APHYS111-18A (HAM)

Physics in Context

15 Points

Edit Header Content
Faculty of Science and Engineering
Te Mātauranga Pūtaiao me te Pūkaha
School of Engineering

Staff

Edit Staff Content

Convenor(s)

Marcus Wilson

Marcus Wilson
4834
EF.3.04
Arranging an appointment via email is best, but you can try my office anytime the door is open.
marcus.wilson@waikato.ac.nz

Lecturer(s)

Lee Streeter

Lee Streeter
4106
CD.1.03
Appointment by email please.
lee.streeter@waikato.ac.nz

Administrator(s)

Placement Coordinator(s)

Tutor(s)

Student Representative(s)

Lab Technician(s)

Librarian(s)

: cheryl.ward@waikato.ac.nz
: debby.dada@waikato.ac.nz

You can contact staff by:

  • Calling +64 7 838 4466 select option 1, then enter the extension.
  • Extensions starting with 4, 5 or 9 can also be direct dialled:
    • For extensions starting with 4: dial +64 7 838 extension.
    • For extensions starting with 5: dial +64 7 858 extension.
    • For extensions starting with 9: dial +64 7 837 extension.
Edit Staff Content

Paper Description

Edit Paper Description Content

This paper introduces various concepts in physics using contextual examples drawn from other sciences such as biology (e.g. photosynthesis), ocean science (e.g. ocean waves), geology (e.g. seismic effects) and chemistry (e.g. atomic effects). It is a Disciplinary Foundations paper for first year science and will provide opportunities for students to develop skills in scientific reading and information literacy, academic integrity, oral and written communication, numerical calculations and digital literacy. This paper will fulfill the 'Numeracy' requirement of a Bachelor's Degree at the University of Waikato. The paper consists of lecture/tutorial sessions with laboratory classes, four assignments (including an essay and an oral assignment), two tests and an exam. The laboratory sessions are drawn from the Investigative Science Learning Environment in which students are asked to formulate their own experiments to test their own hypotheses; such an approach has been proven to lead to student learning.

Edit Paper Description Content

Paper Structure

Edit Paper Structure Content
This paper consists of lectures/tutorial sessions and laboratory sessions. Students will attend one laboratory session a week. Broadly speaking, the first lecture/tutorial session of the week will talk about the material for that week, the second will give opportunity for the students to practice that material through various questions, and the third will talk about the upcoming laboratory class.
Edit Paper Structure Content

Learning Outcomes

Edit Learning Outcomes Content

Students who successfully complete the course should be able to:

  • Describe and explain everyday physics phenomena using terminology correctly.
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • Undertake a laboratory experiment in physics; be able to make measurements, record and interpret results, reach an appropriate conclusion, and keep an accurate record of what was done.
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • Distinguish between Observational, Testing and Application experiments
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • Apply Newton's laws to calculate velocities, accelerations and forces in simple situations
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • Analyze heat flow in simple situations
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • Describe the relationships between pressure, temperature and volume of an ideal gas and calculate forces due to fluid pressure and flow
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • Calculate forces of interaction of charged particles with electric and magnetic fields
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • Describe transverse and longitudinal waves in terms of amplitude, velocity, frequency and wavelength, giving examples
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • Describe the structure of matter in terms of atoms and subatomic particles
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • Describe the basic structure of the universe and be able to briefly discuss the evidence for this
    Linked to the following assessments:
Edit Learning Outcomes Content
Edit Learning Outcomes Content

Assessment

Edit Assessments Content

Assessment Components

Edit Assessments Content

The internal assessment/exam ratio (as stated in the University Calendar) is 50:50. There is no final exam. The final exam makes up 50% of the overall mark.

The internal assessment/exam ratio (as stated in the University Calendar) is 50:50 or 0:0, whichever is more favourable for the student. The final exam makes up either 50% or 0% of the overall mark.

Component DescriptionDue Date TimePercentage of overall markSubmission MethodCompulsory
1. Exam
50
✔
2. Laboratories
20
  • In Class: In Lab
✔
3. Assignment 1
16 Mar 2018
No set time
5
  • Hand-in: Faculty Information (FG Link)
4. Assignment 2
30 Apr 2018
No set time
5
  • Online: Submit through Moodle
✔
5. Assignment 3
18 May 2018
No set time
5
  • Hand-in: Faculty Information (FG Link)
6. Assignment 4
29 May 2018
No set time
5
  • Hand-in: In Lab
✔
7. Test 1
4 Apr 2018
10:00 AM
5
  • Hand-in: In Lecture
8. Test 2
1 Jun 2018
9:00 AM
5
  • Hand-in: In Lecture
Assessment Total:     100    
Failing to complete a compulsory assessment component of a paper will result in an IC grade
Edit Assessments Content

Required and Recommended Readings

Edit Required Readings Content

Recommended Readings

Edit Recommended Readings Content

Hewitt, P. G. Conceptual Physics. 12th edition, Global edition. Pearson, 2015. This presents physics without relying heavily on mathematics

Etkina, E., Gentile, M. J. and Van Heuvelen, A. College Physics, Pearson, 2012. This has a great presentation – built around the Investigative Science Learning Environment and works well with the laboratories – but its mathematical presentation is more than we expect of students for this paper

Edit Recommended Readings Content

Online Support

Edit Online Support Content

There will be a Moodle page. All information will be posted there. Assignment 2 will be submitted through Moodle and processed with Turnitin.

Edit Online Support Content

Workload

Edit Workload Content

Approximately 150 hours

  • Contact time: 3 hours per week lecture/tutorials (includes 2 tests in lecture time) = 36 hours
  • 3 hours per week in labs (10 weeks labs plus 1 week presentations) = 33 hours

Total 69 hours contact

Non-contact time:

  • Assignments 4 x 5 hours = 20 hours
  • Reading and lab preparation 3 hours per week = 36 hours
  • Preparation for tests and exam = 24 hours
  • Total 80 hours non-contact
Edit Workload Content

Linkages to Other Papers

Edit Linkages Content

No prerequisites.

This paper is intended for students who are studying for a BSc who have not studied physics or mathematics at NCEA level 2/ 3 (beyond what is required for University Entrance) but wish to learn some physics to complement other subjects. It also will provide a route into the physics minor. Students who meet pre-requisites for other first year physics papers should enrol in those.

Edit Linkages Content

Prerequisite(s)

Corequisite(s)

Equivalent(s)

Restriction(s)

Restricted papers: PHYS100, PHYSC100

Edit Linkages Content