Overview

This unit of study aims to provide you with a broad range of practical research skills using laboratory experimentation in a physics context.

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
04-August-2025
02-November-2025
Last self-enrolment date
17-August-2025
Census date
31-August-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
19-September-2025
Results released date
09-December-2025

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Demonstrate the proficient application of concepts, theories and techniques of the physical sciences
  • Demonstrate competence in the acquisition and analysis of experimental data
  • Display the skills necessary for working in a scientific environment as an effective team member
  • Display good written and oral communication skills specific to the delivery of scientific results
  • Demonstrate strong quantitative, problem-solving, numerical and computational skills
  • Apply safe laboratory, test and experimental procedures appropriate to the physical sciences

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
On-campus
Lab		5.00 12 weeks 60
Online
Modules		3.00 12 weeks 36
Unspecified Activities
Assessment Preparation		4.50 12 weeks 54
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Laboratory LogIndividual 10 - 20% 1,2,3,4,5,6 
Laboratory ReportIndividual/Group 40 - 60% 1,2,3,4,5,6 
Online QuizzesIndividual 10 - 20% 1,2,5 
PresentationIndividual/Group 20 - 30% 1,2,3,4,5,6 

Content

Students will complete 12 of the following laboratory projects 

  • DC/AC circuits
  • Operational amplifiers
  • Universal Gravitational constant
  • Millikan’s oil drop experiment
  • Complete interferometry experiment
  • Measuring the speed of light
  • Driven and damped harmonic oscillator
  • Magnetic force on a wire
  • Physical pendulum
  • The LCR circuit
  • The photoelectric effect
  • Optical sources
  • Microwave optics
  • Microwave radiation
  • Coulombs and Gauss’s Law
  • LabView data acquisition laboratory
  • Numerical simulation of wave propagation in 1D
  • Computational astrophysics laboratory
  • Astronomy observations laboratory

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.