UNIBEN 100 Level Physics Courses (1st & 2nd Semester)

The University of Benin (UNIBEN) Faculty of Physical Sciences, Department of Physics Courses, Course Codes and Course Credits for First and Second Semester.

Physics is the Study of Matter in relation to Energy. You may now continue reading for the courses to expect in the first year of studying Physics at the University of Benin (UNIBEN).

100 Level Courses Common to Physics And Industrial Physics

CORE COURSES

Course No.   Course Title                                   

PHY109        Practical Physics

PHY111         Mechanics, Thermal Physics & props. of matter

PHY113        Vibrations, Waves& Optics

PHY124        Electromagnetism  & Modern Physics

GST 111        Use of English

GST 112        Philosophy & Logic

GST 121        Peace Studies/Conflict Resolution

GST 122        Nigerian Peoples& Culture

GST 123        History & Philosophy of Science

MANDATORY COURSES

Course No.   Course Title

MTH110       Algebra & Trigonometry

MTH112       Calculus

MTH123       Vectors, Geometry & Statistics

MTH125       Differential Equation & Dynamics

CHM111       Gen. Chemistry I

CHM122       Gen. Chemistry II

CHM113       Organic Chemistry I

CHM124       Organic Chemistry II

ELECTIVES

Course No.   Course Title  

AEB111       Introduction to  Zoology I

AEB123      Functional Zoology

100 LEVEL COURSES FOR APPLIED GEOPHYSICS

PHY 109-PRACTICAL PHYSICS I (2 CREDITS)

Students are expected to carry out a minimum of 12 major experiments covering the main aspects of the courses taken in the year.

PHY 111 – MECHANICS, THERMAL PHYSICS & PROPS OF MATTER (3 CREDITS)

(a) Mechanics:
Scalars and vectors: Addition and resolution of vectors. Rectilinear motion and Newton’s law of motion. Inertial mass and gravitational mass; free fall; projectile motion; deflecting forces and circular motion. Newton’s law of gravitation; satellites, escape velocity. Gravitational potential well; special case of circular motion.

Momentum and the conservation of a momentum. Work, power energy; units, potential energy for a gravitational field and elastic bodies, kinetic energy conservation of energy; energy stored in a rotating body. Kinetic energy in elastic and inelastic collisions.

(b) Thermal Physics And Properties of Matters
Temperature, heat, work, heat capacities; second law, carnot cycle; thermodynamic ideal gas temperature scale.

Thermal conductivity; radiation; black body and energy spectrum, Stefan’s law. Kinetic model of a gas: Equation of state, concept of diffusion mean free path, molecular speeds, Avogadro’s number, the behavior of real gases.

A model for a solid; inter-particle forces in solids, liquids and gases; physical properties of solids. Crystalline structure. Close packing orderly arrangements, elastic deformation of an ordered structure; interference patterns and crystals.

Model for matter; surface energy and surface tension, plastic deformation; thermal and electrical properties of metals.

PHY 113 – VIBRATIONS, WAVES AND OPTICS (3 CREDITS)

Periodic motion
The periodic motion of an oscillator: Velocity and acceleration of a sinusoidal oscillation, equation of motion of a simple harmonic oscillator: damped Oscillations; forced oscillations, resonance; propagation of longitudinal and transverse vibrations.

Wave behaviour; Reflection of waves, stationary waves, propagation of straight and circular pulses; Fiber optics. diffraction, refraction, dispersion, interference, coherence, polarization.

Wave and light; Mirrors, lenses, the formation of images, lenses in contact microscope, telescope; Chromatic and spherical aberrations and their reduction. Dispersion by prisms; the relation between colour and wavelength; spectra.

PHY 124 – ELECTROMAGNETISM AND MODERN PHYSICS (4 CREDITS)

(a) Electromagnetism (3 credit)
Electric field: Strength, flux and the inverse square law; electrostatic force between two charge particles; flux model for the electric field. Energy stored in an electric field, electrical potential due to dipole.

Steady direct current: Simple circuits; potential difference, resistance, power electromotive force, Kirchhoffs laws; potential divider, Slide-wire potentiometer, bridge circuits, combing resistances.

Capacitors; capacitance, combination of dielectrics, energy store charging/discharging. Electromagnetic effects: Electromagnetic forces, electric motors, moving coil galvanometer, ammeter, voltmeter, electromagnetic induction, dynamo.
Alternating currents: Simple A.C. circuit, transformers, motors and alternating currents.

Magnetic field: The field at the centre of a current-carrying flat coil, of a current carrying solenoid, outside a long solenoid; flux model and magnetic fields.

Electromagnetic Induction: Induction in a magnetic field: magnitude and direction of induced e.m.f., energy stored in a magnetic field; self-inductance.

Electricity and matter; Current flow in an electrolyte, Millikan experiment; conduction of electricity at low pressure, cathode rays, photoelectricity.

(b) Modern Physics (1 Credit)
Structure of atom: Atomic theory, X-rays, Planck’s quantum theory; wave particle nature of matter, scattering experiment of Geiger and Matshen, Rutherford atom model, Bohr’s atom model.

Structure of nucleus; composition of nucleus, artificial transmutation of an element, natural transmutation of an element, discovery of neutron particle, emission, isotopes and particles emission, gamma radiation.

Recommended: Uniben 100 to final year courses