640-141 Physics A

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.

VCE Unit 3/4 Physics and Mathematical Methods or equivalent. VCE Unit 3/4 Specialist Mathematics or equivalent is recommended but not required.

This subject is designed for students with a sound background in physics. It aims to provide students with an understanding of a broad range of physics principles together with the application of these principles to physical and biological situations.

Students completing this subject will be able to:

• explain the basic principles of translational and rotational mechanics, waves and thermal physics;

• apply these principles, together with mathematical reasoning, to situations in the physical and biological sciences; and

• acquire and interpret experimental data.

In addition students will be able to:

• participate as an effective member of tutorial, laboratory and study groups;

• communicate their understanding of physics orally and in written form in tutorials, lab classes and study groups; and

• manage their time commitments to this subject in order to be prepared for regular lab and tutorial classes as well as tests and examination.

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

Ongoing assessment of laboratory work during the semester (25%); up to three tests totalling up to two hours during the semester (10%); a 3-hour written examination in the examination period (65%). Satisfactory completion of laboratory work is necessary to pass the subject.

• D Halliday, R Resnick and J Walker, Fundamentals of Physics. 7th edn, Wiley, 2005.