Physics

Please check the current students website (Find a unit of study) for up-to-date information on units of study including availability.

 

Errata
Item Errata Date
1.

The August Intensive session (S2CIAU) for PHYS1003 Physics 1 (Technological) has now been cancelled for 2022

04/02/2022

 

Unit of study Credit points A: Assumed knowledge P: Prerequisites C: Corequisites N: Prohibition Session

PHYSICS

Physics major

A major in Physics requires 48 credit points from this table including:
(i) 12 credit points of 1000-level core units
(ii) 12 credit points of 2000-level core units
(iii) 12 credit points of 3000-level core units
(iv) 6 credit points of 3000-level selective units
(v) 6 credit points of 3000-level selective interdisciplinary project units

Physics minor

A minor in Physics requires 36 credit points from this table including:
(i) 12 credit points of 1000-level core units
(ii) 12 credit points of 2000-level core units
(iii)12 credit points of 3000-level core units

Units of study

The units of study are listed below.

1000-level units of study

Core
PHYS1001
Physics 1 (Regular)
6    A HSC Physics or PHYS1003 or PHYS1004 or PHYS1902 or equivalent. Students who have not completed HSC Physics (or equivalent) are strongly advised to take the Physics Bridging Course (offered in February). Students are also encouraged to take (MATH1X21 or MATH1931 or MATH1X01 or MATH1906) and MATH1X02 concurrently
N PHYS1002 or PHYS1901 or EDUH1017 or PHYS1903
Semester 1
PHYS1002
Physics 1 (Fundamentals)
6    A Students are encouraged to take (MATH1X21 or MATH1931 or MATH1X01 or MATH1906) and MATH1X02 concurrently
N PHYS1001 or PHYS1901 or EDUH1017 or PHYS1903
Semester 1
PHYS1901
Physics 1A (Advanced)
6    A (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 (MATH1X21 or MATH1931 or MATH1X01 or MATH1906) and MATH1X02 concurrently
N PHYS1001 or PHYS1002 or EDUH1017 or PHYS1903

Note: Department permission required for enrolment

Semester 1
PHYS1903
Physics 1A (Special Studies Program)
6    A [92 or above in HSC Physics (or equivalent)] OR [80 or above in one of PHYS1904 or PHYS1902]. Students are also encouraged to take (MATH1X21 or MATH1931 or MATH1X01 or MATH1906) and MATH1X02 concurrently
N PHYS1001 or PHYS1002 or EDUH1017 or PHYS1901

Note: Department permission required for enrolment

Semester 1
PHYS1003
Physics 1 (Technological)
6    A HSC Physics or PHYS1001 or PHYS1002 or PHYS1901 or equivalent. Students who have not completed HSC Physics (or equivalent) are strongly advised to take the Physics Bridging Course (offered in February). Students are also encouraged to take (MATH1X23 or MATH1933 or MATH1X03 or MATH1907) and MATH1X05 concurrently
C Recommended Co-requisites: (MATH1003 or MATH1903) and (MATH1005 or MATH1905)
N PHYS1004 or PHYS1902 or PHYS1904


It is recommended that PHYS1001 or PHYS1002 or PHYS1901 be completed before this unit
Intensive August
Semester 2
PHYS1004
Physics 1 (Environmental and Life Science)
6    A HSC Physics or PHYS1001 or PHYS1002 or PHYS1901 or equivalent. Students who have not completed HSC Physics (or equivalent) are strongly advised to take the Physics Bridging Course (offered in February). Students are also encouraged to take (MATH1X23 or MATH1933 or MATH1X03 or MATH1907) and MATH1X05 concurrently
N PHYS1003 or PHYS1902 or PHYS1904


It is recommended that PHYS1001 or PHYS1002 or PHYS1901 be completed before this unit
Semester 2
PHYS1902
Physics 1B (Advanced)
6    A (85 or above in HSC Physics or equivalent) OR (75 or above in one of PHYS1001 or PHYS1002) OR (PHYS1901 or PHYS1903). Students are also encouraged to take (MATH1X23 or MATH1933 or MATH1X03 or MATH1907) and MATH1X05 concurrently
C Recommended Co-requisites: (MATH1003 or MATH1903) and (MATH1005 or MATH1905)
N PHYS1003 or PHYS1004 or PHYS1904

