BSc (Honours) Natural Sciences: Physics pathway

Stage 1

You’ll begin your studies with the compulsory 60-credit introductory module Exploring science (S104)Exploring science::This key introductory Level 1 course is an ideal starting point for studying the natural sciences – astronomy and planetary science; biology; chemistry, earth and environmental science; and physics. Using a blend of text and online study materials, this wide-ranging course investigates the major scientific issues affecting human society in the twenty-first century. You will explore the fundamentals of modern science and develop important scientific concepts and skills to give you a solid foundation for studying science at a higher level. You should have some basic mathematical skills and knowledge of basic science concepts before you begin.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q64-6,module,S104,,1. You’ll develop your study skills while engaging with a broad and absorbing introduction to a range of science subject areas including:

• biology
• chemistry
• Earth sciences
• environmental sciences
• physics
• astronomy and planetary science.

Using a blend of text and online study materials, this wide-ranging module investigates the major scientific issues affecting contemporary society. You’ll explore the fundamentals of modern science, and develop important scientific concepts and skills to give you a solid basis for higher level study.

You’ll be introduced to practical science through the compulsory 30-credit module Investigative and mathematical skills in science (S141)Investigative and mathematical skills in science::Designed to follow our key introductory course in science – Exploring science (S104) – this course focuses on developing your experimental, investigative and mathematical skills. You’ll gain confidence in using mathematics as a scientific tool by working through questions in a study book with worked examples. You’ll investigate weather patterns and events around the world, and develop your observational skills by studying your local weather to make your own short-term forecast. And you’ll learn key scientific skills by doing experiments at home, and working online with a small group to discuss experimental design, collect data and compare results.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q64-6,module,S141,,1. You’ll also study Using mathematics (MST121)Using mathematics::This broad, enjoyable introduction to university-level mathematics assumes some prior knowledge, as described on our MathsChoices website. The course shows how mathematics can be applied to answer some key questions from science, technology, and everyday life. You will study a range of fundamental techniques, including calculus, recurrence relations, matrices and vectors and statistics, and use integrated specialist mathematical software to solve problems. The skills of communicating results and defining problems are also developed. This is not a course for beginners – at the MathsChoices website (mathschoices.open.ac.uk) there are quizzes, sample material and advice to help you determine if this course is right for you.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q64-6,module,MST121,,1 (30 credits) to cover the skills you need for the study of physics at Stage 2.

Stage 2

Physics is perhaps the most exciting intellectual adventure of our age. Discoveries being made now will change your life, and learning physics will change the way you think about the world. You’ll begin your studies with the 60-credit module The physical world (S207)The physical world::If you intend to take only one course in physics, it should be this one. It will give you an essential view of the whole subject. Physics is perhaps the most exciting intellectual adventure of our age – discoveries being made now will change your life, and learning physics will change the way you think about the world. This wide-ranging introduction to physics and its applications covers classical mechanics; thermal physics and fluids; fields, waves and electromagnetism; relativity; and quantum physics (including solids, atoms, nuclei and particles) – setting many of them in their historical context so that you can appreciate the evolution of the subject.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q64-6,module,S207,,1 learning about energy, the behaviour of light, radioactive decay and Universal processes, and exploring topics such as classical mechanics; thermal physics and fluids; forces, fields, waves and electromagnetism; optics; special relativity and quantum physics.

To complement this and to gain the mathematical skills you need for Stage 3 study, you’ll also take the 30-credit module Mathematical methods (MST224)Mathematical methods::This course is designed to teach you about a variety of mathematical methods which are used in modelling through their application to solving real world problems. These methods include differential equations, linear algebra and vector calculus. You will become familiar with new mathematical skills mainly by using pencil and paper and by thinking. This course will give you a good foundation for higher-level study and is essential preparation for most Open University Level 3 mathematics, statistics or physics courses. To study this course you should have a sound knowledge of algebra, calculus, and geometry as provided by the appropriate Level 1 study.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q64-6,module,MST224,,1.

Your final study at Stage 2, Practical science: physics and astronomy (SXP288)Practical science: physics and astronomy::The activities in this practical science course offer a choice of topics in physics and astronomy as diverse as the properties of electrons and the likelihood of life on other planets. Online – from the comfort of your own home – you’ll have the opportunity to use equipment ranging from a bench-top NMR spectrometer to an astronomical telescope in Mallorca. Or you can attend a three-night residential school in Mallorca – the cost of the accommodation and travel to Mallorca is not included in the course fee. The course ends with an exciting team project, where you will work with students from other courses in this Practical science series.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q64-6,module,SXP288,,1 will develop the practical science skills you need to complement these modules.

