KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, KUMASI
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
COURSE DESCRIPTION
YEAR FOUR:
Semester ONE
CORE COURSES
PHY 451
ATOMIC PHYSICS I
3 Credits
Review of Quantum theory of the hydrogen atom. (Results only).. Meaning of the
quantum numbers n,i,m. Angular momentum and Magnetic moment of atomic electrons.
Larmor precession. Zeeman effect. Normal and Anondous. Stern-Gerlach experiment.
Spin.. Spin-orbit interaction. LS and jj coupling theory of Zeeman effect. Lande gfactor. Identical particles. Spin and statistics exclusion principle. Spin-symmetry
relation. Exchange forces
PHY 453
STATISTICAL MECHANICS
3 Credits
Distribution of N distinguishable or indistinguishable objects among P boxes, with or
without limit on the number per box. Exclusion principle. Stirling's approximation,
Lagrange's method of undetermined multiplers. Boltzmann, Fermi-Dirac and BoseEinstein statistics. expression of thermodynamic parameters S, F, U, G, H, in terms of
Z. Monoatomic gas. Evaluation of partition function equation of state. Average kinetic
energy per atom. Z for "phonon gas" in crystalline solids Einstein model Cr. and its
variation with temperature. Dulong and Petit's law. "Electron gas" in metals. Fermi
energy. Fermions contact potential difference, work function, thermoelectricity. Black
body radiation. "phonon gas" Plank radiation law. Mean energy per unit volume.
Rayleigh-Jean, Wien and Stafan-Boltzmann laws and formulae derived from Planck's
distribution. (As approximation of quantum statistics). Derivation of Maxwell's velocity
distribution formula from quantum statistics. Principle of equipartition of energy.
Explanation of heat capacity of polyatomic gases
PHY 455
PROJECT I
3 Credits
As a requirement for the B. Sc. (Physics) degree, all final year students are require to
undertake a research project under the supervision of a member of the
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS- BSc. PHYSICS – COURSE DESCRIPTION 2009/10
teaching/research staff.. Students will not only carry out these projects as routine
laboratory experiments but also as an introduction to scientific research.
GENERAL STUDIES COURSE (S)
MGT 471
PRINCIPLES OF MANAGEMENT I
3 Credits
The definition, nature, role and scope of management ; recognizing its interdisciplinary
approach. Relationship of management to administration. Elements / functions of
management as perceived by different management authorities. Understanding of
management / organizational theory highlighting on the different schools of thought: scientific, human relations, systems, contingency, etc.. Goals of business organizations
- economic and social responsibilities of management. The importance of decisions in
the management process. Meaning and types of management decisions ; some basic
processes in decision making. Models and / or techniques of making decisions ; and
influence on decisions. The nature and types of organizations. Basic principles and their
importance in structuring organizations - organization charts, objectives, scalar chain,
span of control, line, staff and functional organization, departmentation, centralization
and decentralization, authority, responsibility and accountability, etc. and their
implications for organizational administration. Concept of bureaucracy as applied to
large scale organizations.
COURSES IN AREA OF SPECIALISATION
1. PHYSICS WITH APPLIED MATHEMATICS
PHY 457
SPECIAL RELATIVITY
2 Credits
Principle of relativity. Intervals. World or Minkorski space. The metric tensor for the pure
Lorentz transformation. Successive Lorentz transformations; Einstein’s addition law for
velocities.. Four-vectors and relativistic invariants. Review of relativistic mechanics.
Covariant Lagrangian formulation of relativistic mechanics. The four-potential of the EM
field. The EM field tensor. Lorentz transformation of the field; invariants of the field. The
four-dimensional current vector and the equation of continuity. Covariant formulation of
the EM field equations. Energy density and energy flux. Energy-momentum tensor of
the EM field. Gravitational field ( GF ) in nonrelativistic mechanics. GF in relativistic
mechanics. Motion of a particle in a GF. The curvature tensor and its properties. The
energy-momentum tensor. Einstein’s equations. Newton’s law. The centrally symmetric
GF. Motion in a centrally symmetric GF. Gravitational collapse of a spherical body ;
Black holes.
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS- BSc. PHYSICS – COURSE DESCRIPTION 2009/10
PHY 459
NUMERICAL ANALYSIS
2 Credits
General properties. Special operators. Representation with differences. General
concepts. Linear difference equations. Partial difference equations. Gaussian
elimination. Error analysis. Iterative methods. Gradient methods. Minimization methods.
Polynomial interpolation. Divided differences. Interpolation by use of differences.
Extrapolation. Least-square approximation. Approximation with trigonometric functions.
Chebystev polynomials. Spline approximations. Random walk. Definite integrals.
Simulations Definite integrals. Simulations
PHY 461
MATHEMATICAL PHYSICS II
2 Credits
The trigonometric Fourier series Parseval’s formula. Sine and cosine Fourier series.
