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 640-141 Physics A

Note

Students may only gain credit for one of 640-005, 640-121, 640-141, 640-151 and 640-161.

Students who have not completed the equivalent of VCE Specialist Mathematics Units 3 and 4 are encouraged to enrol in a Semester 1 mathematics subject concurrently with this subject.

Credit Points

12.5

HECS Band

2

Coordinator

Dr M N Thompson

Prerequisites

Physics and mathematics (two mathematics subjects are recommended) from the final year of secondary school. Students who have completed the VCE will often satisfy these requirements by having done Units 3 and 4 of Physics, Units 3 and 4 of Mathematical Methods and Units 3 and 4 of Specialist Mathematics. Students without Specialist Mathematics may enrol in this subject.

Semester

1 (view timetable)

Contact

36 lectures (three per week), 12 1-hour tutorials and 30 hours practical work (three hours per week)

Subject Description

By the completion of this subject the student should:

  • comprehend a broad range of elementary physics sufficient to lay a basis for higher year studies in physics;

  • have developed skills in applying verbal and mathematical reasoning to the understanding of elementary physical systems and in acquiring and evaluating experimental data; and

  • appreciate the power and depth of physical theory in a wide range of science and technology.

The subject provides an introduction to mechanics: kinematics and dynamics of particles and rigid bodies, gravitation, introduction to special relativity; mechanical properties of matter: fluid statics and dynamics, elasticity; mechanical waves: propagation; dynamics, superposition; and thermal physics: thermal properties of matter, thermodynamics, kinetic theory of gases, heat transfer.

Assessment

A 3-hour written examination at the end of the semester (65%); tests and/or written assignments totalling 1 hour during the semester (10%); laboratory work (25%). Students must complete satisfactorily both laboratory and assignment work to obtain a pass.

Prescribed Texts
  • D Halliday, R Resnick and J Walker, Fundamentals of Physics. 6th extended ed., Wiley, 2001.
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Status:                   Official 2001
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