Advanced Physics 1 introduces foundational concepts in the areas of mechanics, electricity and magnetism. It develops skills and knowledge for solving interesting physics problems - emphasizing reasoning from fundamental principles, such as energy and momentum conservation. There are many applications to research, technology, and everyday life. The course introduces experimental and computational methods as parts of an integrated approach to physics. Advanced Physics is an essential course for any student intending to study physics in later years. Lectures focus on problem solving in teams. Topics covered include: force and momentum, special relativity, energy and work, energy quantization, gravitation, oscillating systems, electric and magnetic fields, electric potential, and electric circuits.

Honours Pathway Option

Honours pathway students will complete a self-directed project involving discovery learning which will replace half of the laboratory work.

On satisfying the requirements for this course students will:

1. Understand the fundamental principles of classical mechanics, electric and magnetic fields and simple electrical circuits.
2. Be able to apply these principles to the solution of problems, including complex problems, and to the conduct of experiments.
3. Have a basic understanding of uncertainty in the context of physics, and how to handle it.
4. Have basic laboratory skills including equipment skills, data gathering, record keeping, data analysis, experiment design, and presentation.
5. Have basic computational skills and be able to apply them to solving problems.

Assessment comprises:

• Laboratory write-ups (30%; LO 2, 3, 4, 5)
• Homework assignments (60%; LO 1, 2, 3, 5)
• Lecture questions (10%; LO 1, 2, 3)

Three lectures per week. Eight  three hour laboratories. One tutorial per week.

Although there are no formal prerequisites, the preparation in physics and mathematics set out below is strongly recommended.
Physics: NSW students should have attained a high standard in two unit physics or a multistrand science course. ACT students should have reached a high standard in a major in physics.
Mathematics: NSW students should have qualifications equivalent to Mathematics Extension I. ACT students should have at least a major/minor in Advanced Mathematics Extended.
Students from other states should have a similar preparation in physics and mathematics.
Students who do not meet these requirements should consider taking PHYS1001Foundations of Physics.

Mathematics at least to the standard of MATH1013

ENGN1214

The course text is R. Chaby and B. Sherwood, 2007, Matter and Interactions, 2nd edition, volumes 1 + 2 
+ WebAssign package, by . This text will also be used in the 2nd semester physics course PHYS1201. Access to the text is essential.

As an alternative to purchasing the paper text + WebAssign access, it may be rented as an online version, for the duration of the course only, by purchasing access to WebAssign and the additional WebAssign text access. The total cost of this in 2008 was USD30. This option may be suitable for those who do not intend to continue their study of physics beyond this course, and hence do not need access to the text beyond 1st semester. Note that extensive reading and study of the text is required, so the online option is only suitable for those who are comfortable reading from a computer screen.

The course text is Matter and Interactions, 2nd edition, volumes 1 and 2, by R. Chaby and B. Sherwood.