PHYSICS FOR SURVEYORS

Year	No.	Offer	Mode	Description			Cred. Pts
96	65902 	S12 	X 	PHYSICS FOR SURVEYORS     	1.00

Contents


STAFFING:

Examiner: J. SABBURG

RATIONALE:

This introductory unit provides students with basic knowledge and skills in mechanics, optics, electromagnetism and electronics. This knowledge will be developed in later units. Emphasis is placed on the practical applications of the physical principles embodied in these fields and the theoretical basis is developed, only to the extent that it is sufficient for the student to comprehend the practical application.


SYNOPSIS:

This introductory unit provides students with basic knowledge and skills in mechanics, optics, electromagnetism and electronics. This knowledge will be developed in later units. Emphasis is placed on the practical applications of the physical principles embodied in these fields and the theoretical basis is developed, only to the extent that it is sufficient for the student to comprehend the practical application.


OBJECTIVES:

On successful completion of this unit students will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the physics of light to explain the principles of operation and limitations of simple optical instruments.
  2. Explain the applications of ultrasonics in depth and direction finding, and seisomology.
  3. Indicate a sound, basic knowledge of the physics of the lower atmosphere and the earth's magnetic field.
  4. Demonstrate a basic knowledge of the nature and properties of electro-magnetic radiation.
  5. Indicate an awareness of the basic concepts and components of electronic circuits, the principle of operation of lasers and their application in distance measurement and alignment, the physics of materials and elementary mechanics in sufficient depth to appreciate the operation of a simple gyroscope.

TOPICS:

 Description                                                    Weighting(%)
  1. GEOMETRICAL OPTICS 10.00 Propagation of light, reflection and refraction at plane and curved surfaces, atmospheric refraction, thin lenses image formation, combination of thin lenses, lens system, thick lenses. Principles of optical instruments - the eye, camera, telescope, auto collimator. Dispersion, aberrations (spherical, chromatic etc), and corrections.

  2. PHYSICAL OPTICS 10.00 Nature of light. Interference, coherence, Young's double slit experiment, thin films, optical coatings. Diffraction, single slit, circular aperture, diffraction grating, resolving power of microscopes and telescopes. Polarisation, methods of and application.

  3. PHYSICS OF THE LOWER ATMOSPHERE 10.00 Pressure and temperature gradients, humidity, refractive index of air.

  4. SOUND 10.00 Nature and properties of sonic and ultrasonic waves, applications in depth finding, direction finding and seismology.

  5. ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS 15.00 Introduction to elctric and magnetic fields, the earth's magnetic field, nature and properties of e/m radiation, propagation of e/m waves, principles of antenna theory. Doppler effect.

  6. ELECTRONICS 15.00 AC circuit concepts. Diodes, transistors, optoelectronic devices, uses in rectification, amplification and oscillation, introduction to principles of electromagnetic distance measurement (EDM).

  7. QUANTUM OPTICS 10.00 Lasers and applications in distance measurement and alignment.

  8. PHYSICS OF MATERIALS 10.00 Proportional and elastic limits, tensile stress, Young's modulus. Shear modulus, torsion. Expansion and contraction of materials.

  9. MECHANICS 10.00 Dimensional analysis. Revision of linear mechanics, vectors, angular quantities, circular motion, centripetal force. Analogy between linear and circular quantities, moment of inertia, conservation of momentum. Kepler's laws, orbits. Gyroscope, compass, variation of over the earth's surface.


TEXT and MATERIALS to be PURCHASED:

Giancoli Douglas C, "Physics - Principles with Applications",
Prentice Hall, 4th Edition, 1995, 0-13-183468-1.


RECOMMENDED REFERENCE MATERIALS:

Nil


STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS:

	ACTIVITY				HOURS
Report Writing                                	8
Residential School                            	9
Directed Study                                	90
Private Study                                 	62
Examinations                                  	3
Assessments                                   	3

ASSESSMENT DETAILS:

No	*F/S	Marks		Due		Description					Wtg(%)		LBL
1 	S 	        	19/04/96	ASSIGNMENT 1                            	9.00    	Y
2 	S 	        	07/06/96	ASSIGNMENT 2                            	8.00    	Y
3 	S 	        	18/10/96	REPORT OF PRACTICAL WORK                	15.00   	Y
4 	S 	        	06/09/96	ASSIGNMENT 3                            	8.00    	Y
5 	S 	        	END S2  	3 HOUR OPEN BOOK EXAMINATION            	60.00   	N

F=Formative, S=Summative

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

1    Attendance at residential school is compulsory for this unit.  To
     be awarded a pass grade students must normally gain at least 60%
     of the possible marks for the reports of the practical work.
2    The final examination id sn open book type.
3    Because it is mormal practice to release model answers promptly
     after the due date the penalty for late submission of any
     assessment is normally the loss of all marks for the assessment.
4    Students gaining 60% or more of the total marks for the unit,
     will  be  automatically awarded a pass grade.  The cut off  marks
     for grades of C, B, A and HD will be determined by the examiner
     and moderator following an inspection of a histogram of the marks
     gained  by  students.  The results of students gaining less  than
     60%   will  be  considered  individually  by  the  examiner   and
     moderator.  They may then recommend a grade of C, or IS,  or  IM,
     or ISM, or F, depending on the individual's performance in the
     various assessments.

This information is accurate as at 02/12/96