Electromagnetism & Modern Physics (PHYS1002)

Course overview

Electricity, magnetism, optics, quantum physics, relativity. Laboratory experiments.

Our fundamental view of the universe has been revolutionised by physics discoveries and theoretical breakthroughs over the last 200 years. PHYS1002 provides a broad overview of the foundations of modern physics, which also underpin much of our contemporary technology. The content includes electromagnetism from which photonic and RF/microwave communications were developed; relativity required for GPS navigation; and quantum physics critical for lasers and semiconductors, and hence computers and many other technologies. PHYS1002 is a core physics course for entry to second level physics.

PHYS1002 is taught with a philosophy of active learning. Studies at Harvard, MIT and other universities (including UQ) have shown active learning approaches to be more effective than conventional lectures in generating deep understanding of physics concepts. To get the full benefit from it you will need to put in work to prepare for each class. ﾠ

The most effective preparation for class is to read the relevant sections of the textbook. You don't need to understand everything in the reading - the purpose is to gain some familiarity with the content so that we can use class time – in the form of interactive workshops – to help you process the content and develop understanding.

To help you in this preparation, we have created a comprehensive set of online resources. ﾠDelivered via the UQ Extend platform, these resources include:

• Introductory videos that highlight the important concepts you will encounter in the assigned textbookﾠreading.
• Short podcasts providing a student viewpoint of the reading.
• Problem-solving videos in which staff members talk through the stepsﾠinvolved in solving relevant problems.
• For some topics, there are also interactive simulations.
• Sets of check-your-knowledge multiple choice questions for feedback.

More information about how we run the course, and how you can best make use of the materials and learning activities on offer, will be given on the UQ Extendﾠplatform and at the first workshop.

Prior to the start of classes you should:

• Obtain a copy of the primary textbook for the course: Physics for Scientists and Engineers, A Strategic Approach with Modern Physics, 5th Ed., by Randall D. Knight.
• Go to the UQ Extend home page, via the link on Blackboard. UQ Extendﾠis the platform that will host the online materials. If you have not used UQ Extendﾠfor a prior course, you will be asked to create an account.
• Do the first week's readings. The readings required for each class are listed on the UQ Extend site.

Course requirements

Assumed background

Secondary school years 11 and 12 physics and mathematics with calculus; preferably including Specialist Mathematics.

Prerequisites

You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:

MATH1050 or a grade of C or higher in Queensland Year 12 Specialist Mathematics (Units 3 & 4) (or equivalent); and PHYS1171 or a grade of C or higher in Queensland Year 12 Physics (Units 3 & 4) (or equivalent).

Recommended prerequisites

We recommend completing the following courses before enrolling in this one:

PHYS1001

Recommended companion or co-requisite courses

We recommend completing the following courses at the same time:

(MATH1051 or MATH1071) and (MATH1052 or MATH1072)

Course contact

Course staff

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Additional timetable information

All classes will be conducted on campus – consult your personal timetable for times and locations. Students are expected to attend these sessions in person unless they have a validﾠreason for being unable to attend (such as illness). Important: if you are ill, then do not attend any classes in person. Alternative arrangements can be organised – consult Blackboard for details.

There will be no learning activities on public holidays. If your tutorial is scheduled on a public holiday, then please attend a tutorial on another day for that week.

Aims and outcomes

On completing this course students will:

• understand central concepts in electricity, electromagnetism, and modern physics.
• be able to solve a range of numerical problems involving these concepts.
• be capable of linking the underlying theory to everyday phenomena and scientific or engineering applications
• be able to use their problem-solving skills in other scientific and engineering areas.
• develop skills in experimental work, report writing, and using uncertainty analysis in processing experimental data.

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

Assessment

Assessment summary

A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.

Assessment details

Assignments (3)

Mode

Written

Category

Tutorial/ Problem Set

Weight

30%

Due date

Module 1: 23/08/2024 2:00 pm

Module 2: 30/09/2024 2:00 pm

Module 3: 25/10/2024 2:00 pm

Task description

Submission guidelines

Submit via gradescope. See instructions on blackboard.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Solutions for assessment item/s will be released 14 days after the assessment is due and as such, an extension after 14 days will not be possible.

See ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT INFORMATION for extension and deferred examination information relating to this assessment item.

Late submission

A penalty of 1 grade for each 24 hour period from time submission is due will apply for up to 7 days. After 7 days you will receive a mark of 0.

Practical worksheets (5)

• Hurdle

Mode

Written

Category

Notebook/ Logbook

Weight

Hurdle only

Due date

To be marked by tutors before leaving your practical session.

Task description

Hurdle requirements

Submission guidelines

In Class

Deferral or extension

You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.

If you fail a practical or miss one through illness, you will be given the opportunity to catch up in another session in the current lab cycle, or in week 13 of semester. However, you cannot miss practical 3, as you need to write a report on this experiment. The last week of semester will provide an opportunity for catch-up sessions for anyone that will otherwise not pass the practical hurdle for the course.

Laboratory report

Mode

Written

Category

Paper/ Report/ Annotation

Weight

20%

Due date

Week 11 Mon - Week 12 Fri

The due date is for the FINAL laboratory report. The draft report will be due in week 8 or week 9, depending on your practical session.

Task description

Submission guidelines

Both your draft and final report will be prepared as a pdf document and will be submitted via the Gradescope links on Blackboard. You will have the opportunity to submit a preliminary report to Gradescope prior to final submission of both versions.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

See ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT INFORMATION for extension relating to this assessment item.

Late submission

A penalty of 1 grade for each 24 hour period from time submission is due will apply for up to 7 days. After 7 days you will receive a mark of 0.

Final examination

• Hurdle
• Identity Verified
• In-person

Mode

Written

Category

Examination

Weight

50%

Due date

End of Semester Exam Period

2/11/2024 - 16/11/2024

Other conditions

Time limited.

See the conditions definitions

Task description

Hurdle requirements

Exam details

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

See ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT INFORMATION for extension and deferred examination information relating to this assessment item.

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Additional course grading information

For each category of assessment a fractional grade will be calculated using grades from each assigned task. ﾠThese fractional grades will be combined in aﾠweighted average to determine your overall grade for the course, subject to the hurdle requirements below.ﾠ

Hurdle Requirements:

To obtain a grade of 4 or higher, students must meet the following requirements

• An average grade of 3.0 or higher in the final exam
• Be awarded a pass mark for all practical worksheets

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is not available for some items in this course.

Should you fail a course with a grade of 3 you may be eligible for supplementary assessment. Refer to my.UQ for information on supplementary assessment and how to apply. Supplementary assessment provides an additional opportunity to demonstrate you have achieved all the required learning outcomes for a course.  

Supplementary assessment is not available if you have failed the laboratory-based section of this course. The learning objects of the laboratory components are demonstrated throughout the semester and it is not possible to validly reassess these learning objectives in the supplementary assessment period. 

If you apply and are granted supplementary assessment, the type of supplementary assessment set will consider which learning outcome(s) have not been met.  Supplementary assessment in this course will be a 2-hour examination similar in style to the end-of-semester examination. To receive a passing grade of 3S4, you must obtain a mark of 3.5 or more on the supplementary assessment. 

Additional assessment information

Artificial Intelligence

The assessment tasks in this course evaluate students’ abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Articial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Work submitted may be subjected to a plagiarism detection process.ﾠ If this process is used, then copies of this work would be retained and used as source material for conducting future plagiarism checks.ﾠ

The university has defined plagiarism as:

"Plagiarism is the act of misrepresenting as one's own original work the ideas, interpretations, words or creative works of another. These include published and unpublished documents, designs, music, sounds, images, photographs, computer codes and ideas gained through working in a group. These ideas, interpretations, words or works may be found in print and/or electronic media."

Examples of plagiarism include:

• Direct copying of paragraphs, sentences, a single sentence or significant parts of a sentence;
• Direct copying of paragraphs, sentences, a single sentence or significant parts of a sentence with an end reference but without quotation marks around the copied text;
• Copying ideas, concepts, research results, computer codes, statistical tables, designs, images, sounds or text or any combination of these;
• Paraphrasing, summarising or simply rearranging another person's words, ideas, etc without changing the basic structure and/or meaning of the text;
• Offering an idea or interpretation that is not one's own without identifying whose idea or interpretation it is;
• A ‘cut and paste' of statements from multiple sources;
• Presenting as independent, work done in collaboration with others;
• Copying or adapting another student's original work into a submitted assessment item.

