PHYSICS 201 : Classical and Thermal Physics

Science

2021 Semester One (1213) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Classical mechanics and thermal physics. Key topics are linear and rotational motion in three dimensions, fluids, oscillations and mechanical waves, and the laws of thermodynamics. The course will cover both fundamental principles and applied topics, such as planetary dynamics and spacecraft navigation, ultrasound, atmospheric physics and materials science.

Course Overview

An advanced physics course covering classical mechanics and thermal physics. Key topics are linear and rotational motion in three dimensions, fluids, oscillations and mechanical waves, and the laws of thermodynamics. The course will cover both fundamental principles and applied topics, such as planetary dynamics and spacecraft navigation, ultrasound, atmospheric physics and materials science. This course is a core physics course and builds upon the content of PHYSICS 121 and is required for most stage 3 physics courses. The course includes lectures, assessed tutorials to help gain the skills in physics problem solving and a laboratory component for students to develop skills in experimental techniques.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: 15 points from PHYSICS 120, 121, 150 and 15 points from ENGSCI 211, MATHS 208, 250, PHYSICS 211 Restriction: PHYSICS 230, 231

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Science

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Summarise the main concepts and theories of classical and thermal physics. (Capability 1)
  2. Solve problems in classical and thermal physics, both approximately to an order-of-magnitude and in detail, by combining their knowledge of physics and maths. (Capability 2 and 3)
  3. Solve these problems analytically, numerically and computationally. (Capability 2 and 3)
  4. Design and perform experiments to solve problems and demonstrate physical theories. (Capability 3 and 5)
  5. Describe and communicate their experimental method and results clearly so others can reproduce it. (Capability 4)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignments 20% Individual Coursework
Tutorials 15% Group & Individual Coursework
Laboratories 20% Individual Coursework
Final Exam 45% Individual Examination
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5
Assignments
Tutorials
Laboratories
Final Exam

You must pass the laboratory work separately.

Special Requirements

You must pass the laboratory work separately.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 3 hours of lectures, a 1 hour tutorial, an average of 2 hours laboratory work (8 sessions of 3 hours), 2 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 2 hours of work on assignments.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including labs and tutorials to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials and labs will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events.
Attendance on campus is required for the exam.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

The textbook for Mechanics is Classical Mechanics (5th ed. 2004) by Kibble and Berkshire, but we only recommend you buy a copy if you are planning to do PHYSICS 331 next year. There are other similar texts, and it’s available online via the library.

The suggested, non-compulsory textbooks for Thermodynamics are (listed in order of increasing difficulty):
Thermodynamics for Dummies by Michael Pauken, 2011;
Basic Thermodynamics by Gerald Carrington, 2003;
Atmospheric Thermodynamics by C. Bohren and B. Albrecht, 1998;
Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics by W. Greiner, L. Neise, and H. Stocker, 1995.
Thermodynamics calculations build heavily on multivariable calculus. The following mathematics textbooks (available online in the library) are useful:
Student’s Guide to Basic Multivariable Calculus by F. Soon and K. Pao, 1993;
A First Course in Calculus by Serge Lang, 1986.

Student Feedback

During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the staff responsible for the course and staff-student consultative committees.

At the end of the course students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback.

Your feedback helps to improve the course and its delivery for all students.

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.

You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

The followings apply to teaching and learning activities at the different COVID-19 alert levels.

  • Level 1: Delivered normally as specified in delivery mode
  • Level 2: You will not be required to attend in person. All teaching and assessment will have a remote option. The following activities may have an on campus / in person option: lectures, labs, and tutorials. Note that permission is required for any on campus teaching at level 2, and there is no obligation to deliver any on-campus activity at level 2.
  • Level 3 / 4: All teaching activities and assessments are delivered remotely

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 16/02/2021 11:17 a.m.