Honors Physics Research Articles

Success and failure in university physics courses

A study of university success and failure has been made for a sample of approximately 400 students from nine university institutions who entered honours physics courses in 1964. Their careers have been followed for the length of the normal university course of three years and it was found that there were considerable variations in the success rates for different institutions. Taking the sample as a whole, 74% obtained degrees in physics and 4% in other subjects, while 16% had left university without a degree and 7% had been delayed, but were still at university. The figures suggest that failure rates in physics are now substantially higher than they were five years ago.

Lower Entropy Courses in Physics

A correspondent has stated in your columns recently that 'The best teacher of mathematics for a student of any subject physics, electrical engineering, or plant genetics, is an experienced practitioner of that subject'. I know little about electrical engineering or plant genetics, but as far as physics is concerned I would definitely not subscribe to this view. As an undergraduate I was exposed to mathematics both via a conventional 'mathematics for physicists' course given by the mathematics department, and through lectures in honours physics.

A Degree Physics—Part V: Electricity and Magnetism

Previous reviews of the earlier editions of this excellent textbook for General degree and Part I Honours physics students have spoken highly of its thoroughness of presentation and unreservedly recommended it to undergraduates and their teachers. The third edition contains several valuable additions of discussions of recent fundamental tests and of new apparatus and methods.

A Laboratory-Techniques Course for Physics Students

A successful Laboratory-Techniques course, consisting of about 80 h in the workshop and laboratory, is outlined. The course is suitable for Pass and Honors physics students in their junior year.

Theoretical Electromagnetism

This book would be useful for students taking honours physics courses in most universities because it covers a large part of the strictly electrical fields of the subject, although the author stresses in his introduction that relativity and radiation are not treated. Thus forexample, aerials are not discussed, a matter of some importance and theoretical interest to the many electrical engineers who will doubtless profit by reading the book.

Research Associations IV — The Wool Industries Research Association, Leeds

The honours physics graduate fresh from his courses on atomic physics might well wonder how wool has become a topic for the Institute's Bulletin ; for the easy comfort of his suit contrasts strikingly with the physical theory that he has learned, and which fits so accurately the empirical results recorded in text books. Perhaps if he has done some research, he will realize that theory does not always fit the facts so well, and he may, too, begin to think that his suit is not so good ; both could be improved and inquiry or research is needed to bring it about. There have, of course, been changes in wool processing throughout the ages, but by 1915 members of the West Riding wool textile industry had come to realize that something more than spasmodic and isolated attempts at improvement were needed ; they accordingly formed and financed a West Riding Textile Research Committee.

Introduction to Electron Optics

IT was (Ji surprise to read in Dr. Cosslett's preface that a course of lectures in electron optics has seen given in the honours physics course at Oxford since 1942; yet the surprise was unwarranted because the War has forced electron optical devices out of the laboratory and into industry and the Services. Dr. Cosslett has aimed at providing a text-book “intermediate in length and level of treatment”, and hopes that it will be of use to students and research workers; presumably those using electronic devices rather than their designers. Introduction to Electron Optics The Production, Propagation and Focusing of Electron Beams. By Dr. V. E. Cosslett. Pp. xii + 272 + 8 plates. (Oxford: Clarendon Press; London: Oxford University Press, 1946.) 25s. net.