Program Overview

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Overview

The PHYS2921 unit, also known as Physics 2A (Special Studies Program), is designed to explore the fundamental interactions between energy and matter, focusing on two critical aspects: optics and thermodynamics. This unit is identical to PHYS2911 but replaces some labs with an open-ended research project, providing students with hands-on experience in experimental physics and research skills.

Unit Details and Rules

• Academic unit: Physics Academic Operations
• Credit points: 6
• Prerequisites: 75 or above in (PHYS1901 or PHYS1001 or PHYS1002 or PHYS1903) and 75 or above in (PHYS1902 or PHYS1003 or PHYS1004 or PHYS1904)
• Corequisites: None
• Prohibitions: PHYS2011 or PHYS2911
• Assumed knowledge: First year thermodynamics as studied in PHYS1001 or PHYS1901/PHYS1903
• Available to study abroad and exchange students: Yes

Teaching Staff

• Coordinator: Stefano Palomba
• Lecturer(s): Martijn de Sterke, Sahand Mahmoodian
• Project supervisor(s): Helen Johnston
• Tutor(s): Yuktee Gupta, Vasudev Mittal, Jadon Lin

Assessment

The assessment for this unit includes:

• Supervised exam: Final examination on optics and thermodynamics (45%)
• Small continuous assessment: SSP Project Group Assessment (15%)
• Online task: Early Feedback Test (1%)
• Small test: Optics Quiz (5%) and Thermodynamics Quiz (5%)
• Assignment: Experiment 1 Summary (5%) and SSP Project Report (15%)
• Participation: Tutorial Attendance (4%) and Experimental Physics Lab (5%)

Learning Support

• Simple extensions: Available for up to five calendar days
• Special consideration: For longer periods or essential commitments
• Using AI responsibly: Guidelines for the use of generative AI and automated writing tools in assessments

Weekly Schedule

• Weeks 1-7: Optics lectures and tutorials
• Weeks 7-13: Thermodynamics lectures and tutorials
• Weeks 1-5: Experimental lab, followed by SSP research project

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to:

• Understand the key concepts in optics and thermodynamics
• Apply these concepts to develop models and solve qualitative and quantitative problems
• Understand the nature of scientific measurement and skills in handling data
• Find and analyse information and judge its reliability and significance
• Communicate scientific information appropriately
• Engage in team and group work for scientific investigations
• Develop a sense of responsibility, ethical behaviour, and independence as a learner and scientist

Graduate Qualities

The University of Sydney's graduate qualities include:

• Depth of disciplinary expertise
• Critical thinking and problem-solving
• Oral and written communication
• Information and digital literacy
• Inventiveness
• Cultural competence
• Interdisciplinary effectiveness
• Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity
• Influence

Additional Information

• The optics lecture will cover topics such as geometrical optics, two-source interference, diffraction, coherence of light, and polarisation
• Thermodynamics lectures will cover the ideal gas law, internal energy, equipartition, the first and second laws, and thermodynamic potentials
• General Laboratory Safety Rules apply, including no eating or drinking, wearing laboratory coats and closed-toe shoes, and following safety instructions
• The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units

Disclaimer

The University of Sydney reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers. This unit of study outline was last modified on 11 Feb 2025.