Fourier integral theorem. Its experimental form. Integral transforms. Examples of Fourier
transformations. Properties of Fourier transforms. Fourier sine and cosine transforms.
Convolutions. Convolution theorem for Fourier transforms. Application of Fourier
transforms to the solution of differential equations. Autonomous and non-autonomous
systems. Stability. Lyapunov functions.
2. PHYSICS WITH BIOMEDICAL PHYSICS
PHY 463
HEALTH PHYSICS I
2 Credits
Basic techniques. Radioimmunuassay. Calibration of radiation monitors. Loss of
shielding. Loss of containment. Uncontrolled criticality. Pre-planning for emergencies
PHY 465
BIOPHYSICS I
2 Credits
Physics of vision (eye as an optical instrument, formation of images, defects of vision).
Physics of hearing (Reception of sound, transducers, etc). Bioelectricity (production and
transmission of electrical signals in the human body). Hydrodynamics of blood flow
(physics of high and low blood pressure). Temperature and its regulation in the body.
3. PHYSICS WITH COMPUTING
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS- BSc. PHYSICS – COURSE DESCRIPTION 2009/10
PHY 467
MICROPROCESSORS I
2 Credits
Introduction. Basic microprocessor system. Programmes. Peripherals. The
microprocessor. Memories. ROMS and RAMS. Decimal and binary. Octal and
hexadecimal. Bit position technology. Introduction. The microprocessor as a logic
device. Characteristics of the microprocessor - based and gate. Programming
languages. Microprocessor's registers. Programme organization
PHY 469
PROGRAMMING WITH VISUAL BASIC I
3 Credits
Introduction. Basic microprocessor system. Programmes. Peripherals. The
microprocessor. Memories. ROMS and RAMS. Decimal and binary. Octal and
hexadecimal. Bit position technology. Introduction. The microprocessor as a logic
device. Characteristics of the microprocessor - based and gate. Programming
languages. Microprocessor's registers. Programme organization data types (i.e. Integer
, long, single, double). Currency and string. Data and time data . Byte, Boolean and
variant. Arrays. Type…. End type construct . Uses of user - defined types (e.g. Random
access records, a collection of variables as a single object, data base records, etc.).
Public scope
Private scope. Local scope. Variable declaration. Is numeric ( ) , is array ( ) , is data ( )
functions. Type of statement and type name ( ) function . Automatic type conversion .
Con catenation . Val and Str functions. The "C" functions (eg. C Bool, C byte, C var.,
etc. ). Asc C), Asc BC), chr C), chr BC)
The format function . Defining control array elements at design time . Adding and
deleting control array elements at run - time. Using control elements at run - time.
Accessing loaded forms with the forms collection. Accessing a form's controls with the
controls collection. Traversing all the controls on a form. Determining the type of each
control. The use of "on error resume next" when accessing the controls collection.
Pointing to the controls collection of a non-active form. Traversing all controls on all
loaded forms The Hungarian notation for naming variables. Variables and constants.
4. PHYSICS WITH ELECTRONICS
PHY 471
OPTOELECTRONICS I
2 Credits
Energy band structure of Materials, Carrier Statistics in Thermal Equilibrium. Intrinsic
and Extrinsic Material.
Transport Properties: Effective mass, Mobility, Scattering Processes, Recombination
Processes, Luminescence, carrier Lifetime, Carrier Diffusion, Diffusion Length.. Optical
Properties, Refractive Index, Extinction Coefficient. Direct and indirect Transitions;
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS- BSc. PHYSICS – COURSE DESCRIPTION 2009/10
Forbidden Transitions. Homojunctions: the p-n junction in thermal equilibrium.
Behaviour under forward and reverse bias, junction capacitance. Metal semiconductor
junctions. Ohmic Contacts. Hetero junctions. Theory of Optoelectronic Devices and
Components.
(a ) Transmission and Reflection from solid Surfaces:
i. Reflectance of Materials, Spectral Dependence of Refractive Index as a
Function of Surface Topology, Structural Phase of a material.
ii. Optical interferences in thin film, Characteristic
Matrix for a Thin film, design of Interference
Filters Heat Reflecting Filters, Cold Mirrors. Colour Separation Filters, Narrow Band
Filters, Edge Filters Anti-Reflection Coatings.
(b) Light Emission in Solids:
i. Homo and Heterojunction LEDs. Optical emission Mechanisms and Efficiency,
Spectral output.
ii. Radiative Recombination Mechanisms, Interband Transitions, Impurity
Recombination, Excitons, Isoelectronic Traps, Auger Recombination.
Photoconductivity - Photogeneration in solids, Temporal and Spatial Distribution of
Photogenerated carriers. Fabrication of Optoelectronic Devices single Crystal
Production Routes for the Production of Silicon, Gallium Arsenide and Indium
Phosphide, Crystal growth Techniques: ( Zochralski, Bridgeman, solution Wrowth.
Production and processing of Wafers . Structural, Electrical and Their Influence on
Device Design and Production.
