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M. Sc./ Postgraduate Diploma in
Physics Education

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Course Content

MSE 5101 Foundations of Education (15 L, 1 C)

Psychological aspects of learning and teaching: intellectual development, concept development, learning theories; Sociological and philosophical aspects of teaching and learning: education and society, socio-economic and cultural determinants of education, education and human development, education and development, new trends in education.


MSE 5102 Technological Aspects of Education (15 L, 1 C)

Designing curricula: goals, aims and objectives, curriculum theory, curriculum development models and curriculum patterns, curriculum evaluation; Educational technology: technology in education, use of information technology in education.


MPE 5101 Selected Topics in Physics I (30 L, 2 C)

Classical Mechanics: Inertial frames and forces, validity of Newton’s laws; Lagrangian dynamics: constraints, degrees of freedom, conservative and non-conservative systems, generalized coordinates forces and impulse, configuration space, virtual displacements, Lagrangian multiplier method; Conservation laws: integrals of motion, symmetry and conservation laws, universal and fundamental nature of conservation laws; Lagrangian for electromagnetic fields: generalized momenta for electromagnetic fields.

Semiconductor Physics: Semiconductor materials: elemental and compound semiconductors, bulk properties and their applications; Semiconductor devices: electronic devices, optoelectronic devices; Semiconductor properties at reduced dimensions: quantum well structures, semiconductor nanostructures; Semiconductor device processing methods: conventional devices, semiconductor nano-devices.

Electromagnetism: Various approaches of solving boundary value problems in electrostatics; Maxwell’s equations and conservation laws: vector and scalar potentials, gauge transformations, Poynting’s theorem, conservation of energy and momentum; Maxwell’s stress tensor; EM wave propagation: reflection and refraction of EM waves, polarization of EM waves, plasma waves, dispersion of EM waves; EM radiation: retarded potentials, electric and magnetic dipole radiation, radiation by moving charges; Lienard-Wiechert potentials; Lamor’s formula; synchrotron radiation.


MPE 5110 Physics Laboratory (60 P, 2 C)

This course focuses on enhancing the experimental skill and conceptual understanding of Physics in the areas of Mechanics, Electricity, Electromagnetism, Physical Optics, and Properties of matter by means of set experiments. Candidates are also trained to enhance their skills in designing and carrying out experiments at school level.

MPE 5111 Physics Seminar I (30 P, 1 C)

This module focuses on improving the self-learning and presentation skills. Candidates are guided to study a specific process in the area of Physics and present their work at a seminar.

MSE 5201 Science Education (30 L, 2 C)

Nature of science: science as an organized body of knowledge, science as process of acquiring knowledge, scientific method, science as an influence to human spirit, philosophy of science; Educational value of science; Development of science education and contemporary trends: development of science education in UK and USA, UNESCO effort for science for all, science Education in Sri Lanka, new trends in science education; Science curriculum: Science curriculum in Sri Lanka; aims and objectives of learning science; three domains (cognitive, psychomotor and affective ), Bloom’s and other classifications, science process skills, scientific and science related attitudes.

MPE 5202 Applied Physics I (30 L, 2 C)

Electronics: Feedback; Operational Amplifiers: filters, buffers, oscillators, Schmitt triggers; voltage regulators, high frequency circuits; Combinational circuits: multiplexes, encoders, decorders/demutiplexes; Sequential circuits: registers, counters, state diagrams.


Lasers: Lasers and laser light: stimulated emission, amplifications in a medium, methods of producing a population inversion, laser oscillation, optical resonator theory, gas lasers, optically pumped solid state lasers, dye lasers, semiconductor diode lasers, technological applications of lasers.

Earth Science: The earth's atmosphere; temperature profile; solar radiation and insolation; motions of the atmosphere; cyclones; tornadoes; Weather and climate: greenhouse effect, El Nino effect, global warming and sea level rise; Earth and its interior: gravity, earth's magnetic field, geological structure, seismic waves, plate tectonics, earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, landslips; The earth's electrical environment and lightning.


MPE 5220 Electronics Laboratory (60 P, 2 C)

This course focuses on providing hands on learning in electronics and computing through relevant laboratory work. The course involves exercises such as circuit design and analysis using analogue and digital electronics; Microprocessors: assembly language, machine language, Micro-controllers: structure, hardware concepts and applications.


MPE 5221 Physics Seminar II (30 P, 1 C)

Candidates are required to prepare a lesson planning with regard to the G.C.E. (Advanced Level) Physics syllabus and present the lesson at a seminar.


