PHS1080: Foundation Physics

6 assignments (7%), practical work (25%), mid-semester test (8%), exam (60%)

This unit is utter crap. Before I give any detailed comments about the unit, I want to say this - you should only take PHS1080 if you have no other choice. If you only want it because it might be useful, don't do it. There are so many better units to fill your course with - like sexology (not a joke - Monash are incorporating this unit/course). I was excited for physics before doing this, and am now dropping it, so you can see the impact of this unit on me.

So, firstly, the lectures. Ali is a horrible lecturer, but if you didn't do spec, try to either stick out the lectures or keep up. If you can but the textbook, do so and complete the suggested questions as you go by them in the unit. You can then go by TAPAS for help if you need it (and, you probably will need it). Ali does have one good thing going for him, though - he's incredibly quoteable. "It's ze force BY ze apple ON ze Earth"

Shane isn't that great, but he's a whole lot better than Ali, and he cares (thankfully - someone in the course needs to). He works through one concept at a time, and he has lots of online simulators for you to play with, so that's good, too. The best part about Shane is that he's always posting on moodle, so you know that he's there and he's with you.

Istvan is quite popular with the 1011 kids, so maybe you'll like him? I don't quite know why, though... Then again, my favourite chem lecturer is hated by most, so yeah, whatever. He was alright, explained concepts, but he seemed to have this issue of not uploading the slides that he actually showed to us (for whatever reason that is...)

Next is the labs - they're... Completely independant of the lectures. Yes - you'd expect the lab people to talk to the lecture people, but they don't. Quite often you'll learn something in a lab then learn it in a lecture the next week. Or, you'll learn something in a lab then never touch it in a lecture. OR (worst case scenario), be EXPECTED TO KNOW SOMETHING FOR A LAB EVEN IF YOU'VE NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE. (yes, in a course designed for people who know no physics) Labs will probably be quite stressful at first, but they'll even out and turn into quite a formula, and this formula represents the 0.5 of my rating.
In summary: don't do this unit UNLESS YOU HAVE TO. If you want to do this unit because "physics is good to have" - there is always something better. Do something different, like geo or astro. Do more maths, take an elective from outside science. Maybe try the science equivalent of biophysics, PHS1031. Just only take this unit if you absolutely have to (i.e. you need a major or minor in physics/are doing eng)

Yes, 3 useful ones

0.5 out of 5

Yes, with screen capture

Physics for Scientists & Engineers is prescribed. It's not required, but highly recommended, for reasons outlined below.

3x1 hour lectures, 1x3 hour labs

2014, Semester 1

69 C