University of Sydney Handbooks - 2018 Archive

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Physics

PHYSICS

Advanced coursework and projects will be available in 2020 for students who complete this major.

Physics major

A major in Physics requires 48 credit points from this table including:
(i) 12 credit points of 1000-level core units
(ii) 12 credit points of 2000-level core units
(iii) 18 credit points of 3000-level core units
(iv) 6 credit points of 3000-level selective units

Physics minor

A minor in Physics requires 36 credit points from this table including:
(i) 12 credit points of 1000-level core units
(ii) 12 credit points of 2000-level core units
(iii)12 credit points of 3000-level core units

Units of study

The units of study are listed below.

1000-level units of study

Core
PHYS1001 Physics 1 (Regular)

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Helen Johnston Session: Semester 1 Classes: Three 1-hour lectures, one 3-hour laboratory per week for 9 weeks and one 1-hour tutorial per week. Prohibitions: PHYS1002 or PHYS1901 or EDUH1017 or PHYS1903 Assumed knowledge: HSC Physics or PHYS1003 or PHYS1004 or PHYS1902 or equivalent. Students who have not completed HSC Physics (or equivalent) are strongly advised to take the Physics Bridging Course (offered in February). Students are also encouraged to take (MATH1X21 or MATH1931 or MATH1X01 or MATH1906) and MATH1X02 concurrently. Assessment: 3 hour exam plus laboratories, assignments and mid-semester tests (100%). Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
This unit of study is for students who gained 65 marks or better in HSC Physics or equivalent. The lecture series contains three modules on the topics of mechanics, thermal physics, and oscillations and waves.
Textbooks
Young and Freedman. University Physics with Modern Physics, Global Edition. 14th edition, Pearsons 2015. Course lab manual.
PHYS1002 Physics 1 (Fundamentals)

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Helen Johnston Session: Semester 1 Classes: Three 1-hour lectures, one 3-hour laboratory per week for 9 weeks and one 1-hour tutorial per week. Prohibitions: PHYS1001 or PHYS1901 or EDUH1017 or PHYS1903 Assumed knowledge: Students are encouraged to take (MATH1X21 or MATH1931 or MATH1X01 or MATH1906) and MATH1X02 concurrently. Assessment: 3 hour exam plus laboratories, assignments and mid-semester tests (100%). Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
This unit of study is designed for students who have not studied Physics previously or scored below 65 in HSC Physics. The lecture series contains modules on the language of physics, mechanics, and oscillations and waves.
Textbooks
College Physics: A Strategic Approach by Knight, Jones and Field, 3rd edition. Pearsons 2014. Course lab manual.
PHYS1901 Physics 1A (Advanced)

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Helen Johnston Session: Semester 1 Classes: Three 1-hour lectures, one 3-hour laboratory per week for 9 weeks and one 1-hour tutorial per week. Prohibitions: PHYS1001 or PHYS1002 or EDUH1017 or PHYS1903 Assumed knowledge: (85 or above in HSC Physics or equivalent) OR (75 or above in one of PHYS1003 or PHYS1004) OR (PHYS1902 or PHYS1904). Students are also encouraged to take (MATH1X21 or MATH1931 or MATH1X01 or MATH1906) and MATH1X02 concurrently. Assessment: 3-hour exam plus laboratories, assignments and mid-semester tests (100%). Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
Note: Department permission required for enrolment
This unit of study is intended for students who have a strong background in Physics and an interest in studying more advanced topics. It proceeds faster than Physics 1 (Regular), covering further and more difficult material. The lecture series contains modules on the topics of mechanics, thermal physics, oscillations and waves and chaos. The laboratory work also provides an introduction to computational physics using chaos theory as the topic of study.
Textbooks
Young and Freedman. University Physics with Modern Physics, Global Edition. 14th edition, Pearsons 2015. Course lab manual.
PHYS1903 Physics 1A (Special Studies Program)

