Search | Previous : Pharmacology | Next : Physiology
Handbook 1997 : Faculty of Science : Physics
The Undergraduate subjects in the School of Physics form a study of the world at its most profound level. These subjects afford students the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the foundations and methodology of physics through both theoretical and experimental studies.
Many Physics subjects are offered at standard and advanced levels. The treatment of the subject matter in the advanced subjects will be deeper and may involve more sophisticated mathematics.
Admission to advanced level subjects in the first year is restricted to students with a strong background in physics and mathematics and preference may be given to intending physics majors. Admission to advanced level subjects in later years is restricted to students who continue to obtain good marks in the prerequisite subjects and in physics and mathematics as a whole.
Students with adequate preparation do not disadvantage themselves by taking advanced level subjects.
Coordinator: Dr L. Allen
There are three first year physics subject streams lasting the entire year and each made up of two one-semester subjects normally taken together, plus optional subjects in astronomy. Physics 640-121 + 640-122 and 640-141 + 640-142 assume a knowledge of VCE Units 3 and 4 physics and elementary calculus. Physics 640-161 + 640-162 assumes some prior knowledge of physics and mathematics but not necessarily to VCE Units 3 and 4.
640-121 + 640-122 Physics (Advanced) is an intellectually rigorous stream suited to students, embarking on any career, who have a strong background in physics and mathematics.
640-141 + 640-142 Physics is a stream providing a coverage of physics suited to students wishing to major in any physical, technological or biological discipline.
640-161 + 640-162 Physics is a stream giving a broader and more descriptive coverage of physics. It is designed to be a well-rounded single year treatment of physics for students who do not have a solid background in physics and mathematics. Students with sufficiently good results in Physics 640-161 + 640-162 and mathematics may be permitted to proceed to later year physics subjects.
Students who have concerns about their preparation in mathematics and physics are recommended to revise their knowledge by preliminary reading of an appropriate text, e. g. R. Cole, So you Want to Take Physics? A Preparatory Course with Calculus (Saunders 1993) (for 640-121 + 640-122 & 640-141 + 640-142) or R. Cole, So You Want to Take Physics? A Preparatory Course (Saunders 1993) (for 640-161 + 640-162).
Coordinator: Dr A Roberts
Students planning to major in physics must include in their courses Physics 640-223 or 640-243; 640-225 or 640-245; 640-226 or 640-246, and 640-299; and Mathematics 618-231 and 618-232. These mathematics subjects are a prerequisite for some 200-level and 300-level physics subjects. Mathematics 618-200 (or 618-211) must also be taken if Mathematics 618-122 or 618-112 has not been passed in first year.
Coordinator: Dr A E C Spargo
Third year subjects fall into four groups: core subjects, supplementary-core subjects, supplementary subjects and laboratory units. The core subjects are 640-321 or 640-341, 640-322 or 640-342, 640-323 or 640-343, and 640-344. The supplementary-core subjects are 640-351, 640-353, 640-354, 640-355 and 640-356. The supplementary subjects are 640-361, 640-363 and 640-364, while the laboratory units are 640-393, 640-392 and 640-391.
The subject 640-344 follows on from 640-341. Students taking 640-341 are strongly advised to also take 640-344. Students taking 640-321 may take 640-344 as an option.
Students are required to include lecture-based and laboratory units according to the following table:
|
Students taking at least five core and supplementary-core subjects may include Physics 640-391 or 640-392 as a supplementary subject.
Students majoring in any other discipline may take a selection of 300-level Physics subjects (including the three advanced level core units) without any Laboratory work.
Any course which does not include Laboratory Work 640-393 does not constitute a Physics major. Such courses are intended for students wishing to take physics in conjunction with a major study in some other discipline.
Note that the book Palmer SB and Rogalski MS, Advanced University Physics, Gordon and Breach 1996 may be a useful adjunct to the prescribed texts for the various 300-level units. This book summarises a range of theoretical physics material including Classical Mechanics, Optics, Electrodynamics, Quantum Mechanics, Solid State Physics and Nuclear Physics.
Note: All students majoring in Physics must enrol in 640-310 Physics Undergraduate Seminar.
Physics 640-121 + 640-122 or 640-141 + 640-142, Mathematics 618-121, 618-122, and 618-132 or 618-141, 618-142, and 618-130 (618-200 or 618-211, equivalent to 618-112, 618-122, being taken in second year), with either
Scientific Programming and Simulation 617-141 or 619-100 Experimental Design and Statistical Analysis and one of Chemistry 610-121 + 610-122, 610-141 + 610-142, or 610-161 + 610-162, Geology 625-101 and 625-102, Biology 600-141 + 600-142
or Computer Science 433-141 and 433-142 and an optional subject such as 614-100 Experimental Design and Statistical Analysis.
Physics:
(Special Relativity 640-221 or 640-241) or (Optics 640-227 or 640-247),
(Quantum Structure of Matter 640-229 or 640-249) or (Classical Mechanics 640-224 or 640-244),
Electronics and Instrumentation 640-251,
Laboratory Work 640-299, and
Mathematics:
Plus two or more subjects selected from:
Mathematics 2: 618-200 or 618-211 (required if 618-112 or 618-122 not taken in first year),
Any of Physics 640-221 or 640-241, 640-227 or 640-247, 640-229 or 640-249, 640-224 or 640-244 not previously selected above,
Continuum Mechanics and Waves 640-252,
Real and Complex Analysis 618-201,
Analysis 618-252,
Linear and Abstract Algebra 618-202.
Physics:
Laboratory Work 640-299, and
Mathematics:
Chemistry:
Analytical Chemistry and Spectroscopic Methods 610-260
with additional subjects selected from 300-Level Physics (chosen to satisfy the conditions set out in the table in section 1.4) and, optionally, 300-level Mathematics or 300-level Chemistry.
Please refer to Bachelor of Science (Honours) and Bachelor of Information Systems (Honours)
640-005, 640-006, 640-029, 640-228/248 are only available to Engineering students. Combined Science/Engineering students should speak to an Engineering Course Adviser before enrolling in these subjects as the completion of 'Science' Physics subjects may be recommended instead. Credit towards the Bachelor of Science will not be awarded for the completion of 640-005, 640-006, 640-029.
640-005 Physics 1A (Engineering Course) 640-006 Physics 1B (Engineering Course) 640-029 Modern Physics of Materials
Search | Previous : Pharmacology | Next : Physiology
Handbook 1997 : Faculty of Science : Physics
Status: OFFICIAL 1997 Last Modified: Wednesday March 12 3:36 pm SGML to HTML Conversion: Information Technology Services Authorised by: Academic Registrar Email Enquiries: Course_Information@registrar.unimelb.edu.au
Copyright © University of Melbourne 1997.