Physics


Discipline objectives

It is the aim of the Department of Physics to provide all students with a professionally presented sequence of lectures and related practical work, whether they are intending to complete a pass, honours, or higher, degree with a major in physics, or a small sub-set through service subjects. Specific aims and objectives for all subjects and units are provided to students at the commencement of their studies, and these objectives are regularly reviewed. The teaching objectives that cover all physics offerings are, that on successfully completing the subject students will:

Departmental guidelines

To complete a subject in physics a candidate shall, to the satisfaction of the head of department, participate and satisfactorily complete such compulsory exercises and laboratory work, if any, as shall be prescribed in subject information sheets. If the candidate has not completed the prescribed requirement for any subject, the candidate may be deemed ineligible to pass the subject, or be otherwise penalised, as shall be specified, for unsatisfactory performance.
Students are advised that if, at the close of normal enrolment periods, the number of students in any lecture and/or laboratory class at first to third-year level is found to be fewer than ten, the head of department may determine that these classes will not run. In this event, students will be contacted and offered appropriate alternatives. This may occur in 'stand alone' subjects where the only students attending lecture/laboratory classes are those enrolled in that subject.

The discipline

Physics is a major branch of modern science that provides a basis for an understanding of the physical world. Many of the important methods and techniques found in other branches of science and technology owe their existence to the practice of physics. The discipline of physics ranges from the very practical, such as an explanation as to why an integrated circuit works, to fundamental philosophical questions about reality. A program of study in physics provides a sound scientific background for today's complex and technologically oriented world.
The Department of Physics provides a range of subjects for those who wish to specialise in experimental physics, theoretical physics and applied physics, and also for students whose principal interests are in other branches of science. The department also provides subjects in materials science at both second and third-year levels, and in astronomy at both first and second-year levels.
Most subjects offered by the department comprise lectures, problem classes, assignments and laboratory work. Except for third and fourth-year theoretical physics, practical work is an important part of all the undergraduate subjects in physics and is essential for a full understanding of physics, and attendance in the laboratories is compulsory.
Undue specialisation is avoided in the first three years (to pass BSc). In subsequent years (BSc honours, MSc, MAppSc and PhD) opportunities exist for specialisation within each of the fields of theoretical physics, experimental physics, astronomy and astrophysics, applied physics, image processing and materials science. For details of materials science, see separate entry. The astronomy subjects and discipline details are also found under a separate entry for astronomy and astrophysics.

First year

Director of first-year studies: Dr David Mills
Subjects: PHS1011, PHS1022, PHS1031, PHS1042, ASP1010
Two first-year physics sequences are offered, PHS1011 and PHS1022 (Physics) and PHS1031 and PHS1042 (Physics for biosciences). The 'Physics' sequence PHS1011 and PHS1022 covers the foundations of physics over two semesters, providing a balance between a theoretical understanding of physics along with practical applications and experimental physics. This sequence follows a mathematical approach using calculus and a Year 12 Physics background is assumed. This sequence is normally taken by students with interests in physics, mathematics, astrophysics, chemistry, computer science, those interested in the nature of the universe, and those doing science/engineering double degrees.
PHS1031 (Physics for the living world) and PHS1042 (Physics for bio- and environmental sciences) are specifically designed for students interested in biomedical and environmental disciplines. There is an emphasis on applications of physics principles and instrumentation in the modern biosciences. The approach is more descriptive than the former sequence. Year 11 Physics provides the essential background material. Students with no Year 12 Physics, or whose mathematics is not strong, are advised to enrol in the PHS1031 and PHS1042 sequence.
Both PHS1011 and PHS1022 are normally required to enter the second-year physics subjects PHS2011 and PHS2022, and the second year applied physics subjects PHS2311 and PHS2322, however students with exceptionally good results in PHS1031 and PHS1042 may be enrolled at the discretion of the head of department. Either first-year sequence provides an adequate foundation to continue to second-year studies in astronomy, materials science and image processing. Students entering second-year physics or applied physics should have done sufficient first-year mathematics to do MTH2010.
A group of physics and physical science subjects is also offered at first-year level on the Gippsland campus: PHS1616, PHS1627 and PHS1639.
The department also offers first-year astronomy ASP1010 (Earth to cosmos - introductory astronomy). In 1999 this will only be offered in first semester. See separate entry under 'Astronomy and astrophysics' for details.

