PHYS102-16S2 (C) Semester Two 2016

Engineering Physics B: Electromagnetism, Modern Physics and 'How Things Work'

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 11 July 2016
End Date: Sunday, 13 November 2016
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 24 July 2016
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 9 October 2016

Description

An essential course for students advancing in physical sciences and engineering who need a good understanding of electromagnetism and concepts of modern physics. The first section covers the E&M necessary to understand basic circuit theory, magnetic field concepts and finally applications such as power technology and electronics. The second section introduces aspects of modern physics such as quantum effects in atoms and materials, radioactivity and nuclear processes. Finally the course finishes with a section titled "How things work - the physics behind modern technology". A series of guest lecturers will elaborate on the physics behind applications such as radar, medical imaging, data storage, lasers, etc.

A valuable course for students advancing in physical sciences and engineering who need to develop a good understanding of electromagnetism and concepts of modern physics.
The first section extends the electromagnetism of PHYS101 to DC and AC circuit theory, more advanced magnetic field concepts, which then leads to Maxwell’s equations and electromagnetic waves.
The second section introduces aspects of Modern Physics such as Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, Quantum Mechanics and finally an introduction to subatomic Particle Physics and elements of Cosmology.

Summary of the Course Content

The topics covered in this course are:
• Gauss’s Law determination of electric fields, Faraday cage
• DC circuit analysis from Kirchoff’s Laws, RC circuits
• Biot-Savart and Ampere’s Laws for magnetic field determination
• Basic AC circuits, RL and RLC
• Maxwell’s equations and electromagnetic theory
• Gravitation, Kepler’s Laws
• Special Theory of Relativity
• Introduction to Quantisation through Planck’s Law, wave-particle duality
• The quantum wavefunction and Schrodinger’s equation
• Quantum tunneling - potential barriers and wells
• Quantum theory of matter
• Particle physics, fundamental forces, quarks and the Standard Model, Cosmology.

Learning Outcomes

The goal of this course is to provide foundation knowledge of Electromagnetism and Modern Physics 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

PHYS101. These prerequisites may be replaced by other background as approved by Head of Department

Restrictions

PHYS114, PHYS115

Equivalent Courses

PHYS114

Course Coordinator

Roger Reeves

Lecturers

Steven Marsh and Mike Reid

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage  Description
Final Exam 50%
Online Homework via Web Assign 10% 12 assignments worth 1% each with a maximum credit of 10%
Laboratory 15% 10% of the course credit is based on checkpoint marks assessed by the demonstrators for your laboratory notebook during the laboratory. ONE formal report based on these weekly notes will also be required to be handed in. This report is worth 5%. Special sessions will be held to guide you in the format and style expected for these formal reports.
Tutorial participation 5% Active participation in at least 9 of 11 tutorials
Term Test 20%


For general course information in the Physics and Astronomy Department click here: http://www.phys.canterbury.ac.nz/courses/General.pdf

Textbooks / Resources

Required Texts

R. Serway, J.Jewett, K. Wilson, A. Wilson; PHYSICS VOL. 2 ; Asia-Pacific Edition; Cengage Learning Australia, 2013.

Notes

All students must demonstrate that they can communicate clearly in written and verbal English. This can be demonstrated with a satisfactory performance in the University's Academic Writing Assessment & Teaching (AWAT) Programme test.

100-level physics and astronomy course information http://www.phys.canterbury.ac.nz/courses/100level.shtml

Additional Course Outline Information

Academic integrity

Please consult the document General Information for Physics and Astronomy Students on the Physics and Astronomy Web Page.
http://www.phys.canterbury.ac.nz/courses/General.pdf

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $901.00

International fee $4,863.00

* 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 PHYS102 Occurrences