Note: Department permission required for enrolment

Semester 2
PHYS1904
Physics 1B (Special Studies Program)
6    A 75 or above in PHYS1903 or 85 or above in PHYS1901. Entry is by invitation. This unit of study is deemed to be an Advanced unit of study. Students are also encouraged to take (MATH1X23 or MATH1933 or MATH1X03 or MATH1907) and MATH1X05 concurrently
N PHYS1003 or PHYS1004 or PHYS1902

Note: Department permission required for enrolment

Semester 2

2000-level units of study

Core
PHYS2011
Physics 2A
6    A (MATH1X21 or MATH1931 or MATH1X01 or MATH1906 or MATH1011) and (MATH1X02) and (MATH1X23 or MATH1933 or MATH1X03 or MATH1907 or MATH1013) and (MATH1X04 or MATH1X05)
P (PHYS1901 or PHYS1001 or PHYS1002 or PHYS1903) and (PHYS1902 or PHYS1003 or PHYS1004 or PHYS1904)
N PHYS2911 or PHYS2921
Semester 1
PHYS2911
Physics 2A (Advanced)
6    A (MATH1X21 or MATH1931 or MATH1X01 or MATH1906 or MATH1011) and (MATH1X02) and (MATH1X23 or MATH1933 or MATH1X03 or MATH1907 or MATH1013) and (MATH1X04 or MATH1X05)
P 65 or above in (PHYS1901 or PHYS1001 or PHYS1002 or PHYS1903) and 65 or above in (PHYS1902 or PHYS1003 or PHYS1004 or PHYS1904)
N PHYS2011 or PHYS2921
Semester 1
PHYS2012
Physics 2B
6    A (MATH1X21 or MATH1931 or MATH1X01 or MATH1906 or MATH1011) and (MATH1X02) and (MATH1X23 or MATH1933 or MATH1X03 or MATH1907 or MATH1013) and (MATH1X04 or MATH1X05)
P (PHYS1003 or PHYS1004 or PHYS1902 or PHYS1904) and (PHYS1001 or PHYS1002 or PHYS1901 or PHYS1903 or PHYS2011 or PHYS2911 or PHYS2921)
N PHYS2912 or PHYS2922
Semester 2
PHYS2912
Physics 2B (Advanced)
6    A (MATH1X21 or MATH1931 or MATH1X01 or MATH1906 or MATH1011) and (MATH1X02) and (MATH1X23 or MATH1933 or MATH1X03 or MATH1907 or MATH1013) and (MATH1X04 or MATH1X05)
P 65 or above in (PHYS1003 or PHYS1004 or PHYS1902 or PHYS1904) and 65 or above in (PHYS1001 or PHYS1002 or PHYS1901 or PHYS1903 or PHYS2011 or PHYS2911 or PHYS2921)
N PHYS2012 or PHYS2922
Semester 2
PHYS2921
Physics 2A (Special Studies Program)
6    A (MATH1X21 or MATH1931 or MATH1X01 or MATH1906) and (MATH1X02) and (MATH1X23 or MATH1933 or MATH1X03 or MATH1907) and (MATH1X05)
P 75 or above in (PHYS1901 or PHYS1001 or PHYS1002 or PHYS1903) and 75 or above in (PHYS1902 or PHYS1003 or PHYS1004 or PHYS1904)
N PHYS2011 or PHYS2911

Note: Department permission required for enrolment

Semester 1
PHYS2922
Physics 2B (Special Studies Program)

This unit of study is not available in 2022

6    A (MATH1X21 or MATH1931 or MATH1X01 or MATH1906) and (MATH1X02) and (MATH1X23 or MATH1933 or MATH1X03 or MATH1907) and (MATH1X05)
P 75 or above in (PHYS1003 or PHYS1004 or PHYS1902 or PHYS1904) and 75 or above in (PHYS1001 or PHYS1002 or PHYS1901 or PHYS1903 or PHYS2011 or PHYS2911 or PHYS2921).
N PHYS2012 or PHYS2912

