Physics
Associate Professor Charles Don
6 points * Four 1-hour lecture/problem classes and one 3-hour laboratory class per week * First semester * Clayton * Prerequisite: VCE Physics recommended * Corequisite: MAT1010, MAT1050, MAT1811 or MAT1910 * Prohibition: PHS1031
Objectives On completion of this subject a student should be able to analyse simple electrical circuits, explain and apply the principles of force, momentum and energy to simple mechanical situations; apply the basic concepts of special relativity; explain and apply the principles of waves, their propagation and behaviour in simple cases of diffraction and interference; carry out experiments and analyse data and write scientific reports.
Synopsis This subject comprises three units. (1) Electrical measurement: Resistive circuits, DC and AC currents, RC circuits, introduction to filtering. (2) Mechanics I: Non-rotational Newtonian mechanics, introduction to special relativity, introduction to thermodynamics. (3) Waves: The general behaviour of waves including reflection, polarisation, interference and diffraction with applications to optics, sound, and mechanical vibrations. Laboratory experiments are linked to these topics and develop a range of important experimental skills.
Assessment Examinations (2 + 2 hours): 60% * Laboratory work: 25% * Tests: 15%
Prescribed texts
Halliday D and others Fundamentals of physics 4th edn (extended), Wiley, 1993
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