640-142 Physics B

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. It will be assumed that students are familiar with the content of 640-141 Physics A.

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 electromagnetism: electrostatics, circuits, magnetism, electric and magnetic properties of matter, Maxwell's equations, electromagnetic waves; quantum theory: historical foundations, wave and particle properties of electrons and photons; and atomic and nuclear physics: atomic and nuclear structure, X-rays, radioactivity; and nuclear radiations, fission and fusion, nuclear power.

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 satisfactorily to obtain a pass.

• D Halliday, R Resnick and J Walker, Fundamentals of Physics. 6th extended ed., Wiley, 2001.