Plagiarism will be dealt with in accordance with university policy. Students are reminded thatﾠplagiarism is a very serious offence.

Please refer to https://ppl.app.uq.edu.au/content/3.60.04-student-integrity-and-misconduct (policy 3.60.04ﾠ"Student Integrity and Misconduct")ﾠﾠfor more information concerning plagiarism.

Applications for Extensions to Assessment Due Dates

Extension requests are submitted online via my.UQ – applying for an extension. Extension requests received in any other way will not be approved. Additional details associated with extension requests, including acceptable and unacceptable reasons, may be found at my.UQ.

Please note:

• Requests for an extension to an assessment due date must be submitted through your my.UQ portal and you must provide documentation of your circumstances, as soon as it becomes evident that an extension is needed. Your application must be submitted on or before the assessment item's due date and time.
• Applications for extension can take time to be processed so you should continue to work on your assessment item while awaiting a decision. We recommend that you submit any completed work by the due date, and this will be marked if your application is not approved. Should your application be approved, then you will be able to resubmit by the agreed revised due date.
• If an extension is approved, you will be notified via your my.UQ portal and the new date and time for submission provided. It is important that you check the revised date as it may differ from the date that you requested.
• If the basis of the application is a medical condition, applications should be accompanied by a medical certificate dated prior to the assignment due date. If you are unable to provide documentation to support your application by the due date and time you must still submit your application on time and attach a written statement (Word document) outlining why you cannot provide the documentation. You must then upload the documentation to the portal within 24 hours.
• If an extension is being sought on the basis of exceptional circumstances, it must be accompanied by supporting documentation (eg. Statutory declaration).
• For extensions based on a SAP you may be granted a maximum of 7 days (if no earlier maximum date applies). See the Extension or Deferral availability section of each assessment for details. Your SAP is all that is required as documentation to support your application. However, additional extension requests for the assessment item will require the submission of additional supporting documentation e.g., a medical certificate. All extension requests must be received by the assessment due date and time.
• Students may be asked to submit evidence of work completed to date. Lack of adequate progress on your assessment item may result in an extension being denied.
• If you have been ill or unable to attend class for more than 14 days, you are advised to carefully consider whether you are capable of successfully completing your courses this semester. You might be eligible to withdraw without academic penalty - seek advice from the Faculty that administers your program.
• There are no provisions for exemption from an assessment item within UQ rules. If you are unable to submit an assessment piece then, under special circumstances, you may be granted an exemption, but may be required to submit alternative assessment to ensure all learning outcomes are met.

Applications to defer an exam

In certain circumstances you can apply to take a deferred examination for in-semester and end-of-semester exams. You'll need to demonstrate through supporting documentation how unavoidable circumstances prevented you from sitting your exam. If you can’t, you can apply for a one-off discretionary deferred exam.

Deferred Exam requests are submitted online via mySi-net. Requests received in any other way will not be approved. Additional details associated with deferred examinations, including acceptable and unacceptable reasons may be found at my.UQ.

Please note:

• Applications can be submitted no later than 5 calendar days after the date of the original exam.
• There are no provisions to defer a deferred exam. You need to be available to sit your deferred examination.
• Your deferred examination request(s) must have a status of "submitted" in mySI-net to be assessed.
• All applications for deferred in-semester examinations are assessed by the relevant school. Applications for deferred end-of-semester examinations are assessed by the Academic Services Division.
• You’ll receive an email to your student email account when the status of your application is updated.
• If you have a medical condition, mental health condition or disability and require alternative arrangements for your deferred exam you’ll need to complete the online alternative exam arrangements through my.UQ. This is in addition to your deferred examinations request. You need to submit this request on the same day as your request for a deferred exam or supplementary assessment. Contact Student Services if you need assistance completing your alternative exam arrangements request.

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

• Student Code of Conduct Policy
• Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
• Assessment Procedure
• Examinations Procedure
• Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.