In this subject, you will come to appreciate the elegance and simplicity of classical optics and thermodynamics, two key fields of classical physics. This subject will provide an important bridge between the first year introduction to thermodynamics and optics and the study of quantum mechanics and electrodynamics covered in third year. A knowledge of optics is essential for understanding light, X-rays and the wave formulation of quantum mechanics. Thermodynamics adopts a macroscopic view of the world to explore properties of heat and matter and their measurement as functions of energy flows. Together with PHY2MOD, the subjects constitute a mainstream University course in physics at the second-year level. Knowledge and competence in the material presented in PHY1SCA, PHY1SCB, MAT1NLA and MAT1CDE is assumed.