Second year

There are four major subject groupings, or streams, that are taught by the Department of Physics in the BSc at second-year level. They are PHS2011 and PHS2022 (Physics), PHS2311 and PHS2322 (Applied physics), ASP2031 and ASP2042 (Astronomy) and MSC2011 and MSC2022 (Materials science). These streams are designed to provide a good grounding in the various aspects of physics for students wishing to major in other disciplines as well as those intending to continue to third-year physics and beyond. The eight-point second-year physics subjects comprise four hours of lectures/problem classes/tutorials per week and four hours of laboratory work per week. Students intending to proceed to third-year physics and/or theoretical physics must pass PHS2011 and PHS2022. Students intending to study third-year applied physics must pass PHS2311 and PHS2322 or PHS2011 and PHS2022.
Students who wish to study both physics and applied physics subjects in either semester at second-year level may gain only twelve credit points in each semester as there are common units in PHS2011 and PHS2311, and in PHS2022 and PHS2322. To accommodate this, two four-point subjects PHS2031 and PHS2042 have been introduced. To gain twelve points in first semester, a student would enrol in PHS2011 and PHS2031, or PHS2311 and PHS2031. Similarly in second semester a student would enrol in PHS2022 and PHS2042, or PHS2322 and PHS2042.

Physics

Second-year physics coordinator: Dr Greg Jakovidis
Subjects: PHS2011, PHS2022, PHS2031, PHS2042, PHS2051, PHS2062
The subjects PHS2011 and PHS2022 each comprise four units and are designed to introduce some of the underlying principles of physics, including quantum physics, solid state physics, electromagnetism, optics, thermodynamics and atomic and nuclear physics. The need to keep abreast of aspects of instrumentation and electrical and electronic measurements is covered by the analogue electronics and AC theory units. Students intending to proceed to third-year physics/theoretical physics should also take the following four-point second-year mathematics subjects: MAT2030, MAT2040 and MAT2072.
PHS2031 and PHS2042 each comprise any two units from the above physics or applied physics subjects. In addition, PHS2051 and PHS2062 are provided for, and restricted to, second-year BSc/BE students who wish to take majors in mathematics and/or physics in their BSc and electrical engineering in their BE.

Astronomy

Astronomy coordinator: Professor John Pilbrow
Subjects: ASP2031, ASP2042
The Department of Physics operates its own observatories at Mount Burnett and at the Clayton campus. These two subjects cover both theoretical and observational astronomy. For details on these two subjects see the separate entries under 'Astronomy and astrophysics'.

Applied physics

Second-year applied physics coordinator: Dr Andrew Cramond
Subjects: PHS2311, PHS2322
The subjects PHS2311 and PHS2322 provide a background in instrumentation and monitoring in the physical sciences.
With its instrumentation theme, applied physics is particularly relevant for students studying in all areas of science or engineering who wish to obtain expertise in physical measurement and monitoring. Applied physics also complements the other second-year physics subjects.

Image processing

Image processing coordinator: Dr Imants Svalbe
Subjects: PHS2431, PHS2442 (Not available in 1999)
Many physical measurements lend themselves to two-dimensional visualisation, and subjects in computer imaging and computer vision are increasingly relevant to industry, medicine and contemporary scientific research. These two subjects are oriented towards the practice of image processing. They cover the acquisition of image data, its processing and comparison with the human visual system.

Third year

Four subject sequences are offered by the Department of Physics at third-year level; physics, theoretical physics, applied physics and advanced image processing.

Physics

Third-year physics coordinator: Dr Trevor Hicks
Subjects: PHS3011, PHS3022, PHS3031, PHS3042, PHS3051, PHS3062, PHS3351/PHS3352, PHS3360/PHS3361/PHS3362
Third-year physics subjects are offered either as twelve or twenty-four point semester subjects. In both cases the subjects are made up of a specified number of units (some compulsory). Each unit normally comprises twelve one-hour lectures. The twelve-point physics subjects, PHS3031, PHS3042, PHS3051 and PHS3062 comprise four twelve-hour lecture units, one six-hour unit, twelve tutorials plus five and a half hours of laboratory work on average per week for the semester. The twenty-four point physics subjects, PHS3011 and PHS3022 have eight twelve-hour lecture units, one six-hour unit, twenty-four tutorials and eleven hours of laboratory work on average per week. In all these subjects the choice of units must be approved by the coordinator.
Two physics project subjects, PHS3351/PHS3352 (four points) and PHS3360/PHS3361/PHS3362 (eight points), have been introduced to allow students to work individually on a project of their choice with a staff supervisor.

