PHYSICS 1200 - Physics IB

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2024

This calculus-based course completes the Level I sequence for a major in physics, and also provides a quantitative understanding of physics concepts applicable in biological and geological sciences and in Engineering. Rigid body mechanics: centre of mass, rotational motion, torque, angular momentum, equilibrium, oscillations Waves and Optics: transverse and longitudinal waves, superposition, interference, standing waves, Fourier decomposition, Fermat's principle, geometric optics, physical optics, interference, Michelson interferometers, thin film interference, diffraction, resolution of telescopes. Relativity and Quantum Physics: kinematics, time dilation, length contraction, Lorentz transformations, transformation of velocities, relativistic momentum and energy, X-rays as waves and photons, photoelectric and Compton effects, pair production, de Broglie waves, uncertainty principle, the quantum mechanical wave function. Practical problem solving.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code PHYSICS 1200
    Course Physics IB
    Coordinating Unit Physics
    Term Semester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 7 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Prerequisites PHYSICS 1100 - other students may apply to Head of Physics for exemption
    Corequisites MATHS 1012 - students may be permitted to enrol in Physics IB concurrently with MATHS 1011 on application to Head of Physics
    Incompatible PHYSICS 1201
    Assumed Knowledge MATHS 1011 or MATHS 1013
    Course Description This calculus-based course completes the Level I sequence for a major in physics, and also provides a quantitative understanding of physics concepts applicable in biological and geological sciences and in Engineering.
    Rigid body mechanics: centre of mass, rotational motion, torque, angular momentum, equilibrium, oscillations Waves and Optics: transverse and longitudinal waves, superposition, interference, standing waves, Fourier decomposition, Fermat's principle, geometric optics, physical optics, interference, Michelson interferometers, thin film interference, diffraction, resolution of telescopes. Relativity and Quantum Physics: kinematics, time dilation, length contraction, Lorentz transformations, transformation of velocities, relativistic momentum and energy, X-rays as waves and photons, photoelectric and Compton effects, pair production, de Broglie waves, uncertainty principle, the quantum mechanical wave function. Practical problem solving.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Andrew MacKinnon

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    1 demonstrate a knowledge of the physical principles that describe mechanics of rigid bodies, waves, optics, relativity and quantum physics
    2 apply physical principals to familiar and unfamiliar situations in the world we live in
    3 use the methods of algebra and calculus to make quantitative and qualitative predictions about the behaviour of physical systems while associating the correct unit with every physical quantity they use;
    4 assess the reasonableness of a solution to a problem in qualitative terms
    5 make decisions about the measurements needed to achieve an experimental objective
    6 make appropriate use of standard measurement techniques and accurately record observations while identifying random and systematic uncertainties in experiments;
    7 analyse measurements to determine quantitative results and their uncertainties and draw non trivial conclusions from experimental results;
    8 use a variety of sources to locate and synthesise relevant information
    9 work cooperatively in a team to complete a task in a limited time
    10 confidently communicate results about the physical world both orally and in writing.
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)

    Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth

    Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.

    1-8

    Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving

    Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.

    2-8, 10

    Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills

    Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.

    9-10

    Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

    Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.

    9-10
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Recommended Resources

    Kirkup, L Experimental Methods for Science and Engineering Students (2nd Edition) (Wiley) is recommended for the practical work.

    Reference books include:

    • Giancoli, D. C. Physics for Scientists and Engineers with Modern Physics, Pearson New International Edition, 4th edition (Pearson Prentice Hall).
    • Halliday, D, Resnick, R and Walker, J Fundamentals of Physics (11th Australian & New Zealand Edition)
    • Tipler, P Physics for Scientists and Engineers (6th Edition)
    • Ohanian, Physics: readable and has “interludes” or “essays” reflecting interests often expressed by students
    • Marion and Hornyak, Physics for Science and Engineering: is more mathematical than required for our courses
    • Serway, Physics for Scientists and Engineers with Modern Physics
    Online Learning

    MyUni: Teaching materials and course documentation will be posted on the MyUni website (http://myuni.adelaide.edu.au/).

  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes

    This course will be delivered by the following means:

    • 3 lectures of 1 hour per week
    • 1 workshop of 1 hour per week
    • 1 practical of 3 hours per fortnight
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    A student enrolled in a 3 unit course, such as this, should expect to spend, on average 12 hours per week on the studies required. This includes both the formal contact time required to the course (e.g., lectures and practicals), as well as non-contact time (e.g., reading and revision).

    Learning Activities Summary

    The course content will include the following:

    Coursework Content

    Rigid Body Mechanics (34%)

    • Systems of particles: centre of mass (CM), combining sub-systems, continuous distributions of matter (calculus); inertial frames and Newton's 1st Law (revised), 3rd Law (revised), motion of CM and Newton's 2nd Law for system, momentum conservation, CM frame.
    • Rotation: angular displacement, vector angular velocity and acceleration, constant angular acceleration; torque, rotational inertia, rotational 2nd law (fixed axis); calculating moments of inertia (point masses and continuous distributions, e.g. uniform disc); parallel- and perpendicular-axis theorems.
    • Angular Momentum: L = r x p and rotational 2nd Law for single particle and for system of particles; extension to CM frame with fixed-direction axis (not derived); L for rigid body, component Iw along (fixed) axis, balanced wheels; conservation of L, collapsing star (pulsar), Kepler area law, gyroscope; precession; rotational K.E., relation to work done by net torque, rolling bodies.
    • Equilibrium: Proof CM = centre of gravity (uniform field), free-body diagrams; problem-solving strategies, e.g. suspended roof/awning, box on rough floor; stability.
    • Oscillations: Springs, natural length, mass hung from spring, 2nd-order d.e., general solution via work-energy method; SHM, amplitude, phase, angular frequency, phase constant, initial conditions; relation to motion on circle; SHM K.E. and P.E.; pendula - simple, physical, and torsional.

