PHYS111-17S1 (C) Semester One 2017

Introductory Physics for Physical Sciences and Engineering

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 20 February 2017
End Date: Sunday, 25 June 2017
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 5 March 2017
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 21 May 2017

Description

Classical dynamics, oscillations, temperature and heat, D.C. circuits, geometrical optics and interference, nuclear physics.

PHYS111 is designed for students who need to strengthen their background in physics before taking one or more of the advancing 100-level physics papers required for further study in physical sciences or engineering. Many of the topics covered in the course form part of the present high school physics syllabus, but will be reinforced and extended here in a more quantitative manner.

Syllabus
Term 1 : Dynamics
Motion in one and two dimensions; Newton's laws; work and energy; systems of particles and centre of mass; momentum; collisions; rotations; oscillations and waves.
Term 2 : Waves, Optics, Heat, Electricity and Nuclear Physics
Electromagnetic waves; polarization; reflection and refraction; lenses; light as a wave; electrical circuits; heat; the nucleus; the big bang.

Learning Outcomes

To learn the basic laws of physics AND to see that physics can be interesting and relevant to your daily experiences! PHYS111 is a Semester 1 course designed for students who do not have a strong background in Physics. Success in PHYS111 will give you a good foundation for PHYS101 (offered in Semester 1 and Semester 2). PHYS111 is a ‘non-calculus’ course but does assume previous knowledge of Physics and Mathematics. If you have no background in Physics or Mathematics then you will have to work hard to keep up.

Restrictions

Students who have been credited with any of PHYS101, PHYS102, PHYS113 or PHYS114 cannot subsequently be credited with PHYS111.

Timetable Note

Tutorials will be held in small groups on level 2 of the Physics and Astronomy building.

Satisfactory laboratory performance is a requirement for a pass in this course. Satisfactory performance is required in the production of laboratory reports and in tutorial preparation.  We also strongly recommend attendance at lectures and tutorials so that you are familiar with all the course content. 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 Writing Assessment Programme test.

Course Coordinator / Lecturer

Roger Reeves

Guest Lecturer

Mackay Salley (Erskine Visitor)

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage  Description
Online problems 10% via WebAssign
Final Exam 50%
Laboratory work 20% 10% for lab book checkpoint marking; 10% for two lab reports
Term Test 15% 1 hour
Tutorial 5% Marks for active participation.


FINAL EXAMINATION

The final examination will be a three-hour written exam: date time place to be announced.  This will count 50% toward your final mark in the course. It tests your grasp of the lectures, problems done on-line and in tutorials, and reading material. Bring your own calculator. Calculators must be approved – look out for announcements on how to get this done.

To pass the course you must pass the final exam AND greater than 50% for the course overall.

Previous years exam papers are downloadable from the library website and available on Learn.

Textbooks / Resources

Recommended Reading

Serway, Raymond A. , Vuille, Chris; Essentials of college physics ; Thomson-Brooks/Cole, 2007.

Course links

Course and content (597KB)

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

Additional Course Outline Information

Academic integrity

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $848.00

International fee $3,713.00

* 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 PHYS111 Occurrences

  • PHYS111-17S1 (C) Semester One 2017