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Physics 2: Physical Science & Technology (PHYC10004)
Undergraduate level 1Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
For information about the University’s phased return to campus and in-person activity in Winter and Semester 2, please refer to the on-campus subjects page.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 2
Director of First Year Studies
Email: dfys@physics.unimelb.edu.au
Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.
Overview
Availability | Semester 2 |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
This subject is designed for students with a sound background in physics, whose interests lie mainly in applications of physics to systems in the physical sciences, technology or engineering. Topics include:
Fluids: water and air pressure, breathing, hydraulics, flight (pressure in fluids, buoyancy, fluid flow, viscosity, surface tension).
Thermal physics: heating and cooling, energy balance in environments, engines, refrigerators (temperature and thermal energy, kinetic theory, phase changes, heat transfer mechanisms, first law of thermodynamics, diffusion).
Electricity and magnetism: electrical devices, lightning, household electricity and electrical safety, electric motors, power generation and transmission, Earth’s magnetic field, particle accelerators, communications (electric charge and field, conductors and insulators, electric potential, capacitance, resistance, electric circuits, magnetic field, Faraday’s law of induction, Maxwell’s equations, electromagnetic waves).
Quantum and atomic physics: spectroscopy, lasers (photon, blackbody radiation, matter waves, quantisation in atoms, interaction of light with matter, x-rays).
Nuclear physics and radiation: nuclear energy, radiation safety, formation of atoms in stars, carbon dating (the atomic nucleus, radioactive decay, half-life, ionising radiation, nuclear fission and fusion).
Intended learning outcomes
To enable students to understand the importance of physical principles to the physical, technological and engineering sciences, and develop their capacity to:
- understand and explain the physics principles of fluids, thermal physics, electricity and magnetism, quantum, atomic and nuclear physics;
- apply these principles using logical reasoning, together with appropriate mathematical reasoning, to a variety of familiar and novel situations and problems in the physical, technological and engineering sciences;
- make considered and logical predictions of the outcomes of different physical situations in the context of the relevant physics principles; and
- acquire experimental data using a range of measurement instruments and interpret these data.
Generic skills
A student who completes this subject should be able to:
- explain their understanding of physics principles and applications lucidly, both in writing and orally;
- acquire and interpret experimental data and design experimental investigations;
- participate as an effective member of a group in tutorial discussions, laboratory and study groups;
- think independently and analytically, and direct his or her own learning; and
- manage time effectively in order to be prepared for regular practical and tutorial classes, tests and the examination.
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Physics and Mathematics prerequisites exist for this subject.
Physics
One of:
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
PHYC10001 | Physics 1: Advanced | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
PHYC10003 | Physics 1 |
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
or
PHYC10005 - Fundamentals of Physics (pre 2020 BSc)
or
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
PHYC10009 | Foundations of Physics | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
(with a minimum H2A grade)
Mathematics
One of
- Study score of 25 or more in VCE Mathematical Methods 3/4 or equivalent
- Admission into the Bachelor of Science
OR both of
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
MAST10014 | Foundation Mathematics 1 | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
MAST10015 | Foundation Mathematics 2 | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
Students may only gain credit for one of
- PHYC10002 Physics 2: Advanced
- PHYC10004 Physics 2: Physical Science & Technology
- PHYC10006 Physics 2: Life Sciences & Environment
- PHYC10007 Physics for Biomedicine
Recommended background knowledge
Students who have not completed the equivalent of VCE Unit 3/4 Specialist Mathematics are encouraged to enrol in MAST10005 Calculus 1 prior to or concurrently with this subject.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Assessment
Due to the impact of COVID-19, assessment may differ from that published in the Handbook. Students are reminded to check the subject assessment requirements published in the subject outline on the LMS
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Ongoing assessment of practical work Hurdle requirement: Satisfactory completion of practical work is necessary to pass the subject (i.e. attendance and submission of work for at least 80% of workshop sessions together with a result for assessed work of at least 50%). | During the teaching period | 25% |
Ten weekly assignments (10 x 1.5%) | During the teaching period | 15% |
A written examination
| During the examination period | 60% |
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Principal coordinator Jacinta Den Besten Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 3 x one hour lectures per week; 1 x one hour tutorial per week; 28 hours of practical work (8 x three hour laboratory sessions and up to 30 minutes of pre-laboratory activity) and 10 weekly assignments of 30 minutes each during the semester. Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 3 August 2020 to 1 November 2020 Last self-enrol date 14 August 2020 Census date 21 September 2020 Last date to withdraw without fail 16 October 2020 Assessment period ends 27 November 2020 Semester 2 contact information
Director of First Year Studies
Email: dfys@physics.unimelb.edu.au
Time commitment details
Estimated total time commitment of 170 hours
Additional delivery details
This subject requires all students to actively and safely participate in laboratory activities.
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Fundamentals of Physics, 10th Edition Halliday, Resnick, Walker
ISBN: 9781118230725
- Subject notes
This subject is available for science credit to students enrolled in the BSc (both pre-2008 and new degrees), BASc or a combined BSc course.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Informal specialisation Science-credited subjects - new generation B-SCI - Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Design
- Bachelor of Environments
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art)
- Bachelor of Music
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 11 April 2024