Physics 1 introduces the fundamentals of university physics, and should be taken by all students planning to major or minor in physics.
The course focuses on using modelling and estimation to figure out the physics of complex real-world situations, on applying the mathematical concepts of vectors and vector fields, and on experimental skills. It is taught in small-group hands-on workshops and laboratories.
Syllabus: Mechanics, point-particle models, contact forces, rigid body models and rotation. Theory and practice of DC circuits and simple AC circuits. Thermal physics and heat transfer. Writing computer programs to numerically model dynamical situations, and to plot and fit data. Measuring and calculating uncertainties, interpreting uncertain data. Vectors and vector fields. Electrostatics, magnetostatics and induction.
Honours Pathway Option (HPO)
More advanced options are available in this course.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Construct and use appropriate physical models for complex, real-world physics problems in the fields of mechanics and thermal physics.
- Quickly estimate order-of-magnitude values for a wide range of physical quantities.
- Measure and calculate uncertainties, and interpret uncertain data.
- Use computer programs to analyse data and to model complex physical systems.Become proficient with vectors and vector fields
- Use vectors and vector fields to calculate electric and magnetic fields.
- Construct and analyse DC and simple AC circuits
Indicative Assessment
- Weekly online homework (10) [LO 1,2,3,4,5,6]
- Weekly written homework (20) [LO 1,2,3,4,5,6]
- Weekly laboratory write-up (10) [LO 1,3,4,6]
- Final written exam (40) [LO 1,2,3,5,6]
- Final Laboratory exam (20) [LO 3,4,6]
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Workload
The expected workload will consist of approximately 130 hours throughout the semester including:
- Face-to face component which will consist of 1 x 3 hour laboratory and 1 x 2 hour workshop per week.
- Approximately 70 hours of self-study which will include listening/viewing the online lectures, preparation for the weekly online lectures, workshops/labs and other assessment tasks.
Inherent Requirements
To be determined
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
None
Assumed Knowledge
There is no formal physics prerequisite but preparation is assumed and recommended. Recommended preparation is - NSW: a high standard in 2 unit physics or a multistrand science; ACT: a high standard in physics (major). Students without this level of preparation should take PHYS1001 first. You also need to meet the requirements of the maths co-requisites.Minors
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 2
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $4440 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $6360 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
First Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3746 | 19 Feb 2024 | 26 Feb 2024 | 05 Apr 2024 | 24 May 2024 | In Person | View |
Second Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8746 | 22 Jul 2024 | 29 Jul 2024 | 31 Aug 2024 | 25 Oct 2024 | In Person | View |