    Waves (20%)

    • Types of waves
    • Propagation of a pulsed wave
    • Periodic wave equation
    • Principle of Superposition
    • Interference
    • Phasors
    • Fourier analysis
    • Transverse wave on a stretched string
    • Sound waves
    • Reflection and transmission at boundaries
    • Standing waves and resonance

    Optics (20%)

    • Electromagnetic spectrum
    • Wave model and polarization
    • Coherence
    • Transmission of light and reflection at boundaries
    • Huygens’ Principle
    • Fermat’s Principle and its application to reflection and refraction
    • Fresnel number and the conditions required for geometrical and physical optics.
    • Imaging – general properties
    • Refraction at spherical surfaces and thin lenses
    • Imaging using thin lenses with application to magnifying glass
    • Two-slit interference
    • Thin film interference
    • Michelson interferometry
    • Diffraction
    • Fresnel and Fraunhofer diffraction pattern of a single slit
    • Effect of diffraction on an image and the Rayleigh criterion.

    Relativity and Quantum Physics (26%)

    • Relativistic Kinematics: Speed of light, Einstein’s' Postulates, simultaneity, relativity of simultaneity, lengths perpendicular to relative motion, time dilation, proper time, twin paradox, length contraction, Lorentz transformation, addition of velocities.
    • Relativistic Dynamics: Relativistic momentum and its conservation; rest energy, K.E., and total energy; energy conservation.
    • Electromagnetic Radiation: Bragg scattering of X-rays, Planck's hypothesis for cavity radiators, photon energy and momentum, Compton scattering, Compton shift, pair creation.
    • Matter Waves: de Broglie hypotheses for momentum and energy, electron diffraction, electron microscope, Heisenberg uncertainty principles.

    Practical Work Content

    Experiments, carried out in groups of three students, selected from:

    • Conservation of Momentum
    • Thin Lenses
    • Potentiometer
    • Capacitors in AC Circuits
    • Magnetic Fields
    • Speed of Sound
    • Wheatstone Bridge
    • Telescope
    • Rotation
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment taskType of assessmentPercentage of total assessment for grading purposesHurdle (Yes/No)Outcomes being assessed
    Workshop preparation and participation Formative & Summative 10% No 1 – 4, 8 – 10
    Practical work Formative & Summative 20% Yes
    (attend all 5 practical sessions)
    1 - 10
    In – Semester Tests Formative & Summative 10% No 1-4, 10
    Written Examination Summative 60% No 1 – 4, 10
    Assessment Related Requirements

    The learning outcomes for this course are substantially dependent on laboratory experience and practice. Therefore attendance at all 5 practical sessions is compulsory.

    Assessment Detail

    The coursework result comprises a contribution from your preparation for workshops with the remainder from the in-semester tests and your written examination. The MyUNI quiz and the experimental work contribute to the result for practical work.

    Workshop preparation and participation
    Workshops are held weekly, starting in the second week. The grade for the workshop is based on the student’s preparation, participation during the workshop and post-workshop quizzes.

    Practical work
    There are five practical sessions which are all compulsory. For each practical, the student must obtain a Satisfactory result in the preparatory work, attend the practical session and submit the logbook for assessment. During the practical sessions, students work in groups of 2 or 3. The students in each group will select one of their completed experiments and cooperate to prepare a scientific poster which is presented in the final practical session. This poster will count for 25% of the practical assessment component.

    In – Semester Tests
    Up to 4 tests will occur throughout the semester.

    Examination
    The final examination will be based primarily on lecture/workshop material.

    Submission

    Submission of Assigned Work
    Assignments will be submit via MyUni, in doing so students are agreeing to the following statement:

    I declare that all material in this assessment is my own work, except where there is clear acknowledgement and reference to the work of others. I have read the University of Adelaide's Academic Honesty PolicyLinks to an external site. I give permission for any assessed assignments to be reproduced and submitted to other academic staff for the purposes of assessment and to be copied, submitted and retained in a form suitable for electronic checking of plagiarism.

    Extensions for Assessment Tasks
    Extensions of deadlines for assessment tasks may be allowed for reasonable causes. Such situations would include compassionate and medical grounds of the severity that would justify the awarding of a supplementary examination. Evidence for the grounds must be provided when an extension is requested. Students are required to apply for an extension to the Course Coordinator before the assessment task is due. Extensions will not be provided on the grounds of poor prioritising of time. The assessment extension application form can be obtained from: http://www.sciences.adelaide.edu.au/current/ 

    Late submission of assessments
    If an extension is not applied for, or not granted then a penalty for late submission will apply.  A penalty of 10% of the value of the assignment for each calendar day that the assignment is late (i.e. weekends count as 2 days), up to a maximum of 50% of the available marks will be applied. This means that an assignment that is 5 days late or more without an approved extension can only receive a maximum of 50% of the marks available for that assignment.

    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.