PHYSICS A SUBJECTS Maximum of 9 points
Prerequisite: There are no formal prerequisites, but a knowledge of H.S.C. Physics or Mathematics will be assumed.
BOOKS
The material and depth of treatment given in Physics A subjects, Units A01, A02 and A03, is adequately covered by any one of the following sets of books:
1. Halliday and Resnick and
Physics
Besser Modern Physics
2. Weidner and Sells and
Elementary Classical Physics vols 1 & 2 Weidner and Sells Elementary Modern Physics
3. Weidner and Sells Elementary Physics ASSESSMENT
Lecture Units: 1 two-hour paper at the end of each unit. Practical Work: Three assessment experiments plus additional written or laboratory tests during the year.
PHYSICS A01
MECHANICS
2 points
24 lectures and eight tutorials, presented in Term 1.
SYLLABUS
Classical mechanics of translation and rotation of rigid bodies and systems of particles, including work-energy relations, force, torque, centre of mass, moment of inertia, linear and angular momentum and conservation principles. This unit stresses the physical applications and interpretations of mechanical phenomena.
145
PHYSICS A02 2 points
ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM 24 lectures and eight tutorials, presented in Term 2.
SYLLABUS
Elementary circuit theory and network analysis. Description of electric and magnetic fields including electrostatic, magnetostatic and electromagnetic applications.
Development of Maxwell's equations in integral form.
PHYSICS A03 2 points
WAVES AND MODERN PHYSICS 24 lectures and eight tutorials, presented in Term 3.
SYLLABUS
Description of elastic and electromagnetic waves. Introduction to wave mechanics and the application of wave mechanics to atomic systems. Elementary description of the nucleus.
PHYSICS All 3 points
LABORATORY
1 three-and-a-half-hour laboratory session a week, presented throughout the year.
SYLLABUS
An introduction to laboratory techniques and methods, including care and handling of instruments, design of experiments, data recording, analysis and presentation. The laboratory work will normally be related to the concurrent theory unit.
PHYSICS Al 2 2 points
ASTRONOMY
12 lectures plus 12 hours laboratory work /observation, presented in Term 1.
This subject has no prerequisite and is presented for students not necessarily enrolled in the Science Faculty.
SYLLABUS
The aim of the subject is to provide an introductory course in astronomy. Students will collect astronomical data for reduction, and use data collected by other observers in order to study the motion of astronomical objects and the classification of stellar sources.
ASSESSMENT
The assessment of this unit will be by continuous assessment of the laboratory work and a short written examination of the lecture topics.
PHYSICS B SUBJECTS Maximum of 18 points
The Physics Department reserves the right not to present all or any of the Physics B subjects if student numbers are insufficient.
BOOKS
The Physics Department regularly reviews text references for the units listed below, and in some cases relies on journal articles or internally produced notes. Details of references and any further information are obtainable from the Department prior to the start of the academic year.
146
ASSESSMENT
The assessment methods will match the manner in which the unit is presented. Lecture units (or components) will, in general, be assessed by a final examination and /or by continually assessed assignment work. The laboratory units (or components) will, in general, be assessed continuously.
PHYSICS B01 5 points
ELECTRONICS
27 one-hour lectures and tutorials plus 8 six-hour laboratory sessions, presented in Term 1.
Prerequisite: Physics A02 SYLLABUS
Circuit network theorems, attenuator and filter design. Semiconductor theory and devices. Applications to power supplies, filtering, voltage regulations, amplifiers, oscillators.
PHYSICS B02 2 points
OPTICS 23 one-hour lectures and tutorials, presented in Term 2.
Prerequisite: Physics A03. Students are advised to take Physics B12 concurrently.
SYLLABUS
Interference effects for light produced by division of amplitude and division of wave front; coherence; Fraunhofer and Fresnel diffraction; Fourier Optics and the Abbeé theory of images.
PHYSICS B03 3 points
QUANTUM MECHANICS 27 one-hour lectures and tutorial classes, presented in Term 3.
Prerequisite: Physics A01 and Physics A03. Students are advised to take Mathematics B33 concurrently.
SYLLABUS
Development and applications of the Schrodinger equation to simple systems leading to a model of the hydrogen atom. Introduction to matrix mechanics.
PHYSICS B04 2 points
THERMAL PHYSICS 23 one-hour lectures and tutorial classes, presented in Term 3.
Prerequisite: Physics A31 SYLLABUS
Ideal and real gases, the laws of Thermodynamics and their applications; description of transport phenomena.
PHYSICS B05 4 points
ASTRONOMY
12 one-hour lectures and tutorial classes and 24 hours of laboratory work and observation, presented in Term 1.
Prerequisite: Physics A01, Physics A02, Physics A03 and Physics Al 1.
147
SYLLABUS
Introductory course including positional and observational astronomy and the classification of stellar objects.
PHYSICS B11 2 points
MODERN PHYSICS LABORATORY 7 six-hour laboratory sessions, presented in Term 3.
Prerequisite: Physics A03 and Physics All SYLLABUS
Study of some techniques of nuclear radiation detection and associated pulse height analysis including coincidence measurements. Applications of these techniques in various areas.
