PHYS101-25S2 (C) Semester Two 2025

Engineering Physics A: Mechanics, Waves, Electromagnetism and Thermal Physics

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 14 July 2025
End Date: Sunday, 9 November 2025
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 27 July 2025
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 28 September 2025

Description

This is a required course for all Engineering Programmes as well as Physics and Astronomy degrees. PHYS101 builds on NCEA level 3 physics to develop Mechanics, Conservation Laws, Fluids, Waves, Thermal Physics, and Electromagnetism into an essential foundation for science and technology understanding.

Your first reference for all matters related to PHYS101 should be the course outline this is available on LEARN and in the "Course Links" below.  This will be updated as information becomes available throughout  the course. You should also examine the discussion forums on the course web pages (see LEARN section in this document) and ask general questions in those forums.

Any queries about information not covered in this course outline should be directed to the email address  below,  please  email  only that address as this helps to ensure that your questions are
answered by the appropriate person. You should make the subject line of your email informative enough so that the issue you have can be identified from that subject line.

EMAIL: physics101@canterbury.ac.nz

Learning Outcomes

The goal of this course is to provide foundation knowledge of Mechanics, Conservation Laws, Fluids, Waves, Thermal Physics and Electromagnetism for students advancing in physical science and engineering degrees.  Students will obtain basic competency in analysing and solving physical problems in these areas.  They will also obtain basic physics laboratory skills and data analysis techniques.

Prerequisites

1) a) PHYS111 or NCEA 14 credits (18 credits strongly recommended) at level 3 Physics, and b) MATH101 or EMTH117 or 14 Credits (18 credits strongly recommended) at level 3 Mathematics (including the standards 'Apply differentiation methods in solving problems (91578)' and 'Apply integration methods in solving problems(91579)), or
2) Cambridge: D at A level or an A at AS level in both Physics and Mathematics, or
3) IB: 4 at HL or 6 at SL in both Physics and Mathematics, or
4) a) TRNS008 with a B+ or better grade, and b) TRNS017, or
5) approval of the Head of Department based on alternative prior learning.

Restrictions

PHYS113, PHYS112

Equivalent Courses

PHYS113

Timetable 2025

Students must attend one activity from each section.