(a) Thin Film Decomposition: Technique for the deposition of thin Films: Thermal or
Electron Beam Evaporation, Sputtering Ion Plating, Molecular Beam Epitaxy,
Chemical Vapour Deposition, Liquid Phase Epitaxy .
(b) Processing:
Device Fabrication Processes, Photolithography, Epitaxial Layer Formation,
Passivation and Metallisation.
Operation of Optoelectronic Devices: Light Emitting Diodes and Solid State LasersSpectral Content and Power of light output, Frequency Response, Brightness, Stability.
Photodiode, Phototransistor, PIN diode, Avalanche Photodiodes.
Spectral and
Frequency Response, Detectivity, Noise Equivalent Power. Other Light Detectors,
Photovoltaic Devices and photomultipliers.
ELECTIVES (Select One)
PHY 473
COMMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS I
2 Credits
Different kinds of modulator Simple circuits for generation of AM, PM, FM, Balanced
modulators, Linear divide detector, Vander mijil modulators, FM discriminators and
detectors, Limiters radio transmitter, TPF and super heterodyne receives.. Elementary
idea about transmission lines, Distributed parameters, Voltage and current relations.
Propagation constants, line distortion and attenuation, Line transmission by zero loads
and by resistance load.
Standing wave ratio (SWR). Rectangular wave guides.
Radiation from a doublet antenna. Radiation resistance and radiated power. Thin linear
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS- BSc. PHYSICS – COURSE DESCRIPTION 2009/10
antenna, grounded antenna, image antenna Directive gain, tinier antenna arrays,
Broadside and End …. Arrays, Microwave antennas, paraboloid reflector .
PHY 475
MICROPROCESSORS I
2 Credits
Introduction. Basic microprocessor system. Programmes
Peripherals. The microprocessor. Memories. ROMS and RAMS. Decimal and binary.
Octal and hexadecimal. Bit position technology. Introduction. The microprocessor as a
logic device. Characteristics of the microprocessor - based and gate. Programming
languages. Microprocessor's registers. Programme organization.
5. PHYSICS WITH GEOPHYSICS
PHY 477
ELECTRICAL & ELECTROMAGNETIC
PROSPECTING METHODS
2 Credits
Factors affecting the resistivity of rocks and minerals. Archie's law. The types of
electrode arrays ( Schlumberger and Wenner). Origin and application of the IP method.
Origin of SP and application of the SP method. Principle of the EM method. EM
methods and their applications. Skin depth in EM transmission. Fixed separation system
and Quadrature systems in airborne EM survey. Interpretation of electrical and EM data
PHY 479
GRAVITY & MAGNETIC PROSPECTING
METHODS
2 Credits
Basic gravity theory. Units of gravity measurements
Gravity methods. Determination of rock densities. Land, marine and airborne gravity
surveys. Gravity anomalies of simple shapes. Basic concept in magnetic prospecting.
Magnetic properties of rocks and minerals. Magnetic instruments (magnetometers).
Ground magnetic survey. Marine and aeromagnetic survey. Reduction of magnetic
survey data. Magnetic anomalies of simple geometrical shapes. Interpretation of gravity
and magnetic data.
6. PHYSICS WITH MATERIALS SCIENCE
PHY 481
STEEL TECHNOLOGY AND
CORROSION SCIENCE
2 Credits
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS- BSc. PHYSICS – COURSE DESCRIPTION 2009/10
Steel industry. Steel making, . Fabrication, Quality control. White cast iron. Grey cast
iron. Malleable cast iron. Nodular iron. Damping. Capacity of cast iron. Uses of cast
iron.. Phase transformations in steels.. Diffusion. Nucleation and growth of phases..
Construction and interpretation. Alloy steels. Heat treatment. Thermomechanical
treatment, mechanical properties, structure-property relationships.. Design, fabrication,
materials selection.. Forge, resistance, gas and electric welding. Metallurgical aspect of
fusion welding. Carburizing. Nitriding. Selective hardening.. electrochemistry. The
corrosion process.. Galvanic corrosion. Leaching, intergranular corrosion. Pitting,
crevice corrosion, Stress corrosion cracking.. cathodic protection, . corrosion inhibitors,
Metal coatings, corrosion preventing painting.
PHY 483
NON-FERROUS METALS AND ALLOYS
2 Credits
Aluminium, magnesium and titaniuim.. Principles of age hardening, ageing processes,
corrosion, and mechanical properties. Wrought aluminium alloys: production and
designation of alloys, work hardening of aluminium and its alloys, heat treatable and
non-heat treatable alloys, joining, special products. Cast aluminium alloys: designation
and characteristics of cast aluminium alloys, alloys based on A1-Si, Al-Cu, Al-Mg, Al-ZnMg systems, joining. Copper and its alloys - properties and uses. Zinc and its alloys properties and uses. Lead and its alloys - properties and uses. Tin and its alloys properties and uses.
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS- BSc. PHYSICS – COURSE DESCRIPTION 2009/10