Offered
Clayton Second semester 2008 (Day)
Synopsis
- Electrodynamics: electro- and magnetostatics; electric and magnetic fields in matter; Maxwell's equations.
- Optics: geometric optics; polarization; birefringence; optical fibres; interferometry; diffraction.
- Statistical Physics: introduction to statistical physics concepts; temperature; Helmholtz free energy and the partition function; application of concepts to the ideal gas.
Objectives
On completion of this unit, students will be able to: explain and apply the key concepts of electromagnetism and statistical physics to a variety of phenomena; describe a range of optical instruments and their uses; use modern instruments and methods to acquire, manipulate and interpret physical data; write scientific reports at a level suitable for publication.
Assessment
Examinations (One x 3 hours and One x 2 hours): 50%
Assignments: 16%
Practical work (compulsory): 34%
Students must achieve a pass mark in the practical component to achieve an overall pass grade.
Contact hours
Three 1-hour lecture/problem classes and one 3-hour laboratory class per week
Prerequisites
PHS1011 or PHS1080, PHS1022, MTH1030 and MTH2010
