||
| 19 | Can effectively use the knowledge and skills they gained in physics, in observing, analyzing, modeling and solving other societal problems. | ✔ | |||
0: No Contribution 1: Little Contribution 2: Partial Contribution 3: Full Contribution