Physics 2: Advanced

This subject is not offered in 2014.

Estimated total time commitment of 120 hours

Physics and Mathematics prerequisites exist for this subject.

Physics

One of

• Excellent result in VCE Unit 3/4 Physics (normally an unscaled score of at least 35), or equivalent.

Mathematics

One of

• Excellent result in VCE Unit 3/4 Specialist Mathematics (normally an unscaled score of at least 35), or equivalent.

None

None

Students may only gain credit for one of

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.
The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This subject is designed for students with a strong interest and background in physics, and aims to provide a deep understanding of a broad range of physics principles and applications. 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).

To challenge students to develop further their understanding of the importance of physics principles 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; and
• acquire experimental data using a range of measurement instruments and interpret these data.

Ongoing assessment of practical work during the semester (25%); ten weekly assignments (10 x 1.5% = 15%); a 3-hour written examination in the examination period (60%).

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%).

R Knight, Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach with Modern Physics, 2nd Ed, Addison-Wesley, 2008

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Environments
• Bachelor of Music

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

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.

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.