Physics 1A and Higher Physics 1A

Session 1, 2006

COURSE OUTLINE, CONTENT AND DETAILS

This document was made in accordance with the UNSW guidelines on course information and so follows a fixed format. Much more information about this course (lecture notes, past papers, news, resources etc) is available from the course home page at http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/~jw/mechanics.html.

Most administrative matters are handled by the First Year Office at http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/COURSES/FIRST_YEAR/index.html. The Office is located on the lower ground floor of the Old Main Building, near the entrance from the Physics Courtyard (K13 on the university map.)

Course staff
Course information
Teaching formats and assessment
Course schedule
Resources for students
Assumed knowledge
Conduct and misconduct

Course staff

PHYS1121 and PHYS1131 are taught by a large team of people. In S1 2006, the lecturers are Prof Joe Wolfe (first seven weeks) and Prof Michael Burton (second seven weeks). Tutorial and laboratory staff details will be advised from time to time. Contact details and consultation times for your particular teachers will be arranged at classes. Tutors-on-duty are available at advertised times in the First Year Study Area. These hours are increased at busy times preceding tests. (Look under 'news' on the First Year site.)

Course information

Six units of credit

Three hours of lectures, two hours of lab and one hour of tutorial each week. In Session one, there are parallel lecture streams: see Course schedule.
PHYS1121 is the standard introduction to physics in first year. PHYS1131 has the same syllabus, but covers more difficult problems and has more challenging assessment. These two courses are commonly taken by science and engineering students. PHYS 1111 is an introductory level course for those with lesser mathematical skills. (Phys 1111 is often taken by biology majors.) See syllabi in First Year Physics.
Learning and Teaching Philosophy. This is not a course about physics — it is physics. This point is worthy of reflection, especially for students coming from the NSW HSC. Here you will learn physics by doing it, by solving problems, whether on paper or in the lab. Concepts and principles are learned in context, by example and then by development. It is important to understand the limits of applicability. Mathematical skills (such as solving simultaneous and differential equations) are essential tools in much problem solving. However, the art of problem solving in physics is understanding the principles and where they apply, and how and when to use them and the relevant mathematical or other tools.
Aims. This course gives an introduction to mechanics, thermal physics, electricity and magnetism and to techniques of analysis and problem solving in the physical world. With its companion subject (PHYS1221, Physics 1B or PHYS1231 Higher Physics 1B), this constitutes a broad introduction to physics. This background supports higher level study not only in physics, but in engineering and technology, chemistry, biology and other areas.
Learning outcomes. By the end of this course, you will understand the important principles and laws of classical mechanics, thermal physics, electricity and magnetism and you will be able
- to interpret problems involving these areas of physics,
- to analyse and to quantify them, invoking appropriate principles,
- to solve such problems and to interpret the solutions
- to plan an experimental investigation,
- to make careful measurements,
- to analyse experimental results, to test hypotheses and to discuss their implications.

Teaching formats and assessment

Lectures are used to present theoretical and practical material and to teach some of the skills of physical analysis and problem solving. These skills and the understanding of principles are rehearsed in the Tutorial classes, and are assessed in Tests and Quizzes. These consist largely of problem solving exercises, rather similar to those in student homework and tutorials.
Because problem solving is such a big part of your assessment (80%), your diligent work on tutorial problems is vital to your success.
The Laboratory classes teach skills in planning an investigation, experimentation, measurement, analysis and hypothesis testing. The laboratory component is assessed in the lab.

Assessment

Lab (cummulative mark) - 20%
Tutorial quizzes - 10%. Conducted during session
Test 1 OR Test 1R, whichever mark is greater, 35%
Test 2 - 35%
- Test 1 is mid-session (90 mins + 10 mins reading).
- Test 2 and test 1R are both 90 minute papers, but they are conducted together at end of session, during the exam period. You will have 180 mins + 10 mins reading. You may spend all 180 minutes on Test 2.
Labs are run and assessed independently from lectures.

Course schedule

There are many tutorial and lab times. These are centrally allocated and appear on your timetable.

In Session one, there are parallel lecture streams. The lectures for PHYS1121 and PHYS1131 are identical. Students are assigned into three groups (A, B, C) for lectures. See your timetable for the group to which you are assigned. Each group comprises both 1121 and 1131 students and each has the same lecturer. 1121 and 1131 separate for tutorials and exams. (The C group was created due to unexpected enrolments, and may be merged with the other groups, depending on numbers.)

	A group lectures Physics Theatre	B group lectures Keith Burrows Theatre	C group lectures Keith Burrows Theatre
Lecture 1	Mon 1-2	Mon 12-1	Tue 11-12
Lecture 2	Wed 5-6	Wed 11-12	Wed 3-4
Lecture 3	Fri 11-12	Thur 11-12	Fri 3-4

The Physics Theatre is off the foyer of the Old Main Building, (K14 on the university map.) The Keith Burrows Theatre is immediately to the North of the Physics Theatre (J14 on the university map.) The building is large. Here is a floor plan, showing locations of theatres, labs and tutorial rooms.

Resources for students

The textbook is "Physics for Scientists and Engineers with Modern Physics" by Serway and Jewett. The support site for Serway and Jewett includes interactive tutorials and a range of help. For most of the material you need a code that you get when you buy the book.
Other reading materials, student resources and web links are given on the course web site.

Assumed mathematical knowledge

Plotting and reading graphs

Appropriate use of significant figures

Solving quadratic equations

Trigonometric functions and some identities

Exponential and log

Solving simultaneous equations

Differentiation and integration

Solving simple differential equations

The following sections will be very rapid

The introduction to vector addition and subtraction, vector components and resolving vectors will be rapid.
Some of the assumed mathematical knowledge, such as graphs, significant figures, calculus and vectors is presented in Physclips, a collection of multimedia tutorials and web pages.

Assumed physics knowledge

Officially, none. We shall start with kinematics, vectors and Newton's laws. However, we'll go quickly through parts of mechanics (eg projectiles) and electromagentism, so a background in physics will be a distinct advantage. Those without it will have to work very hard.

Assumed history/geography knowledge

MB is for Movern-Brown building (History Dept)
OMB is for Old Main Building (Physics)

Conduct and misconduct

Please take time to read the UNSW policy on academic misconduct and student misconduct, including plagiarism, which is at https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/academiclife/assessment/AcademicMisconductStudentMisconduct.html, and which is linked from the course web site. In other words, make sure you know the University's code of conduct. We know that nearly all students are honest and that most of the document is pretty obvious. However, please read it. The excuse "I didn't know it was wrong" is not acceptable.

Please respect the rights of your fellow students by providing an environment in which it is easy to learn.