Course Title: Applied Physics

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Applied Physics

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

PHYS2126

City Campus

Undergraduate

135H Applied Sciences

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2014,
Sem 1 2015,
Sem 1 2016

PHYS2126

City Campus

Undergraduate

171H School of Science

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2017,
Sem 1 2018,
Sem 1 2019

PHYS2138

City Campus

Postgraduate

171H School of Science

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2017,
Sem 1 2018

Course Coordinator: Assoc Professor Johan Du Plessis

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 2144

Course Coordinator Email: johan.duplessis@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 14.6.3

Course Coordinator Availability: by appointment


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Required Prior Study

You should have satisfactorily completed the following courses before you commence this course.

Alternatively, you may be able to demonstrate the required skills and knowledge before you start this course.

Contact your course coordinator if you think you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning.

Assumed Knowledge

You have completed courses in mathematics at the second year university level.

 


Course Description

This course is part of the core practical component of programs leading to a Physics qualification in the School of Sciences. It is the main practical course for 3rd year physics students in 1st semester. It gives students the opportunity to use high-quality equipment across a range of laboratories in the School, and teaches them principles of good laboratory practice in preparation for a more extended research project in a following semester.  Students completing this course will be well prepared for research programs in third year and beyond, as well as laboratory based employment.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the School of Applied Sciences Program Learning Outcomes at AQF Level 7:

  • PLO-1   Understanding science
  • PLO-3   Inquiry and Problem Solving
  • PLO-4   Communication
  • PLO-5   Personal and professional responsibility

 


After successfully completing this course you will be able to:

  1. Undertake laboratory work and record your progress in a laboratory journal;
  2. Apply physics principles to interpret your experimental findings.
  3. Employ relevant mathematical tools to process experimental data;
  4. Effectively communicate the results of experiments using several modes: written reports, posters and oral presentations.

 

 


Overview of Learning Activities

You will learn in this course by:

  • undertaking laboratory work and attending introductory sessions where material will be presented and explained 
  • the writing up of laboratory reports
  • private study, working through the theory behind the experiments

Total Study Hours

120 hours. Five (5) hours per week face to face laboratories plus five (5) hours per week private study/report writing.


Overview of Learning Resources

Experiment notes and supplementary materials will be made available as required. Some references relevant to the individual experiments may be suggested by the supervisors but students are also expected to seek out appropriate references themselves, from the Library or on-line. Students will conduct experiments using equipment provided by the School, including computing facilities. 


Overview of Assessment

Note that:

☒This course has no hurdle requirements.

You will be required to submit scientific evidence summarising your experimental activities and reflecting your understanding and interpretation of these activities. These submissions will count towards 90% of your grade.

Each submission will consist of either a lab journal (first submission in cycle) or a lab journal AND a scientific report (later in the cycle). For the single lab journal submissions, the lab journal constitutes 100% of the grade. For lab journal and scientific report submissions, the lab journal will contribute 30% and the scientific report will contribute 70%.

This assessment tasks support CLOs 1-4.

 

Scientific Poster: You will prepare a group scientific poster on a designated experiment.

Weighting: 10%

This assessment task supports CLOs 1-4.