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Subject Lists
100-level subjects
200-level subjects
300-level subjects
Physics subjects available only to Engineering students
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 at 100-level is restricted to students with a strong background in physics and mathematics and preference may be given to students intending to specialise in Physics. Admission to advanced level subjects in 200- and 300-level is restricted to students who continue to obtain good marks in the prerequisite subjects and in physics and mathematics as a whole (the usual requirement being an average of 70% or more in the principal Physics and Mathematics subjects of the previous level).
Students with adequate preparation do not disadvantage themselves by taking advanced level subjects.
Coordinator: Dr K Amos
There are three 100-level 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 specialise 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 specialise 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 620-231 and 620-232. These mathematics subjects are prerequisites for some 200-level and 300-level physics subjects. Mathematics 620-200 (or 620-211) must also be taken if Mathematics 620-122 or 620-112 has not been passed at 100-level.
(For subjects completed prior to 1998, the Mathematics and Statistics departmental code 620- should be replaced by the superseded Mathematics departmental code 618-)
Coordinator: Dr A E C Spargo
300-level subjects fall into four groups: core subjects, long-options, short-options and laboratory subjects. The core subjects are 640-321 or 640-341, 640-322 or 640-342, 640-323 or 640-343 and 640-324 or 640-344. The long-options are 640-356 and 640-364. The short-options are 640-351, 640-353, 640-354, 640-355, 640-361, 640-363, 640-381 and 640-382. The Laboratory subjects are 640-394, 640-393, 640-392 and 640-391.
The core subjects are run at both standard and advanced levels. While the subject pairs (640-321 and 640-341), (640-322 and 640-342) and (640-323 and 640-343) cover similar material (though to different levels of depth), note that 640-324 Microphysics (Advanced) and 640-344 Quantum Systems have different subject descriptions. There is nevertheless some overlap between 640-324 and 640-344 and students are strongly advised to enrol in only one of these. The core subjects cover those key aspects of theoretical physics required for all students specialising in Physics.
The long-options and short-options provide students with the opportunity to increase both the breadth and depth of their knowledge of Physics. The student may take one or both of the Project Work subjects 640-381 and 640-382 in order to extend their studies in one or two of the small-options. Enrolment in 640-381 and/or 640-382 is by invitation from the Head of the School of Physics.
The Laboratory subject 640-394 is the key non-lecture based subject for students specialising in Physics. Students who need to spread their Laboratory work over two calendar years may take 640-393 plus 640-391 instead of 640-394. (Note that the larger 640-393 plus 640-392 combination may be taken instead of 640-393 plus 640-391 for those students wishing to do a greater amount of Laboratory work. Students taking 640-394 can also augment their Laboratory work with the smaller Laboratory subjects.)
Students who are considering Honours-level studies in Physics should construct their 300-level courses with a view to meeting the prerequisites described in the Bachelor of Science (Honours) section of this Handbook.
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 also that all students specialising in Physics must enrol in 640-310 Physics Undergraduate Seminar.
Physics 640-121 + 640-122 or 640-141 + 640-142, Mathematics 620-121, 620-122, and 620-132 or 620-141, 620-142, and 620-130 (620-200 or 620-211, equivalent to 620-112, 620-122, being taken at 200-level), with either Scientific Programming and Simulation 620-131 or 620-160 Experimental Design and Data Analysis and one of Chemistry 610-141 + 610-142, or 610-161 + 610-162, Earth Sciences 625-101 and 625-102, Biology 600-141 + 600-142 or Computer Science 433-141 and 433-142
Physics:
Mathematics:
Plus two or more subjects selected from:
Physics:
Mathematics:
Chemistry:
Analytical Chemistry and Spectroscopic Methods 610-260
For information about the Faculty and departmental entry requirements for Honours, please refer to Bachelor of Science (Honours) and Bachelor of Information Systems (Honours). These requirements should be considered when planning your course.
640-121 Physics (Advanced) A
640-122 Physics (Advanced) B
640-141 Physics A
640-142 Physics B
640-161 Physics: Principles and Applications A
640-162 Physics: Principles and Applications B
640-176 The Solar System and the Cosmos
640-177 Stars and Galaxies
640-221 Special Relativity (Advanced)
640-223 Quantum Mechanics (Advanced)
640-224 Classical Mechanics (Advanced)
640-225 Electromagnetism (Advanced)
640-226 Thermal Physics (Advanced)
640-227 Optics (Advanced)
640-229 Quantum Structure of Matter (Advanced)
640-241 Special Relativity
640-243 Quantum Mechanics
640-244 Classical Mechanics
640-245 Electromagnetism
640-246 Thermal Physics
640-247 Optics
640-249 Quantum Structure of Matter
640-251 Electronics and Instrumentation
640-261 Energy and Environment
640-299 Laboratory Work
640-310 Physics Undergraduate Seminar
640-321 Quantum Mechanics (Advanced)
640-322 Thermal Physics (Advanced)
640-323 Electrodynamics (Advanced)
640-324 Microphysics (Advanced)
640-341 Quantum Mechanics
640-342 Thermal Physics
640-343 Electrodynamics
640-344 Quantum Systems
640-351 Modern Optics
640-353 Solid State Physics
640-354 Nuclear Physics
640-355 Classical and Modern Mechanics
640-356 Theoretical Methods for Physics
640-361 Astrophysics
640-363 Particle Physics
640-364 Computational Physics
640-381 Physics Project A
640-382 Physics Project B
640-391 Laboratory Work
640-392 Laboratory Work
640-393 Laboratory Work
640-394 Laboratory Work
640-005, 640-006, 640-029 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
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Status: Official 1998 Last Modified: Tuesday October 21 17:12 SGML to HTML Conversion: Information Technology Services Authorised by: Academic Registrar Email Enquiries: Course_Information@registrar.unimelb.edu.au