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: 3x1hr lectures per week, 1x1hr tutorial per week Prohibitions: PHYS1001 or PHYS1002 or EDUH1017 or PHYS1901 Assumed knowledge: [92 or above in HSC Physics (or equivalent)] OR [80 or above in one of PHYS1904 or PHYS1902]. Students are also encouraged to take (MATH1X21 or MATH1931 or MATH1X01 or MATH1906) and MATH1X02 concurrently. Assessment: 3hr exam plus laboratories, assignments, mid-semester tests and end-of-semester lab project presentation Practical field work: 1x3hr laboratory for 9 weeks, including short project-based exercises Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
Note: Department permission required for enrolment
The unit is intended for high achieving students who have a strong background in Physics and an interest in studying more advanced topics. It shares lecture and tutorial classes with PHYS1901, with modules on the topics of mechanics, thermal physics oscillations and wave and chaos. However, it features a laboratory component that is very different, with project-based exercises and a more open-ended research format than other lab classes.
Textbooks
Young and Freedman, University Physics, 14th edition with Modern Physics, Global Edition, Pearson 2015. Course lab manual
PHYS1003 Physics 1 (Technological)

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Helen Johnston Session: Semester 2 Classes: Three 1-hour lectures, one 3-hour laboratory per week for 10 weeks, one 1-hour tutorial per week. Corequisites: Recommended Co-requisites: (MATH1003 or MATH1903) and (MATH1005 or MATH1905). Prohibitions: PHYS1004 or PHYS1902 or PHYS1904 Assumed knowledge: HSC Physics or PHYS1001 or PHYS1002 or PHYS1901 or equivalent. Students who have not completed HSC Physics (or equivalent) are strongly advised to take the Physics Bridging Course (offered in February). Students are also encouraged to take (MATH1X23 or MATH1933 or MATH1X03 or MATH1907) and MATH1X05 concurrently. Assessment: 3 hour exam plus laboratories, tutorials, and assignments (100%). Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
Note: It is recommended that PHYS1001 or PHYS1002 or PHYS1901 be completed before this unit
This unit of study is designed for students majoring in physical and engineering sciences and emphasis is placed on applications of physical principles to the technological world. The lecture series contains modules on the topics of fluids, electromagnetism, and quantum physics.
Textbooks
Young and Freedman. University Physics with Modern Physics, Global Edition. 14th edition, Pearsons 2015. Course lab manual.
PHYS1004 Physics 1 (Environmental and Life Science)

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Helen Johnston Session: Semester 2 Classes: Three 1-hour lectures, one 3-hour laboratory per week for 10 weeks and one 1-hour tutorial per week. Prohibitions: PHYS1003 or PHYS1902 or PHYS1904 Assumed knowledge: HSC Physics or PHYS1001 or PHYS1002 or PHYS1901 or equivalent. Students who have not completed HSC Physics (or equivalent) are strongly advised to take the Physics Bridging Course (offered in February). Students are also encouraged to take (MATH1X23 or MATH1933 or MATH1X03 or MATH1907) and MATH1X05 concurrently. Assessment: 3-hour exam plus laboratories and assignments (100%). Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
Note: It is recommended that PHYS1001 or PHYS1002 or PHYS1901 be completed before this unit
This unit of study has been designed specifically for students interested in further study in environmental and life sciences. The lecture series contains modules on the topics of properties of matter, electromagnetism, and radiation and its interactions with matter.
Textbooks
College Physics: A Strategic Approach by Knight, Jones and Field, 3rd edition. Pearsons 2014. Course lab manual.
PHYS1902 Physics 1B (Advanced)