MSE 5301 Methodology of Teaching and Learning Science
(30 L, 2 C)

Instructional Design: meaningful learning, discovery learning, advance organization of learning, process-based teaching, beyond process science teaching, problem-based learning, constructivists learning design, various teaching methods, using audio visuals, unit and lesson planning, class management, computer assisted learning (CAL); practical works in relation to science; Evaluation of achievement: formative evaluation, summative evaluation, validity reliability and practicability of tests, assessing cognitive skills, assessing practical skills, assessing attitudes, construction of test items; Laboratory maintenance: organization and maintenances of laboratories, administration of laboratory; science and co-curricular activities in school.


MPE 5303 Selected Topics in Physics II (30 L, 2 C)

Quantum mechanics: Interaction of quantum systems with electromagnetic radiation: absorption, stimulated emission, spontaneous emission, the Einstein coefficients; One-electron atoms: wave functions, energy spectrum, fine-structure of energy levels; Two-electron atoms: para- and ortho- states, the role of Pauli exclusion principle, energy spectrum.
Modern Physics: Special relativity: special Lorentz transformation, 4-vectors, Minkowskian space-time, length contraction and time dilation; Models of mesons and baryons; QED; weak interactions; parity violation; lepton-nucleon scattering and structure functions; QCD; gluon field and colour; W and Z fields; electro-weak unification; nucleon-nucleon interactions; properties of nuclei; single and collective particle models; electron and hadron interactions with nuclei; relativistic heavy ion collisions; GUT and string theory.


Astrophysics: Luminosity and magnitude of a star; the structure of stars; Hertzprung-Russel diagram; Evolution of stars: white dwarfs, neutron stars, red giants, supernovae, black holes, pulsars, variable stars, cepheid variables, X-ray and Gamma ray sources; binary stars; Galaxies: classification of galaxies; Cosmology: nature of the universe and its evolution, Hubble law, gravitational lenses quasars, dark matter, dark energy; ground-based optical and radio observational and remote sensing techniques; space astronomy techniques and instrumentation.

MPE 5304 Applied Physics - II (30 L, 2 C)

Instrumentation Physics: Measurement; instrumentation and calibration; transducer characteristics, errors in measurement, calibration and standards; Signal to noise considerations: fluctuations in noise in measurement systems, sources of noise, frequency and bandwidth considerations, signal to noise enhancement, digital correlation and autocorrelation methods, Transducer/sensor types: electro-mechanical sensors, thermal sensors, electromagnetic sensors.


Radiation Physics: Radioactivity; interaction of charged particles and EM radiation with matter; Radiation detectors: gaseous, liquid and solid detectors; Radiation measurements: activity, exposure, absorbed dose, kerma, LET and dose equivalent; Health effects of radiation: deterministic effects and stochastic effects; Radiation in the environment: natural background radiation, man-made sources; Radiation safety; applications of radiation.
Bio and Medical Physics: Linear and angular motion; Bio-mechanics; centrifugation; diffusion; blood flow; pressure transducers; Physics of respiration; Physics of the eye: resolution power and quantum efficiency of the eye; electrocardiography; nerve conduction; quality of sound; Physics of the ear: ear canal as a resonance tube; endoscopy; thermography; ultrasonic imaging; Doppler scanning; Ionizing radiation; radioactive isotopes and tracers; CAT PET and MRI scanning; biological nano-machines.


MPE 5311 Designing of multimedia based teaching materials
(30 P, 1 C)

Instructional models; theories and principles in multimedia learning; motivational models in instruction and design of human computer interaction; design and development of computer-based presentations; processing of computer-based multimedia (graphics, video, animation, and audio); design and development of web-based instruction using web authoring software; design and development of interactive multimedia-based instruction using authoring software.


Part II

MPE 5401 Laboratory management (15 L, 1 C)

Ordering instruments for laboratories: identifying specifications, ordering, service agreements; Inventorying: categorizing, maintaining inventory, labeling; Ordering consumables: identifying specifications, ordering, consumable inventory; Laboratory safety: electrical safety, fire safety, chemical safety, radiation safety, safety of laboratory equipment, safety rules and regulations; handling hazardous items, handling laboratory wastes, international codes.


MPE 5402 Methodologies in student research projects
(30 P, 1 C)

Identification of research projects; scientific method; literature survey; hypotheses building; Planning methodologies: selection of instrumentation and acquisition of data; analysis of data; interpretation and further development/improvements; arriving at conclusions; report writing.


MPE 5410 Research project (06 months, 8 C)

Individual candidate will be assigned a research project of six months duration in relation to Physics/Physics Education. After the given period of time, each candidate is expected to submit a dissertation and give an oral presentation of the research work.

 

Address: Department of Physics, University of Colombo, Colombo 00300, Sri Lanka.
Telephone: +94-112-584-777
FAX: +94-112-584-777
E-mail: office@phys.cmb.ac.lk

© Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Colombo. Last Update: 20-09-2011. Site by Physics Department web team