4770 (v.3) Physical Properties of Solids 102

Area:

Department of Applied Physics

Credits:

12.5

Contact Hours:

2.0

Lecture:

1 x 2 Hours Weekly

Syllabus:

Electrical properties - resistivity, conductivity, insulators, semiconductors, dielectrics, piezoelectrics, thermoelectrics. Thermal properties - heat capacity, absorption, transmission, thermal conductivity, thermal expansion, thermal stress, thermal shock resistance. Optical properties - optical properties of metals and non-metals (emission, absorption, transmission, reflection, refraction and colour), applications of optical phenomena (luminescence, photoconductivity, lasers). Magnetic properties - diamagnetism, paramagnetism and ferromagnetism, antiferomagnetism, ferrimagnetism, influence of temperature on magnetic behaviour, domains, hysteresis loop, permeability, soft and hard magnets, magnetic storage, superconductivity.

Unit Outcomes:

On successful completion of this unit students will have gained an understanding of the role of atomic structure on the continuum of changes in the electrical, thermal, magnetic and optical behaviour of materials. Students will be able to describe electron excitation events that produce free electrons/holes in metals, semiconductors, and insulators, the effect of temperature on electrical conductivity changes, how the charge storing capacity of a capacitor may be increased by the presence of a dielectric materials between its plates and the primary mechanism by which thermal energy is assimilated and conducted in solid materials. They will gain knowledge of the phenomenon of thermal expansion from an atomic perspective using a potential energy versus interatomic separation plot and the nature and source of diamagnetism, paramagnetism and ferromagnetism in terms of crystal structure. They will be able to describe the origin and significance of magnetic hysteresis and how they relate to soft and hard magnetic materials, that glasses are transparent to visible light whereas metallic materials are not and the mechanism of photon absorption for insulators and semiconductors which are of high purity and those that contain active defects.

Text and references listed above are for your information only and current as of September 30, 2003. Please check with the unit coordinator for up-to-date information.

Unit References:

No prescribed references.

Unit Texts:

Callister, W., 2001, 'Fundamentals of Materials Science and Engineering', Wiley, New York.

Unit Assessment Breakdown:

Assignments 20%. Mid Semester Test 20%. Final Examination 60%.

Year	Location	Period	Internal	Area External	Central External
2004	Bentley Campus	Semester 1	Y