Notice
As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group learning activities on campus for the second half-year, while keeping an online version available for those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.
To check the availability of face to face activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.
Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Lab manager
Danny Cochran
Tutor
Michael Steel
Rich Mildren
David Spence
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Credit points |
Credit points
10
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
(HSC General Mathematics Band 5 and above or Mathematics Band 3 and above or Extension 1 or Extension 2)
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
This unit develops a conceptual and quantitative approach to key physics topics including: waves, light and sound; electricity; forces and motion; and thermodynamics, with illustrations of these topics using medical, biological and technological applications. It teaches students to apply their knowledge of science to solve problems; to think and reason logically and creatively; and to communicate effectively. Students will practice the basic techniques of physical measurement, data analysis and verification of theoretical models. Written communication skills for documenting laboratory work and problem-solving techniques are emphasised throughout the unit. For students who do not meet the mathematics prerequisite, please contact your course authority for details of a suitable Bridging Course. |
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:
This unit has one hurdle requirement -- completion of practical sessions.
1. SGTA participation. Each week starting from Week 1, you will find a set of tutorial problems on iLearn. We will work through those with you during the SGTA sessions. Note that we will record attendance for contact tracing purposes but SGTA attendance is not compulsory. There will be NO separate Online SGTA sessions. We highly recommend that you attempt the tutorial problems on your own BEFORE coming to the STGAs.Y
2. Completion of practical sessions. Satisfactory completion of laboratories is a hurdle requirement. You must attend all ten laboratory sessions. The first lab session is in week 1 and includes work health and safety information. Students may also be assigned to lab groups, lab books will be handed out, and computer access will be checked. The first practical session is introductory and must be attended by all students regardless of whether this is their first Physics unit or not. You can’t do subsequent lab sessions if you don’t attend the introductory one. The next 9 sessions each have a Prelab activity and a hurdle associated with them. You must obtain a mark of at least 40% for each of the laboratory sessions in order to pass the unit.
Preparation is required for each of the lab sessions 2-10. You will find the Prelab activities in the Laboratory Resources section of iLearn. Your prelab work will account for some of the marks for each laboratory session.
If you miss a session or fail to achieve at least 40% for any lab session, you must complete a “Request to schedule a Catch-up laboratory session” form, which can be found on iLearn. Read the sections below for full details about catch up classes and when they are scheduled. No more than 3 catch ups are allowed for missed labs/lab hurdles, except where Special Consideration has been approved. If you fail to attend a catch-up class, then that will count as another missed lab.
Laboratory catch-up classes will be held during the mid-semester break and at the end of semester. The dates and times of the catch up classes will be available on the “Request a catch up lab” form.
3. Final examination. This will be a 3-hour or 4-hour exam. The timetable will be available in draft form approximately eight weeks before the commencement of examinations and in final form approximately four weeks before the commencement of examinations. The only exception to not sitting the examination at the designated time is because of documented illness or unavoidable disruption. In these circumstances you may wish to apply for special consideration [https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration].
The 'estimated time on task' for each assessment item is an estimate of the additional time needed to complete each assessment outside of all scheduled learning activities. These estimates assume that you actively engage with all scheduled learning activities and spend an additional 38 hours of self-led study during the session.
If you receive special consideration for the final exam, a supplementary exam will be scheduled after the end of the normal exam period. By making a special consideration application for the final exam you are declaring yourself available for a resit during the supplementary examination period and will not be eligible for a second special consideration approval based on pre-existing commitments. Please ensure you are familiar with the policy prior to submitting an application. Approved applicants will receive an individual notification one week prior to the exam with the exact date and time of their supplementary examination.
See the following website: https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/assessment
Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
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Lab book | 25% | Yes | Week 2 -- Week 12 |
Problem sets | 25% | No | Weeks 4, 8, 11 |
Final examination | 50% | No | During the examination period |
Assessment Type 1: Lab book
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Week 2 -- Week 12
Weighting: 25%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)
Assessment of your in-lab record of practical activities, as well as any pre-lab preparation.
Assessment Type 1: Problem set
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Weeks 4, 8, 11
Weighting: 25%
A set of assignments throughout the session
Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: During the examination period
Weighting: 50%
Examination during the university exam period, covering all content from the unit.
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
Required Textbook:
Introduction to Biological Physics for the Health and Life Sciences, 2nd Edition, 2019, ISBN: 978-1-118-93450-0 OR E-text, ISBN: 978-1-118-93448-7
Teaching Strategy PHYS1210 consists of lectures, tutorials, laboratory sessions and assessment including take home assignments, laboratory reports and formal exams. All lectures will be offered online in the form of Echo recording of each lecture which is accessible from the course iLearn site. You are expected to attend all lectures. You should spend an average of 9 hours per week studying the unit.
Laboratory Sessions
The laboratory component is an essential component of your studies and so counts for an appreciable fraction of your final assessment. You will be introduced to some of the basic skills and techniques required of practicing physicists, scientists and engineers. You will be issued with a Laboratory Notebook, provided with instructional material in the form of Laboratory Notes which can be found in the Laboratory Resources section of iLearn, and assisted in the laboratory by a team of demonstrators. For each laboratory session, except in week 1, you are required to complete some preparatory work (Pre-Lab) before attending your nominated Lab session. To figure out which Prelab to do, please consult the Laboratory Schedule on iLearn.
