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Theoretical Physics 3 (PHYC30022)
Undergraduate level 3Points: 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
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 will introduce topics in Theoretical Physics, including:
- Classical Field Theory: Action Principles and Noether’s Theorem. Electrodynamics and wave equations from action principle. Applications selected from: waves in media, dispersion relations, solitons, Kramers-Kronig relations, the Optical Theorem.
- Fluid Mechanics: Euler’s equation, the continuity equation and the Navier-Stokes equation. Rotational and irrotational flows. Turbulence and Reynolds’ numbers, and the onset of chaos. The Rayleigh-Taylor and other instabilities. Shock waves. The Kutta-Joukowski theorem and aerodynamics.
- Symmetry: Crystallography, point groups and space groups. Quasicrystals. Vibrational modes of molecules and molecular electronic structure. Crystal field theory. The uses of SU(2) in quantum mechanics. The SO(4) solution of the hydrogen atom. Relativistic invariance: the Lorentz and Poincare groups.
Intended learning outcomes
On completing this subject the student will be able to
- apply action principles to the physics of the fields involved in electrodynamics and continuous media.
- solve the basic equations of fluid flow, turbulence and aerodynamics.
- apply symmetry principles to problems involving a diverse range of physical systems and describe their connection to conservation laws.
Generic skills
A student who completes this subject should be able to:
- analyse how to solve a problem by applying fundamental laws to more complicated situations
- apply abstract concepts to real world situations
- solve relatively complicated problems using approximations
- participate effectively in group discussions
- manage time effectively in order to be prepared for group discussions and to undertake written assignments and examinations.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
All of:
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
PHYC20014 | Theoretical Physics 2 | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
MAST20009 | Vector Calculus |
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
PHYC30018 | Quantum Physics | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
PHYC30016 | Electrodynamics | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
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: 3 November 2022
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
Semester 2
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Written Assignment requiring approximately 20 hours of preparation, study and writing to complete.
| Week 5 | 15% |
Written Assignment requiring approximately 20 hours of preparation, study and writing to complete.
| Week 11 | 15% |
Written examination
| During the examination period | 70% |
Additional details
Assessment tasks have been allocated with regards to the total time students are expected to devote to each, including preparation, private study and writing. The subject involves approximately 134 hours of independent study and 36 hours of contact time involving lectures and tutorials; 170 hours in total.
There are two written assignments, each of which will require approximately 20 hours of preparation, study and writing to complete, so that the assessment of these corresponds to 30% of the total for the subject (40 hours out of 130 hours). The first assignment must be submitted by 5pm on the Friday of Teaching Week 5 and the second assignment by 5pm on the Friday of Teaching Week 11. The remainder of the time allocated to independent study, 94 hours, is deemed to be preparation for the final three hour examination that will be held during the Examination Period. This examination contributes 70% towards the final assessment.
Summary of Assessments:
- Two written assignments (each of which will require approximately 20 hours of preparation, study and writing to complete). Due dates for the Assignment 1 and 2 are, respectively, 5pm Friday of Teaching Week 5 and 5pm Friday of Teaching Week 11 (15% each)
- A three-hour final examination in the examination period 70%
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Coordinator Harry Quiney Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 2 to 4 hours per week, 36 in total, lectures and problem-solving classes 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
Time commitment details
The total time commitment for this subject is 170 hours. Of this, 36 hours are lectures and tutorials. The remaining 134 hours are to be devoted to independent study distributed uniformly throughout the teaching and non-teaching periods of the Semester. Students should allocate approximately 40 hours to the study, preparation and writing of two assignments that each contribute 15% to the final mark for the subject. Approximately 94 hours should be allocated to independent study of the subject material and preparation for the final three hour examination. The final examination is to be held in the Examination Period and contributes 70% to the total assessment.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
None
Recommended texts and other resources
Methods of Theoretical Physics, Morse and Feshbach;
Mathematical Methods for Physicists, Arfken and Weber;
Classical Field Theory, Landau & Lifschitz;
Group Theory and Physics, Sternberg
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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: 3 November 2022