Note: Department permission required for enrolment

Semester 2

3000-level units of study

Major core
PHYS3034
Quantum, Statistical and Comp Physics
6    A (MATH2021 OR MATH2921 OR MATH2061 OR MATH2961 OR MATH2067)
P (PHYS2011 OR PHYS2911 OR PHYS2921) AND (PHYS2012 OR PHYS2912 OR PHYS2922)
N PHYS3934 or PHYS3039 or PHYS3939 or PHYS3042 or PHYS3942 or PHYS3043 or PHYS3943 or PHYS3044 or PHYS3944 or PHYS3090 or PHYS3990 or PHYS3991 or PHYS3999 or PHYS3099
Semester 1
PHYS3934
Quantum, Statistical and Comp Phys (Adv)
6    A (MATH2021 OR MATH2921 OR MATH2061 OR MATH2961 OR MATH2067)
P Average of 70 or above in [(PHYS2011 OR PHYS2911 OR PHYS2921) AND (PHYS2012 OR PHYS2912 OR PHYS2922)]
N PHYS3034 or PHYS3039 or PHYS3939 or PHYS3042 or PHYS3942 or PHYS3043 or PHYS3943 or PHYS3044 or PHYS3944 or PHYS3090 or PHYS3990 or PHYS3991 or PHYS3999 or PHYS3099
Semester 1
PHYS3035
Electrodynamics and Optics
6    A (MATH2021 OR MATH2921 OR MATH2061 OR MATH2961 OR MATH2067)
P (PHYS2011 OR PHYS2911 OR PHYS2921) AND (PHYS2012 OR PHYS2912 OR PHYS2922)
N PHYS3935 or PHYS3040 or PHYS3940 or PHYS3941 or PHYS3068 or PHYS3968 or PHYS3069 or PHYS3969 or PHYS3080 or PHYS3980
Semester 2
PHYS3935
Electrodynamics and Optics (Advanced)
6    A (MATH2021 OR MATH2921 OR MATH2061 OR MATH2961 OR MATH2067)
P Average of 70 or above in [(PHYS2011 OR PHYS2911 OR PHYS2921) AND (PHYS2012 OR PHYS2912 OR PHYS2922)]
N PHYS3035 or PHYS3040 or PHYS3940 or PHYS3941 or PHYS3068 or PHYS3968 or PHYS3069 or PHYS3969 or PHYS3080 or PHYS3980
Semester 2
Major selective
PHYS3036
Condensed Matter and Particle Physics
6    A Students will need to have some knowledge of special relativity, for example from prior study of PHYS2013 or PHYS2913, or from studying Chapter 12 of Introduction to Electrodynamics by D.J. Griffith. (MATH2021 OR MATH2921 OR MATH2061 OR MATH2961 OR MATH2067)
P (PHYS2011 OR PHYS2911 OR PHYS2921) AND (PHYS2012 OR PHYS2912 OR PHYS2922)
C PHYS3034 OR PHYS3934 OR [(PHYS3042 OR PHYS3942 OR PHYS3043 OR PHYS3943 OR PHYS3044 OR PHYS3944) AND (PHYS3090 OR PHYS3990 OR PHYS3991)]
N PHYS3099 or PHYS3999 or PHYS3936 or PHYS3068 or PHYS3968 or PHYS3069 or PHYS3969 or PHYS3074 or PHYS3974 or PHYS3080 or PHYS3980
Semester 1
PHYS3936
Condensed Matter and Particle Phys (Adv)
6    A Students will need to have some knowledge of special relativity, for example from prior study of PHYS2013 or PHYS2913, or from studying Chapter 12 of Introduction to Electrodynamics by D.J. Griffith. (MATH2021 OR MATH2921 OR MATH2061 OR MATH2961 OR MATH2067)
P Average of 70 or above in [(PHYS2011 OR PHYS2911 OR PHYS2921) AND (PHYS2012 OR PHYS2912 OR PHYS2922)]
