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FY Physics
Introduction to first-year physics, including advice for
choosing the right subject, frequently asked questions
and staff contact details.
First-year physics subjects provide you with the
opportunity to study nature at its most fundamental
level, helping you understand many familiar and
interesting questions about how the world works. You
will learn about the structure and interactions of
matter on all scales, from particles inside the atomic
nucleus, through to human-sized objects, and up to the
forces that give rise to the structure of the whole
universe.
An understanding of physics also underpins and
complements many other areas of study, including
engineering, chemistry, biological and environmental
sciences.
* Choosing the right physics subjects for you
o Semester 1 subjects
o Semester 2 subjects
* Which Mathematics subjects should you take?
* Contact Us
Choosing the right physics subjects for you
(The documentbelow, suitable for printing, summarises
the information presented below on choosing the right
physics subjects for you).
Which physics Which physics.pdf 193.89 kB
The School of Physics offers different pathways through
first-year physics subjects to cater for students with a
variety of backgrounds and with different needs and
futures in mind. Subjects are available to students in
all New Generation degrees.
Students seeking advice about the appropriate physics
subject to complement physics they have completed in the
pre-2008 degrees should consult the Physics Course
Planning Information provided by the Science Student
Centre.
Any two-semester sequence of the following physics
subjects, together with appropriate mathematics, will be
sufficient prerequisite for second-year physics
subjects.
Semester 1 subjects
Each of the following Semester 1 subjects focuses on the
following areas of study:
* Mechanics
* Gravitation
* Waves and Sound
* Optics
* Special Relativity (for Physics 1 and Physics 1:
Advanced only)
SUBJECT CODE
NOTES
Physics 1: Advanced
(PHYC 10001)
For students seeking a deep and more challenging
introduction to physics. In general students who choose
the advanced subject can expect to gain about the same
mark for equivalent effort as they would if they had
chosen Physics 1 (PHYC 10003).
Background: ≥ 35 in both VCE Physics 3/4 and VCE
Specialist Maths 3/4, or equivalent.
Physics 1:
(PHYC 10003)
For students who are considering taking physics beyond
first year or as a complement to their other science or
engineering studies. For students who have not completed
Specialist Mathematics, or equivalent, concurrent
enrolment in Calculus 1 (MAST 10005) is recommended but
not required.
Background: VCE Unit 3/4 Physics, normally with an
unscaled score ≥ 30; VCE Unit 3/4 Maths Methods.
Approximately two thirds of students have also completed
Specialist Maths.
Physics 1: Fundamentals
(PHYC 10005)
An introductory subject that does not assume a previous
physics background. Physics 1: Fundamentals uses
calculus to a lesser extent than Physics 1.
Background: Less strong in physics—no Year 12 Physics,
or a VCE Unit 3/4 unscaled score ≤ 29.
Semester 2 subjects
Each of these Semester 2 subjects focuses on the
following areas of study:
* Fluids
* Thermal Physics
* Electricity & Magnetism
* Quantum & Atomic Physics
* Nuclear Physics & Radiation
SUBJECT CODE
NOTES
Physics 2: Advanced
(PHYC 10002)
Follows on from Physics 1: Advanced and may be available
to students who have an excellence performance in
Physics 1.
Physics 2:
Physical Science & Technology (PHYC 10004)
and
Physics 2:
Life & Environmental Sciences (PHYC 10006)
Students who have taken Physics 1 or Physics 1:
Fundamentals in Semester 1 may choose either of these
Physics 2 subjects. The same areas of physics study will
be explored in both subjects. They will draw from
examples across the spectrum of the sciences, but place
greater emphasis on applications to particular areas of
science.
Students’ choice will depend on the context in which
they want to study Physics in Semester 2 and any other
science or engineering study they are seeking to
complement, i.e are they more interested in exploring
physics in a subject that emphasises examples from the
physical sciences, or would they prefer to study a
subject that focuses on how physics principles can be
applied in the life and environmental sciences.
Physics for Biomedicine (PHYC 10007)
This subject is available only to students in the
Bachelor of Biomedicine. It provides students with an
understanding of the physics principles that underpin
many biomedical processes and aspects of modern medical
science and technology.
Which Mathematics subjects should you take?
Students considering continuing physics beyond first
year should complete:
*
Calculus 2 (MAST 10006) and Linear Algebra (MAST 10007)
OR
*
Accelerated Mathematics 1 (MAST 10008) and Accelerated
Mathematics 2 (MAST 10009)
OR, for students who do not have the prerequisites for
Calculus 2,
* Calculus 1 (MAST 10005) and Calculus 2 (MAST 10006)
[These students will need to complete Linear Algebra
(MAST 10007) in the summer semester or second year]
If you are not planning to pursue physics studies in
later years, there is no requirement to take mathematics
subjects alongside your physics. However, since
increasing your mathematical skills will support your
physics studies it may still be a good idea to take
mathematics subjects.
Contact Us
Use the following contact details if you have any
queries that have not been answered here. There is also
lots of useful information to be found on the
noticeboard outside the Physics Podium tutorial rooms.
ADMINISTRATIVE QUERIES
ACADEMIC QUERIES
Mr Colin Entwisle - Teaching Administrative Officer
(office at the back of First-Year Labs (3rd floor))
OR
Physics First Year Learning Centre (more about FYLC)
12-1pm, Monday - Thursday
T: +61 3 8344 8117
E: c.entwisle@unimelb.edu.au
Dr. Roger Rassool - Director of First Year Studies
Room 409, David Caro (Physics) building
T: +61 3 8344 5110
E: dfys@physics.unimelb.edu.au
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