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Helen Johnston Session: Semester 2 Classes: Three 1-hour lectures, one 3-hour laboratory per week for 10 weeks and one 1-hour tutorial per week. Corequisites: Recommended Co-requisites: (MATH1003 or MATH1903) and (MATH1005 or MATH1905) Prohibitions: PHYS1003 or PHYS1004 or PHYS1904 Assumed knowledge: (85 or above in HSC Physics or equivalent) OR (75 or above in one of PHYS1001 or PHYS1002) OR (PHYS1901 or PHYS1903). Students are also encouraged to take (MATH1X23 or MATH1933 or MATH1X03 or MATH1907) and MATH1X05 concurrently. Assessment: 3-hour exam plus laboratories, and assignments (100%). Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
Note: Department permission required for enrolment
This unit of study is a continuation of the more advanced treatment of Physics 1A (Advanced). Students who have completed PHYS1001 or PHYS1002 at Distinction level may enrol. It proceeds faster than Physics 1 (Technological), covering further and more difficult material. The lecture series contains modules on the topics of fluids, electricity and magnetism, and quantum physics.
Textbooks
Young and Freedman. University Physics with Modern Physics, Global Edition. 14th edition, Pearsons 2015. Course lab manual.
PHYS1904 Physics 1B (Special Studies Program)

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 2 Classes: 3x1hr lectures per week, 1x1hr tutorial per week Prohibitions: PHYS1003 or PHYS1004 or PHYS1902 Assumed knowledge: 75 or above in PHYS1903 or 85 or above in PHYS1901. Entry is by invitation. This unit of study is deemed to be an Advanced unit of study. Students are also encouraged to take (MATH1X23 or MATH1933 or MATH1X03 or MATH1907) and MATH1X05 concurrently. Assessment: 3hr exam plus laboratories, assignments, mid-semester tests and end-of-semester research project report and presentation Practical field work: 1x3hr laboratory for 4 weeks and a research project in the other weeks of semester Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
Note: Department permission required for enrolment
The unit is a continuation for high achieving students of PHYS1904. It shares lecture and tutorial classes with PHYS1902, with modules on the topics of fluids, electricity and magnetism, and quantum physics. The lab component features a research project to be performed with researchers in one of the School's research groups.
Textbooks
Young and Freedman, University Physics, 14th edition with Modern Physics, Global Edition, Pearson 2015. Course lab manual

2000-level units of study

Core
PHYS2011 Physics 2A

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Prof Iver Cairns Session: Semester 1 Classes: Two 1-hour lectures per week for 11 weeks; one 2-hour computational laboratory and one 3-hour experimental laboratory per week for 10 weeks. Prerequisites: (PHYS1901 or PHYS1001 or PHYS1002 or PHYS1903) and (PHYS1902 or PHYS1003 or PHYS1004 or PHYS1904) Prohibitions: PHYS2911 or PHYS2213 Assumed knowledge: (MATH1X21 or MATH1931 or MATH1X01 or MATH1906) and (MATH1X02) and (MATH1X23 or MATH1933 or MATH1X03 or MATH1907) and (MATH1X05) Assessment: One 2-hour exam, assignments, one 1-hour computational test, practical work, practical report and presentation, computational lab work (100%) Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
In combination with two semesters of Junior Physics, this unit of study continues a first pass through the major branches of classical and modern physics, providing students with a sound basis for later Physics units or for studies in other areas of science or technology. Hence, this unit suits students continuing with the study of Physics at the Intermediate level, and those wishing to round out their knowledge of physics before continuing in other fields. The modules in this unit of study are: Optics: The wave nature of light, and its interactions with matter; applications including spectroscopy and fibre optics. Thermodynamics: The thermal properties of matter. Computational Physics: In a PC-based computing laboratory students use simulation software to conduct virtual experiments in physics, which illustrate and extend the relevant lectures. Students also gain general skills in the use of computers to solve problems in physics. An introductory session of MATLAB is held in the first three lab sessions for students who are not familiar with programming. Practical: Experimental Physics is taught as a laboratory module and includes experiments in the areas of electrical circuits, nuclear decay and particles, properties of matter, and other topics. Assessment is based on mastery of each attempted experiment. At the end of the semester students prepare a short report on one experiment and make an oral presentation on it.
Textbooks
Young and Freedman, University Physics with Modern Physics Technology Update, 13th edition. with Mastering Physics, Pearsons, 2014.
PHYS2911 Physics 2A (Advanced)