Stage 3

Stage 3 begins with two 30-credit modules in core physics study. You will explore the electromagnetic fields and radiation that pervade the world around you, their encapsulation in Maxwell's equations, and how they explain dozens of interesting phenomena in Electromagnetism (SMT359)Electromagnetism::This course is concerned with the electromagnetic fields and electromagnetic radiation that pervade the world around you. It shows how the main ideas of electromagnetism can be encapsulated in the famous Maxwell’s equations. These can be used to explain the properties of light and radiowaves; the magnetic fields produced by brain activity; the way a television tube works; the transparency of the cornea in your eye; and many other phenomena. If you're interested in the ways that physics and mathematics are used to understand the world around you, then this would be an appropriate course to study.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q64-6,module,SMT359,,1, and the fundamental laws of modern physics – and how mathematics is used to state and apply them –  in The quantum world (SM358)The quantum world::If you're interested in the fundamental laws of modern physics and how mathematics is used to state and apply these laws, this course is for you. It surveys the physical principles, mathematical techniques and interpretation of quantum theory. The Schrödinger equation, the uncertainty principle, the exclusion principle, fermions and bosons, measurement probabilities, entanglement, perturbation theory and transition rates are all discussed. Applications include atoms, molecules, nuclei, solids, scanning tunnelling microscopy and quantum cryptography. The course also presents recent evidence relating to some of the most surprising and non-classical predictions of quantum mechanics.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q64-6,module,SM358,,1. 

You then have the option to study either Astrophysics (S382)Astrophysics::If you are interested in using quantitative physical methods to understand the building blocks of the Universe, and already have a good background in Level 2 maths, physics and astronomy, then this is the course for you. This course focuses on the astrophysics of stars and exoplanets – examining their properties, structure, evolution and the physical processes that occur within them. The OU’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) and internet-based resources are used throughout the course. You’ll experience real, collaborative astrophysical research, online with a small group of other students, to acquire, reduce, analyse and interpret data.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q64-6,module,S382,,1 or The relativistic Universe (S383)The relativistic Universe::If you are interested in using quantitative physical methods to understand relativistic and high-energy processes in the Universe, and already have a good background in Level 2 maths, physics and astronomy, then this is the course for you. This course comprises three parts that present, in turn, the theoretical basis for modern cosmology, described by Einstein’s special and general theories of relativity; cosmological observations of the local and distant Universe that are used to understand its structure and evolution; and high-energy phenomena in the Universe including interacting binary stars, active galactic nuclei and gamma-ray bursts.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q64-6,module,S383,,1 (both 30 credits). Alternatively, you could choose one of two 30-credit mathematics modules: Waves, diffusion and variational principles (MS324)Waves, diffusion and variational principles::This course focuses on three areas of applied mathematics. Waves builds your understanding of wave motion using vibrating strings and sound waves as examples. Techniques for solving linear partial differential equations are also developed. The diffusion section describes heat flow, and the flow of particles which follow random walks. Connections between random processes and deterministic diffusion processes are explained. The third section introduces variational principles and calculus through simple problems, such as determining the shortest line between two points on a curved surface. The Euler-Lagrange equation and the Lagrangian re-formulation of Newtonian mechanics are then explored.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q64-6,module,MS324,,1 or Mathematical methods and fluid mechanics (MST326)Mathematical methods and fluid mechanics::Half of this course is about modelling simple fluid flows; the other half is about mathematical methods. You'll learn how to solve ordinary and partial differential equations such as: Laplace’s equation, the wave equation and the diffusion equation; some vector field theory; and Fourier analysis. The fluid mechanical aspects of the course will give you a good understanding of modelling in the context of fluids. To study this course you should have a sound knowledge of ordinary differential equations, vector calculus, multiple integrals, basic particle mechanics and some knowledge of partial differential equations and Fourier series as provided by the appropriate Level 2 study.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q64-6,module,MST326,,1.

Your final study will be Science project course: radiation and matter (SXP390)Science project course: radiation and matter::This course is the project module for the BSc (Hons) Natural Sciences. You’ll undertake individual investigations within defined topics in the general area of radiation and matter: quantum entanglement, bioelectromagnetism, gravitational lensing and astrophysical jets. There is also a Physics Education Research topic. You’ll need access to scientific literature, probably from electronic library sources. The study materials provide a guide to planning and conducting project work; help with searching and using the literature; and writing a report, but ultimately this is a chance for you to plan and execute a piece of work for yourself.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q64-6,module,SXP390,,1 (30 credits) where you’ll undertake individual investigations within a range of defined topics such as:

• quantum entanglement
• bioelectromagnetism
• gravitational lensing
• astrophysical jets
• physics education.

If you have already completed some successful study at higher education level at another institution you may be able to transfer credit for this study and count it towards an Open University qualification. If you wish to apply to transfer credit you must do so as soon as possible, and before you register for your chosen qualification. If you are awarded credit for study completed elsewhere, you may find that you need to study fewer OU modules to complete your qualification with us.

Visit our Credit Transfer site for more information and details of how to apply for credit transfer.