PHYSICS B12 2 points
OPTICS LABORATORY 7 six-hour laboratory sessions, presented in Term 2.
Prerequisite: Physics A03 and Physics A11. Students are advised to take Physics B02 concurrently.
SYLLABUS
Measurements of diffraction effects including resolution of optical instruments; use of prism and grating spectrometers; simple holography.
PHYSICS C SUBJECTS Maximum of 27 points
The selection of units offered to students in any particular year would be determined by the expertise and interest of the staff available at the time, and by the size of enrolments.BOOKS
The Physics Department regularly reviews text references for the units listed below, and in some cases relies on journal articles or internally produced notes. Details of references and any further information may be obtained from the Department prior to the start of the academic year.
ASSESSMENT
The assessment methods will match the manner in which the unit is presented.
Theoretical units (or components) will, in general, be assessed by a final examination and by continually assessed assignment work. The assessment of Applied units (or components) will be based mainly on laboratory work.
PHYSICS CO1 4 points
PHYSICS OF MATERIALS
16 one-hour lecture /seminars plus 42 hours laboratory work, presented in Term 1.
Prerequisite: Physics B03 SYLLABUS
Elementary crystallography and the use of X-ray diffraction techniques in structure determinations. Mechanical, thermal, electrical and magnetic properties of solids, liquids and gases and the technological applications of these properties.
148
PHYSICS CO2 4 points APPLIED SPECTROSCOPY
16 one-hour lectures /seminars plus 42 hours of laboratory work, presented in Term 1.
Prerequisite: Physics B02 and Physics B12 SYLLABUS
Spectroscopic notation coupling schemes for atoms and molecules. Use of spectra in chemical analysis. Applications of optical, mass and electron spectroscopy.
PHYSICS CO3 4 points
APPLIED ELECTRONICS AND INSTRUMENTATION
16 one-hour lectures /seminars plus 42 hours of laboratory work, presented in Term 2.
Prerequisite: Physics B01 SYLLABUS
Measurands and Transducers. Instrument characteristics and design. Instrument systems.
PHYSICS C04 2 points
MEDICAL PHYSICS
8 one-hour lectures /seminars plus 20 hours of laboratory work, presented in Term 3.
Prerequisite: Physics B01 and Physics B11 SYLLABUS
The body as a physical system. The effects of energy (thermal, acoustic, elec- tromagnetic, nuclear) on the body, and related medical techniques.
PHYSICS C05 2 points
PHYSICS IN SCHOOL LABORATORIES
30 hours of laboratory sessions /seminars /discussions, presented in Term 3.
Prerequisite: The following Physics subjects—A01, A02, A03, All—and at least one of the Physics subjects—B01, B02, B03, 604.
It is recommended that this unit be taken in fourth year, concurrently with Education studies.
SYLLABUS
Study of current literature and reseärch papers relating to physics at school, especially the use of Laboratory. Development of experimental material and curriculum design.
Safety, design and management of a school physics laboratory.
PHYSICS C06 2 points
ELECTROMAGNETISM 16 one-hour lectures/seminars, presented in Term 1.
Prerequisite: Physics A02 and at least one of the following Physics subjects—B01, B02, B03, B04—and Mathematics B32.
SYLLABUS
Reformulation of Maxwell's equations in differential form.
Applications to the propagation of electromagnetic waves.
149
PHYSICS C07 1 point
RELATIVITY 8 one-hour lectures/seminars, presented in Term 1.
Prerequisite: Physics A01 and at least one of the Physics subjects—B01, B02, B03, B04.
SYLLABUS
Galilaen relativity. The postulates of special relativity and the consequences of accepting these postulates. Space-time physics.
PHYSICS C08 3 points
ADVANCED QUANTUM MECHANICS 24 one-hour lectures /seminars, presented in Term 2.
Prerequisite: Physics B03 SYLLABUS
Approximation methods; perturbation theory and variational techniques. Matrix formulation illustrated by angular momentum states.
PHYSICS C09 2 points
CLASSICAL MECHANICS 16 one-hour lectures /seminars, presented in Term 3.
Prerequisite: Physics A01 and at least one of the Physics subjects—B01, B02, B03, B04.
Credit may not be gained for both Physics C09 and Mathematics B31.
SYLLABUS
A review of Newtonian mechanics, and introduction to Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics. The subject concentrates on the physical interpretation of the subject but will, to some degree, overlap with Mathematics B31.
PHYSICS C10 4 points
ADVANCED ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
8 one-hour lectures /seminars plus 42 hours of laboratory /observation, presented in Term 3.
Prerequisite: Physics B05 SYLLABUS
A laboratory based program including UBV stellar photometry of bright sources and variable stars. A discussion of recent advances in astronomy.
PHYSICS C1
12 points
THERMODYNAMICS AND STATISTICAL MECHANICS 16 one-hour lectures /seminars, presented in Term 3.
Prerequisite: Physics B04 and Mathematics A21.
SYLLABUS
The laws of Thermodynamics and their implications; the statistics of many-body systems.
150