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Prof Iver Cairns Session: Semester 1 Classes: Two 1-hour lectures per week for 11 weeks; one 2-hour computational laboratory and one 3-hour experimental laboratory per week for 10 weeks. Prerequisites: 65 or above in (PHYS1901 or PHYS1001 or PHYS1002 or PHYS1903) and 65 or above in (PHYS1902 or PHYS1003 or PHYS1004 or PHYS1904) Prohibitions: PHYS2011 or PHYS2213 Assumed knowledge: (MATH1X21 or MATH1931 or MATH1X01 or MATH1906) and (MATH1X02) and (MATH1X23 or MATH1933 or MATH1X03 or MATH1907) and (MATH1X05) Assessment: One 2-hour exam, assignments, one 1-hour computational test, practical work, practical report and presentation, computational lab work (100%) Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
This unit of study is designed for students with a strong interest in Physics. The lecture topics are as for PHYS2011. They are treated in greater depth and with more rigorous attention to derivations than in PHYS2011. The assessment reflects the more challenging nature of the material presented.
Textbooks
Young and Freedman, University Physics with Modern Physics Technology Update, 13th edition. with Mastering Physics, Pearsons, 2014.
PHYS2012 Physics 2B

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Prof Iver Cairns Session: Semester 2 Classes: Three 1-hour lectures per week; one 2-hour computational laboratory per week for 11 weeks. Prerequisites: (PHYS1003 or PHYS1004 or PHYS1902 or PHYS1904) and (PHYS1001 or PHYS1002 or PHYS1901 or PHYS1903 or PHYS2011 or PHYS2911) Prohibitions: PHYS2912 or PHYS2213 Assumed knowledge: (MATH1X21 or MATH1931 or MATH1X01 or MATH1906) and (MATH1X02) and (MATH1X23 or MATH1933 or MATH1X03 or MATH1907) and (MATH1X05) Assessment: One 3-hour exam, assignments, one 1-hour computational test, computational lab work and project, practical work and report (100%). Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
This unit of study is designed for students continuing with the study of Physics at the general Intermediate level, and represents the beginning of a more in-depth study of the main topics of classical and modern physics. The modules in this unit of study are: Quantum Physics: The behaviour of matter and radiation at the microscopic level. Electromagnetic Properties of Matter: Electric and magnetic effects in materials; the combination of electric and magnetic fields to produce light and other electromagnetic waves; the effects of matter on electromagnetic waves. Computational Physics: The computational physics component is similar to that of PHYS2011.
Textbooks
Serway, Moses and Moyer. Modern Physics. 3rd edition. Brooks/Cole. 2005.
PHYS2912 Physics 2B (Advanced)

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Prof Iver Cairns Session: Semester 2 Classes: Three 1-hour lectures per week, one-2 hour computational laboratory per week for 11 weeks. Prerequisites: 65 or above in (PHYS1003 or PHYS1004 or PHYS1902 or PHYS1904) and 65 or above in (PHYS1001 or PHYS1002 or PHYS1901 or PHYS1903 or PHYS2011 or PHYS2911) Prohibitions: PHYS2012 or PHYS2213 Assumed knowledge: (MATH1X21 or MATH1931 or MATH1X01 or MATH1906) and (MATH1X02) and (MATH1X23 or MATH1933 or MATH1X03 or MATH1907) and (MATH1X05) Assessment: One 3-hour exam, assignments, one 1-hour computational test, computational lab work and project, practical work and report (100%). Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
Refer to PHYS2911 for an overall description of the Advanced Intermediate Physics program. The lecture topics are as for PHYS2012 with some advanced content. Computational Physics: As for PHYS2012, but at a more advanced level.
Textbooks
Young and Freedman, University Physics with Modern Physics Technology Update, 13th edition. with Mastering Physics, Pearsons, 2014.

3000-level units of study

Major core
PHYS3X51, PHYS3X50 and PHYS3X53 to be developed for offering in 2019.
Major selective
PHYS3X52 and PHYS3X54 to be developed for offering in 2019.
Minor selective
PHYS3X50 and PHYS3X53 to be developed for offering in 2019.