Theoretical physics

Third-year theoretical physics coordinator: Dr Trevor Hicks
Subjects: PHS3131, PHS3142
The twelve-point theoretical physics subjects, PHS3131 and PHS3142 comprise six twelve-hour theory units and eighteen tutorials.

Applied physics

Third-year applied physics coordinator: Dr Trevor Hicks
Subjects: PHS3331, PHS3342
Applied physics at third-year level comprises two subjects PHS3331 and PHS3342. These two subjects, each of four twelve-hour units, one six-hour unit, twelve tutorials and five and a half hours of laboratory work on average each week, maintain a theme of instrumentation and monitoring, emphasising frequency domain signal processing, the extraction of signals from noise, and the application of instrumentation to measurements in a number of physical fields.
The requirement for entry to honours-year applied physics is a pass in both PHS3331 and PHS3342 at an average of a credit level.

Advanced image processing

Advanced image processing coordinator: Dr Imants Svalbe
Subjects: PHS3431, PHS3442, PHS3450 (Not available in 1999)
This sequence comprises three subjects that examine the principles of low-level vision and pattern recognition processes in humans and machines.
The subject PHS3431 examines in detail low-level vision processes in humans and machines from an architectural and computational viewpoint, with an emphasis on parallel algorithms. Colour vision perception and physiology of the human system are used to provide a contrast with machine vision. In the subject PHS3442, particular emphasis is given to the theoretical links that exist between apparently distinct image processing techniques. The representation and preservation of information in images is examined from the perspective of image-to-image mappings. PHS3431 and PHS3442 are strongly supported by laboratory work using parallel pipeline image processors.
The subject PHS3450 surveys current developments in image processing theory and presents recent case studies of image processing applications in industry, medicine, biology and agriculture. Particular emphasis is given to the formation and analysis of three-dimensional images. PHS3450 contains a significant individual project component.

Fourth year

Fourth-year physics coordinator: Dr Andrew Smith
Subjects: PHS4000, PHS4100, PHS4200
At the honours level, physics offers three subjects, PHS4000 (Experimental physics), PHS4100 (Theoretical physics) and PHS4200 (Applied physics). Students wishing to proceed to fourth year should apply towards the end of their third year. Normally, a credit or a higher grade at third-year level is required. All students are assigned an individual supervisor. All three subjects consist of lecture units and a research-oriented project.
Students may commence honours studies at either the beginning of the year or at mid-year. For both groups of students lectures are conducted in first semester and the research project undertaken in second semester. By arrangement with their supervisor, a student may undertake a limited amount of coursework in second semester, but it is intended that the research work be carried out without distraction from other activities.
Thus, students commencing at the beginning of the year complete all (or most) of their coursework in first semester and undertake the bulk of their project work in second semester. They are normally required to begin their studies during the first week of February. Those students entering at mid-year carry out their project in the second semester of that year and complete all (or most) of their coursework in the first semester of the following year. They are expected to begin their honours studies by the start of second semester.
The lecture units are only offered in first semester, and each unit comprises approximately eighteen hours of class contact. Students are required to choose lecture units in collaboration with their supervisors. Students enrolling in PHS4000, PHS4100 and PHS4200 must note the compulsory units under the relevant headings.
Not all fourth-year units listed may be offered in any one year. In special circumstances some variation in the compulsory units listed may be permitted. Students may include units at an appropriate level from those available in other departments of the university. Students who have taken units offered at both third and fourth-year levels, as part of their third-year study, may not repeat those units at honours year.

Objectives

Students completing an honours year in physics will have a standard of core physics knowledge that will equip them to fully participate as professional physicists in a range of physics based careers or to commence a research degree in physics. The range of units offered will enable them to demonstrate knowledge of a range of physical phenomena. Successful completion of the substantial project will include the demonstration of achievement, knowledge and initiative in a particular area of physics.