Location: There are two laboratories used for 1st year physics they are both in 14 SCO (formerly E7B):
Room 114 (Ground floor at the North-East corner of building)
Room 254 (First floor, north-facing side of the atrium)
Please check iLearn to see where your lab class will take place.
Laboratory Safety: You are required to follow all safety guidelines given in the first Lab session, your lab notes, and the lab staff. Food and drink cannot be consumed in the lab, and students without suitable covered footwear will be refused admission.
Kinematics (Chapter 1)
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Distance and Displacement
1.3 Speed and Velocity
1.4 Acceleration
1.5 Average Velocity or Speed
1.6 Change in Displacement Under Constant Acceleration
1.7 The Acceleration Due to Gravity
Forces and Newton’s Laws of Motion (Chapter 2)
2.2 The Concept of Force
2.2 Newton’s Laws of Motion
2.3 Kinds of Force
2.4 Newtonian Gravity
2.5 Fictitious Forces
Rotational Statics (Chapter 4)
4.2 Equilibrium
4.3 Torque
4.4 The Principle of Moments
Energy (Chapter 5)
5.2 What is Energy?
5.3 Work
5.4 Kinetic Energy
5.5 Potential Energy
5.6 Conservative Forces
5.7 Conservation of Total Energy
5.8 Power
Fluids (Chapters 11, 12, 14)
11.2 Pressure
11.3 Density
11.4 Pascal's Principle
11.5 Measurement of Pressure
11.6 Pressure and the Human Body
12.2 The Buoyant Force
14.1-14.2 Fluid Dynamics of Non-viscous Fluids
14.3 The Equation of Continuity
14.4 Bernoulli's Equation
Electricity (Chapters 26, 27, 28)
26.2 Charge
26.3 Conductors and Insulators
26.4 Charging of Objects
27.2 Coulomb’s Law
27.3 Superposition of Electric Forces
27.5 The Electric Field
28.3 Electrical Potential
28.4 Electrical Potential and Work
28.7 The Heart and ECG
Currents and Circuits (Chapter 30)
30.2 Electric Current
30.4 Direct Versus Alternating Current
30.5 Circuits and Circuit Diagrams
30.6 Power Sources
30.7 Resistance and Ohm’s Law
30.8 Resistors and Resistivity
30.11 Resistors in Series and Parallel
30.12 Power Dissipation
30.14 Electric Shock Hazards
30.15 Electricity in Cells
Heat (Chapters 17, 19, 21)
17.2 Thermal Equilibrium
17.3 Measuring Temperature
19.2 Phase Changes
19.3 Temperature Changes
19.4 Energy Conservation
21.2 Heat Transfer: Conduction
21.3 Convection
21.4 Radiation
Thermodynamics (Chapters 22, 24)
22.2 The First Law
22.3 Energy and the Body
22.4 Thermoregulation
22.5 Temperature and Health
24.2 The Second Law of Thermodynamics
24.4 Heat Engines
Waves and Sound (Chapters 8, 9)
8.1-8.2 Nature of waves
8.3 Frequency, Wavelength, and Speed
8.4 The Form of the Wave
8.5 Types of Wave
8.6 Superposition and Interference
8.7 Beats
8.8 Reflection
8.9 Standing Waves
8.10 Waves and Energy
9.2 Sound Waves in Media
9.3 Pitch and Loudness
9.4 Resonance and Sound Generation
9.5 The Ear
9.6 The Doppler Effect
Light (Chapter 32, 33, 34)
32.2 Electromagnetic Waves
32.3 Reflection
32.4 Refraction
32.5 Dispersion
33.1 Geometric Optics
33.2 Ray Diagrams
33.3-33.4 Mirrors
33.6 Lenses
34.1-34.9 The eye and vision
Wave optics (Chapter 35)
35.2 Superposition and Interference
35.4 Diffraction
35.5 Young's Double-Slit Experiment
35.9 Visual Acuity
Atoms and Atomic Physics (Chapter 38)
38.2 Parts of the Atom
38.4 The Böhr Model of the Atom
38.6 Quantum Mechanics
Nuclear Physics (Chapters 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
39.2 Nuclei and Isotopes
39.5 Nuclear Decay and Stability
40.2 Nuclear Decay Processes
40.3 Activity and Half-Life
41.3 X-rays and Gamma Radiation
41.4 Particles
42.2 Mechanisms of Cell Damage
42.3 Dose and Dose Equivalent
43.2-43.5 Medical Imaging
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) 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 or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
Safety measures
If you are unwell, please do not attend campus. This will reduce the spread of cold, flu and illness (not just COVID-19). 2) If you have respiratory symptoms, please get tested for COVID-19.3) Keep up regular handwashing and good hygiene practices.4) Where-ever possible maintain physical distancing – you should maintain 1.5m distance from others wherever possible.
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 help you improve your marks and take control of your study.
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
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
If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Lectures will be delivered exclusively online.
Date | Description |
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25/07/2020 | Corrected dates. |