C PHYS3034 OR PHYS3934 OR [(PHYS3042 OR PHYS3942 OR PHYS3043 OR PHYS3943 OR PHYS3044 OR PHYS3944) AND (PHYS3090 OR PHYS3990 OR PHYS3991)]
N PHYS3099 or PHYS3999 or PHYS3036 or PHYS3068 or PHYS3968 or PHYS3069 or PHYS3969 or PHYS3074 or PHYS3974 or PHYS3080 or PHYS3980
Semester 1
PHYS3037
Plasma and Astrophysics
6    A (MATH2021 OR MATH2921 OR MATH2061 OR MATH2961 OR MATH2067)
P (PHYS2011 OR PHYS2911 OR PHYS2921) AND (PHYS2012 OR PHYS2912 OR PHYS2922)
C PHYS3035 OR PHYS3935 OR PHYS3040 OR PHYS3940 OR PHYS3941
N PHYS3937 or PHYS3042 or PHYS3043 or PHYS3044 or PHYS3942 or PHYS3943 or PHYS3944
Semester 2
PHYS3937
Plasma and Astrophysics (Advanced)
6    A (MATH2021 OR MATH2921 OR MATH2061 OR MATH2961 OR MATH2067)
P [An average mark of 70 or above in (PHYS2011 or PHYS2911 or PHYS2921) AND (PHYS2012 or PHYS2912 or PHYS2922)]
C PHYS3035 OR PHYS3935 OR PHYS3040 OR PHYS3940 OR PHYS3941
N PHYS3037 or PHYS3042 or PHYS3043 or PHYS3044 or PHYS3942 or PHYS3943 or PHYS3944
Semester 2
Interdisciplinary Project Units
SCPU3001
Science Interdisciplinary Project
6    P 96 credit points
Intensive February
Intensive July
Semester 1
Semester 2
PHYS3888
Physics Interdisciplinary Project
6    P (PHYS2011 OR PHYS2911 OR PHYS2921) AND (PHYS2012 OR PHYS2912 OR PHYS2922)
N PHYS3941 or PHYS3991
Semester 1
Semester 2
Minor Core
PHYS3034
Quantum, Statistical and Comp Physics
6    A (MATH2021 OR MATH2921 OR MATH2061 OR MATH2961 OR MATH2067)
P (PHYS2011 OR PHYS2911 OR PHYS2921) AND (PHYS2012 OR PHYS2912 OR PHYS2922)
N PHYS3934 or PHYS3039 or PHYS3939 or PHYS3042 or PHYS3942 or PHYS3043 or PHYS3943 or PHYS3044 or PHYS3944 or PHYS3090 or PHYS3990 or PHYS3991 or PHYS3999 or PHYS3099
Semester 1
PHYS3934
Quantum, Statistical and Comp Phys (Adv)
6    A (MATH2021 OR MATH2921 OR MATH2061 OR MATH2961 OR MATH2067)
P Average of 70 or above in [(PHYS2011 OR PHYS2911 OR PHYS2921) AND (PHYS2012 OR PHYS2912 OR PHYS2922)]
N PHYS3034 or PHYS3039 or PHYS3939 or PHYS3042 or PHYS3942 or PHYS3043 or PHYS3943 or PHYS3044 or PHYS3944 or PHYS3090 or PHYS3990 or PHYS3991 or PHYS3999 or PHYS3099
Semester 1
PHYS3035
Electrodynamics and Optics
6    A (MATH2021 OR MATH2921 OR MATH2061 OR MATH2961 OR MATH2067)
P (PHYS2011 OR PHYS2911 OR PHYS2921) AND (PHYS2012 OR PHYS2912 OR PHYS2922)
N PHYS3935 or PHYS3040 or PHYS3940 or PHYS3941 or PHYS3068 or PHYS3968 or PHYS3069 or PHYS3969 or PHYS3080 or PHYS3980
Semester 2
PHYS3935
Electrodynamics and Optics (Advanced)
6    A (MATH2021 OR MATH2921 OR MATH2061 OR MATH2961 OR MATH2067)
P Average of 70 or above in [(PHYS2011 OR PHYS2911 OR PHYS2921) AND (PHYS2012 OR PHYS2912 OR PHYS2922)]
N PHYS3035 or PHYS3040 or PHYS3940 or PHYS3941 or PHYS3068 or PHYS3968 or PHYS3069 or PHYS3969 or PHYS3080 or PHYS3980
Semester 2