Lecture A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Monday 11:00 - 12:00 C1 Lecture Theatre
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
02 Monday 14:00 - 15:00 C2 Lecture Theatre
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
Lecture B
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Tuesday 10:00 - 11:00 C2 Lecture Theatre
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
02 Tuesday 14:00 - 15:00 C1 Lecture Theatre
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
Lecture C
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Wednesday 10:00 - 11:00 C1 Lecture Theatre
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
02 Wednesday 14:00 - 15:00 C2 Lecture Theatre
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
Drop in Class A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Friday 14:00 - 15:00 C2 Lecture Theatre
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
Lab A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Monday 13:00 - 16:00 Ernest Rutherford 320 Physics Lab
14 Jul - 20 Jul
28 Jul - 3 Aug
11 Aug - 17 Aug
8 Sep - 14 Sep
22 Sep - 28 Sep
6 Oct - 12 Oct
02 Tuesday 11:00 - 14:00 320 Physics Lab Space
Ernest Rutherford 319
14 Jul - 20 Jul
28 Jul - 3 Aug
11 Aug - 17 Aug
8 Sep - 14 Sep
22 Sep - 28 Sep
6 Oct - 12 Oct
03 Tuesday 15:00 - 18:00 320 Physics Lab Space
Ernest Rutherford 319
14 Jul - 20 Jul
28 Jul - 3 Aug
11 Aug - 17 Aug
8 Sep - 14 Sep
22 Sep - 28 Sep
6 Oct - 12 Oct
04 Wednesday 11:00 - 14:00 320 Physics Lab Space
Ernest Rutherford 319
14 Jul - 20 Jul
28 Jul - 3 Aug
11 Aug - 17 Aug
8 Sep - 14 Sep
22 Sep - 28 Sep
6 Oct - 12 Oct
05 Wednesday 15:00 - 18:00 320 Physics Lab Space
Ernest Rutherford 319
14 Jul - 20 Jul
28 Jul - 3 Aug
11 Aug - 17 Aug
8 Sep - 14 Sep
22 Sep - 28 Sep
6 Oct - 12 Oct
06 Thursday 15:00 - 18:00 320 Physics Lab Space
Ernest Rutherford 319
14 Jul - 20 Jul
28 Jul - 3 Aug
11 Aug - 17 Aug
8 Sep - 14 Sep
22 Sep - 28 Sep
6 Oct - 12 Oct
07 Monday 13:00 - 16:00 320 Physics Lab Space
Ernest Rutherford 319
21 Jul - 27 Jul
4 Aug - 10 Aug
18 Aug - 24 Aug
15 Sep - 21 Sep
29 Sep - 5 Oct
13 Oct - 19 Oct
08 Tuesday 11:00 - 14:00 320 Physics Lab Space
Ernest Rutherford 319
21 Jul - 27 Jul
4 Aug - 10 Aug
18 Aug - 24 Aug
15 Sep - 21 Sep
29 Sep - 5 Oct
13 Oct - 19 Oct
09 Tuesday 15:00 - 18:00 320 Physics Lab Space
Ernest Rutherford 319
21 Jul - 27 Jul
4 Aug - 10 Aug
18 Aug - 24 Aug
15 Sep - 21 Sep
29 Sep - 5 Oct
13 Oct - 19 Oct
10 Wednesday 11:00 - 14:00 320 Physics Lab Space
Ernest Rutherford 319
21 Jul - 27 Jul
4 Aug - 10 Aug
18 Aug - 24 Aug
15 Sep - 21 Sep
29 Sep - 5 Oct
13 Oct - 19 Oct
11 Wednesday 15:00 - 18:00 320 Physics Lab Space
Ernest Rutherford 319
21 Jul - 27 Jul
4 Aug - 10 Aug
18 Aug - 24 Aug
15 Sep - 21 Sep
29 Sep - 5 Oct
13 Oct - 19 Oct
12 Thursday 15:00 - 18:00 320 Physics Lab Space
Ernest Rutherford 319
21 Jul - 27 Jul
4 Aug - 10 Aug
18 Aug - 24 Aug
15 Sep - 21 Sep
29 Sep - 5 Oct
13 Oct - 19 Oct
Optional A (Optional)
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Monday 16:00 - 17:00 Rata 222 & 223 Drawing Office (14/7-4/8)
Ernest Rutherford 140 (11/8-18/8, 8/9-13/10)
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
Optional B (Optional)
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Tuesday 09:00 - 10:00 Beatrice Tinsley 111
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
Tutorial A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Thursday 13:00 - 14:00 Ernest Rutherford 260
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
02 Thursday 16:00 - 17:00 Psychology - Sociology 210
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
03 Friday 09:00 - 10:00 Jack Erskine 445
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
04 Friday 15:00 - 16:00 Jack Erskine 441
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
05 Wednesday 15:00 - 16:00 Karl Popper 612
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
06 Wednesday 16:00 - 17:00 Jack Erskine 244
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
07 Friday 08:00 - 09:00 Psychology - Sociology 456
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
08 Thursday 09:00 - 10:00 A7
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
09 Wednesday 17:00 - 18:00 Psychology - Sociology 456
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
10 Thursday 09:00 - 10:00 Psychology - Sociology 210
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
11 Thursday 14:00 - 15:00 James Logie 105
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
12 Thursday 10:00 - 11:00 John Britten 117 HP Seminar Room
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
13 Friday 11:00 - 12:00 Ernest Rutherford 141
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
14 Friday 12:00 - 13:00 Ernest Rutherford 465
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
15 Friday 09:00 - 10:00 Karl Popper 612
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
16 Friday 11:00 - 12:00 Elsie Locke 104A
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
17 Friday 13:00 - 14:00 Karl Popper 612
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
18 Thursday 15:00 - 16:00 Psychology - Sociology 210
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
19 Thursday 11:00 - 12:00 John Britten 117 HP Seminar Room
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
20 Thursday 11:00 - 12:00 Rehua 002 Lectorial
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
21 Thursday 10:00 - 11:00 Jack Erskine 443
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
22 Thursday 12:00 - 13:00 James Logie 105
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
23 Thursday 13:00 - 14:00 Ernest Rutherford 225
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
24 Thursday 14:00 - 15:00 Beatrice Tinsley 111
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
25 Thursday 08:00 - 09:00 Psychology - Sociology 210
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
26 Thursday 08:00 - 09:00 Jack Erskine 441
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
27 Thursday 12:00 - 13:00 Jack Erskine 121
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct

Course Coordinator / Lecturer

Adrian McDonald

Lecturers

Martin Allen and Jenni Adams

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage  Description
Final Exam 50%
Laboratory 10% Marks will be assigned based on lab book checkpoint marking and laboratory participation
Test A 15%
Test B 15%
Tutorial 10% Marks for active participationand an ‘honest attempt’ at two of the assigned questions before the session. Maximum grade can be achieved for participation in 10 out of the 11sessions.


Satisfactory performance in the laboratory work and a 40% mark in the final exam are required to pass the course. If your score in the exam improves on your average test mark, the exam will count for 80% of your grade.

Additional Course Outline Information

Academic integrity

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $1,036.00

International fee $5,188.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see School of Physical & Chemical Sciences .

All PHYS101 Occurrences