Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
100-level Laboratory Professional Officer
Danny Cochran
Contact via danny.cochran@mq.edu.au
E7B 122
Unit Convenor
James Downes
Contact via james.downes@mq.edu.au
E6B 2.710
Monday 12-1, Wednesday 12-1
Senior Tutor
Alexei Gilchrist
Contact via alexei.gilchrist@mq.edu.au
E6B 2.610
Lecturer
Mark Wardle
Contact via mark.wardle@mq.edu.au
E6B 2.702
Lecturer
Jason Twamley
Contact via jason.twamley@mq.edu.au
E6B 2.612
Senior Tutor
Rich Mildren
Contact via rich.mildren@mq.edu.au
E6B 2.606
Senior Tutor
Andrei Zvyagin
Contact via andrei.zvyagin@mq.edu.au
E6B 2.707
Senior Tutor
Alex Fuerbach
Contact via alex.fuerbach@mq.edu.au
E6B 2.608
Senior Tutor
Ewa Goldys
Contact via ewa.goldys@mq.edu.au
E6B 2.704
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Credit points |
Credit points
3
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
HSC Mathematics Band 4
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
MATH135 or MATH136 or MATH132 or MATH133
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
This unit, together with PHYS143, gives an overview of physics, which aims to discover and understand the fundamental laws of nature and use them to explain the phenomena that occur in the universe. This unit includes a broad range of topics suitable for engineering students or those majoring in any of the sciences. Students are introduced to the central topics of classical physics, the physics that describes what we observe in day-to-day life, namely the mechanical, electrical and magnetic behaviour of matter. Topics include: measurement and vectors; Newton's laws of motion; momentum and energy; gravitation; electric charge; electric field and potential; capacitance; simple direct-current circuits; the origin of magnetic fields; and electromagnetic induction.
The language of physics is mathematics. Much of what physics has to say can be described using straightforward algebra and calculus from the HSC Mathematics course. This approach is taken. It gives a distinct advantage: a quantitative and usefully different perspective to topics than may be encountered in units of study in biology, chemistry or earth sciences. Regular guided laboratory work enables students to investigate the phenomena discussed in the lectures, using modern techniques in a well-equipped laboratory.
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Macquarie University uses a standards-based assessment system and, as such, satisfactory performance in all aspects of the unit assessment is required to pass the unit overall.
Name | Weighting | Due |
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Tutorial quizzes | 20% | Tutorial class |
Mid-session Exam | 15% | 7 September 2015 |
Laboratory Work | 20% | End of each Lab session |
Final Examination | 45% | See Examination Timetable |
Due: Tutorial class
Weighting: 20%
During the session, in weeks 1-12, you will be provided with a set of assigned problems based on the previous week's lecture topics. The week following, in your registered tutorial class, you will complete a 10 minute quiz closely based on one of these assigned problems. These quizzes will be marked by your tutor and returned with feedback. Your best 8 quiz scores (out of a possible 12) will contribute a total of 20% to your final mark.
Due: 7 September 2015
Weighting: 15%
A mid-session exam will be held in the 9am lecture time slot on Monday the 7th of September i.e. the beginning of week 7. This 50-minute exam will cover content from weeks 1-4 inclusive. Further details will be provided in lectures leading up to this date.
Due: End of each Lab session
Weighting: 20%
The laboratory work is designed to introduce you to some of the basic skills and techniques that are used in experimental physical science, and forms an important component of your learning in PHYS140.
All your work must be recorded directly into your laboratory notebook. More detailed instructions and advice will be provided in iLearn and in the laboratory.
Your laboratory notebook will be assessed by one of the demonstrators at the end of each session. Your laboratory notebook stays with the laboratory throughout the semester.
The laboratory component of the unit is compulsory and all experiments must be successfully completed to pass the unit overall. Only under exceptional circumstances will extra catch up sessions be organised; you are responsible for ensuring that you complete all experiments as required during your registered laboratory class.
Due: See Examination Timetable
Weighting: 45%
You are expected to present yourself for examination at the time and place designated in the University Examination Timetable (http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au/exam/).
The final examination will be three hours long and will cover all content not already covered by the mid-session exam. The examination is closed book. A resource sheet of relevant equations and physical constants will be provided.
The use of calculators in examinations for this unit is permitted but, in accordance with the Science Faculty's policy, calculators with a full alphabet on the keyboard are not allowed.
Audio recordings and copies of slides from lectures will be available in iLearn through the Echo360 system. By virtue of the activities that occur in a physics lecture (demonstrations, problem solving) making use of these resources is not equivalent to attending. These resources are good for review and revision.
The use of calculators in the laboratory classes, when completing quizzes, in the in-session exam and in the final examination for this unit is usually necessary. In accordance with the Science Faculty's policy, calculators with a full alphabet on the keyboard are not allowed in the quizzes, in-session exam or the final examination.
This unit consists of three different formal types of activity:
1. Lectures, in which new material is presented, discussed and illustrated by examples and demonstrations.
Attending lectures is an important part of studying physics since it allows you to gain an insight into the subject matter that reading a textbook alone cannot provide. The lecturers can explain the concepts from several points of view, can point out and explain the most important aspects of the material and, very importantly, can illustrate the relationships and connections between the different concepts that are studied in PHYS140 – no subject in physics stands on its own.
2. Compulsory weekly tutorial, in which examples illustrating the material are presented for discussion (with fellow class mates and tutors) and problem solving methods are practiced. Tutorials in weeks 2-13 will have a 10 minute quiz at some point in them, based on one of the assigned problems issued the previous week. Tutorials form an important learning component of PHYS140 and are therefore compulsory. Students who do not attend at least 10 tutorial classes will be deemed to have failed to satisfactorily meet the learning outcomes of the unit and will therefore receive a failing grade.
3. 3-hour laboratory sessions, in which you will develop skills in making measurements of physical phenomena and in the interpretation of collected data. Laboratory classes are compulsory and students who do not attend all laboratory classes will be deemed to have failed to satisfactorily meet the learning outcomes of the unit and will therefore receive a failing grade.
Lecture and tutorial times - See more detailed unit guide provided in iLearn or your timetable.
Study material is hosted on the iLearn webpage for the unit http://ilearn.mq.edu.au
Students are also encouraged to sign up to the Wiley Plus website to make use of the extended learning resources available there - including interactive problem solving resources. Instructions will be provided in lectures.
Tutorial classes are now a compulsory component of PHYS140.
The content of the unit is based on the following chapters of the textbook, "Fundamentals of Physics" by Halliday, Resnick, & Walker:
• Mechanics (Dr James Downes (Weeks 1-6)): Chapters 1-13, 15 (Extended 10th edition)
• Electricity and Magnetism (Prof Mark Wardle (Weeks 7-9), Prof Jason Twamley(Weeks 10-13)): Chapters 21-30 (Extended 10th edition)
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html
Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html
Grading Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html
Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.
In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/
Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
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This graduate capability is supported by:
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This graduate capability is supported by:
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