PHS2011: Physics: Quantum concepts and technologies

50% in-semester assessment comprising: 3 assignments (5% each) 2 quizzes (2.5%each) labs and report (30%) 2 exams (20% and 30%)

Completing first year physics, you should already know what's coming. You should be aware of intensive workload with labs and assignments, however I found that it was much more relaxing towards the end of semester (Maybe it's just me). You'll be welcomed by the first assignment as soon as you walk in the lecture room...It's a set of questions consisting of last year's exam questions. Don't get frustrated if you can't do them in the first week..With Michael Morgan's super teaching, you'll get a full mark. The second assignment is exactly the same procedure. The exam is 2 hour long and worth 20%
Let's talk about Dr. Findlay's part.
You'll learn nothing at this part. The lecture notes are just bunch of words squished together and Findlay's monotonic speech makes you sleepy. I was lucky some of the concepts in this sub unit was exactly the same as my eng unit (MAE2400:Engineering materials) so I was lucky. I was cramming for this section expecting somewhat similar exam from previous years...How wrong I was...Most of my friends and I struggled in the first exam. The assignment is a different story..You'll be given a set of question at the start of the sub unit...None of the questions will make sense because you haven't learned anything.

Dr. Bishop's part wasn't as bad as Dr.Findlay's. Perhaps that's because I like atomic and nuclear physics. This sub unit was much more easier than condensed matter physics in my opinion. The quizzes weren't difficult...Don't let the past papers deceive you though. Be prepared for anything.

Side notes on labs: Absolute bullsh*t. You'll encounter technical problems for sure. In the first week, we spent 30-45 mins to log into the computer...in the third week, the computer was almost frozen and I was about to lose all my data for the experiment...In week 6 or 7, I had to deal with this tablet bullsh*t and got 2/20 for that lab...I was lucky the demonstrator was lenient so he re-marked my lab. In week 10, I lost all my data so I had to write the whole lab discussion in 5 minutes. Some of my friends failed failed lab.

Fingers crossed if I have done enough to pass...Can't wait to finish second year physics..If I fail this unit, it's going to cost my double degree...It's a unit you dont want to repeat.

Prof Michael Morgan, Dr. Scott Findlay and Dr. Alexis Bishop

Plenty of past exams available for Quantum mechanics section, however only 2 past exams available for condensed matter and atomic physics( no solution for A.P exams)

2/5

Yes, with screen capture

serway moses moyer modern physics-get a pdf version or hard copy...you'll need it for the labs.

6 contact hours - 3 x 1 hour lectures, 1 x 3 hour lab weekly.

2014, Semester 1

53