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Unit of study_
PHYS1901: Physics 1A (Advanced)
2025 unit information
Physics is the study of how matter behaves, at scales from the very small to the very large. Physics is one of the most fundamental of the sciences, underpinning our understanding of the world and the creation of new technologies. This unit of study forms part of a broad overview of the major topics of physics, which provides the necessary background knowledge and practice of scientific skills for students who wish to enrol in intermediate units of study in physics. The topics covered are also valuable for better understanding of many phenomena and techniques studied in fields of studies other than physics, so that this unit will benefit students across many majors including environmental, medical and life sciences, and engineering. You will cover the topics of mechanics, thermal physics, and oscillations, waves and chaos. You will develop experimental skills and learn how to observe and measure phenomena and try to explain and predict their behaviour. The laboratory work also provides an introduction to computational physics using chaos theory as the topic of study. This unit of study is intended for students who have a strong background in Physics and an interest in studying more advanced topics, with more rigorous proofs.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Science
| Study level | Undergraduate |
|---|---|
| Academic unit | Physics Academic Operations |
| Credit points | 6 |
|
Prerequisites:
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None |
|---|---|
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Corequisites:
?
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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PHYS1001 or PHYS1002 or EDUH1017 or PHYS1903 |
| Assumed knowledge:
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(85 or above in HSC Physics or equivalent) or (75 or above in one of PHYS1003 or PHYS1004) or (PHYS1902 or PHYS1904). Students are also encouraged to take MATH1X61 or MATH1971 |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. understand the key concepts in three foundation areas of physics - mechanics, thermal physics and wave motion
- LO2. apply these concepts to develop models, and to solve qualitative and quantitative problems in scientific and engineering contexts, using appropriate mathematical and computing techniques as necessary
- LO3. understand the nature of scientific measurement, and demonstrate skills in the measurement of physical quantities and the handling of data
- LO4. find and analyse information and judge its reliability and significance
- LO5. communicate scientific information appropriately, both orally and through written work
- LO6. engage in team and group work for scientific investigations and for the process of learning
- LO7. demonstrate a sense of responsibility, ethical behaviour, and independence as a learner and as a scientist.
Unit availability
This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.
The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.
| Session | MoA ? | Location | Outline ? |
|---|---|---|---|
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Semester 1 2025
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Normal day | Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney |
Outline unavailable
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Modes of attendance (MoA)
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Important enrolment information
Departmental permission requirements
If you see the ‘Departmental Permission’ tag below a session, it means you need faculty or school approval to enrol. This may be because it’s an advanced unit, clinical placement, offshore unit, internship or there are limited places available.
You will be prompted to apply for departmental permission when you select this unit in Sydney Student.
Read our information on departmental permission.
