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    Overview

    The development of physical law from Newton to the revolutionary ideas of quantum physics formulated by Planck, Schrödinger, Heisenberg, Bohr and Einstein. The physics of the real world: motion, energy and its transfer, and an introduction to the quantum mechanical nature of light and matter. Applications of the principles of physics to a technological society.

    PHSI 131 Fundamentals of Physics I is the first semester of a two-semester, introductory, calculus-based sequence. Our goal is for you to learn to approach, solve and understand a wide variety of physics problems on both qualitative and quantitative levels and to relate "classroom physics" to the real world we live in. We emphasise conceptual understanding along with problem-solving skills.

    About this paper

    Paper title Fundamentals of Physics I
    Subject Physics
    EFTS 0.15
    Points 18 points
    Teaching period Semester 1 (On campus)
    Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) $1,173.30
    International Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website.
    Restriction
    PHSI 191
    Schedule C
    Science
    Notes
    (i) It is recommended that students enrolling for PHSI131 have a background in NCEA Level 3 Physics and Mathematics (or equivalent). (ii) Students with excellent results in NCEA Level 3 Physics (or equivalent) are advised to contact the departmental course adviser about substituting an appropriate 200-level paper for PHSI131.
    Eligibility

    This paper is suited to students with a good working knowledge of secondary-education-level physics (NCEA level 3). A good knowledge of trigonometry, calculus, and algebra is assumed, and we recommend that students take MATH 130 and 140 concurrently with PHSI 131 and PHSI 132.

    Contact
    Course Director: mikkel.andersen@otago.ac.nz
    Course Co-ordinator: paul.yates@otago.ac.nz
    Teaching staff

    Professor Blair Blakie
    Associate Professor Mikkel Andersen
    Professor Craig Rodger
    Associate Professor Colin Fox
    Paul Yates
    Paul Muir

    Textbooks

    Required: Katz, Deborah M. Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Foundations and Connections, Extended Version with Modern Physics.

    Graduate Attributes Emphasised
    Global perspective, Interdisciplinary perspective, Lifelong learning, Scholarship, Communication, Critical thinking, Information literacy, Research, Self-motivation.
    View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.
    Learning Outcomes
    Students completing this paper will:
    1. Know the basic physical laws in the key topics of the paper: Newtonian classical mechanics, wave mechanics, and introduction to the quantum mechanical nature of light and matter
    2. Apply the physical laws to understand modern technologies and predict the outcome of real-world physical phenomena
    3. Use physical principles, in conjunction with calculus, to solve quantitative problems in the topic areas
    4. Present a solution to a physics problem and be able to assess whether a solution is physically reasonable

    Timetable

    Semester 1

    Location
    Dunedin
    Teaching method
    This paper is taught On Campus
    Learning management system
    Blackboard

    Lecture

    Stream Days Times Weeks
    Attend
    A1 Tuesday 11:00-11:50 9-13, 15-22
    Wednesday 11:00-11:50 9-13, 15-22
    Thursday 11:00-11:50 9-13, 15-16, 18-22
    Friday 11:00-11:50 9-12, 15-22

    Practical

    Stream Days Times Weeks
    Attend one stream from
    A1 Tuesday 14:00-16:50 10-13, 15-22
    A2 Tuesday 18:00-20:50 10-13, 15-22
    A3 Wednesday 14:00-16:50 10-13, 15-22
    A4 Thursday 14:00-16:50 10-13, 15-16, 18-22
    A5 Thursday 18:00-20:50 10-13, 15-16, 18-22
    A6 Friday 14:00-16:50 10-12, 15-22

    Tutorial

    Stream Days Times Weeks
    Attend one stream from
    A1 Monday 11:00-11:50 10-13, 15-22
    A2 Monday 11:00-11:50 10-13, 15-22
    A3 Friday 12:00-12:50 9-12, 15-22
    A4 Friday 12:00-12:50 9-12, 15-22
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