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Associate Professor and Head of Department
S Karataglidis, PhD(Melbourne)
Professor
JL Jonas, PhD(Rhodes)
Associate Professor
ML Chithambo, BSc(Malawi), MPhil(Sussex), PhD(Edinburgh)
Senior Lecturer
DG Roux, MSc(Rhodes), PhD(UCT)
Lecturers
R Haggard, BSc(Rhodes), BSc(Hons) (UNISA), PhD(Rhodes)
AJ Sullivan, MSc(Rhodes)
JA Williams, BSc(Hons)(Rhodes), HDE(Rhodes), PhD(Cantab)
Visiting Professor
RS Booth, PhD(Manchester)
Research Associates
L-A. McKinnell, PhD (Rhodes)
AWV Poole, PhD(Rhodes)
LMG Poole, MSc(Rhodes), PhD(Sheffield)
Professor Emeritus
EE Baart, BSc(Hons)(Rhodes), PhD(Liverpool), FRAS.
Physics with Electronics (PHY) is a six-semester subject which may be taken as a major subject for the degrees of BSc, BCom and BJourn.
To major in Physics with Electronics a candidate is required to obtain credit in the following courses: PHY 1; PHY 2; PHY 3; MAT 1; MAT 2 or MAP 2 which must include the modules in Advanced Calculus and Linear Algebra. See Rule S.23.
Up to two, or in some cases four, Physics with Electronics semester-credits may be allowed for degree/diploma curricula in the Faculties of Humanities, Education and Pharmacy.
Besides the major course, the department offers two terminal semester courses in Physics and Electronics, namely PHY 1E1 (non-calculus Elementary Physics) and PHY 1E2 (Electronics Literacy).
Credit in Physics 1E1 is a compulsory prerequisite for the BPharm 2 curriculum, and this course is also well suited to students majoring in the biological sciences. Any student accepted into the university may register for PHY 1E2, which affords students in a wide range of disciplines an opportunity to gain an understanding of basic electronics and modern electronic devices such as computers.
PHY 101, PHY 102, PHY 1E1 and PHY 1E2 are highly recommended choices of prerequisites for students who wish to major in Chemistry. (Refer to the Department of Chemistry Department Calendar entry).
See the Departmental Web Page http://www.ru.ac.za/academic/departments/physics/ for further details, particularly on the contents of courses.
There are two first-year courses in Physics with Electronics for candidates planning to major in physical, computational, mathematical or earth science subjects. PHY 101 is held in the first semester and PHY 102 in the second semester. Credit may be obtained in each course separately and, in addition, an aggregate mark of at least 50% will be deemed to be equivalent to a two-credit course PHY 1, provided that a candidate obtains the required sub-minimum in each component. Supplementary examinations may be recommended in either course, provided that a candidate achieves a minimum standard specified by the Department. Class tests and reports collectively comprise the class mark, which forms part of the final mark for each course.
Candidates wishing to register for PHY 101 must have obtained at least an E symbol in Mathematics on the Higher Grade in the matriculation examination, or the equivalent thereof. If the equivalent is a better pass at Standard Grade, the symbol must be an A or B and candidates must also register for MAT 1. Adequate performance in PHY 101 is required before a student may register for PHY 102. Alternatively, candidates who attain a sufficiently high standard in PHY 1E1 may be allowed to register for PHY 102, obtain credit in PHY 1 and then proceed to PHY 2.
PHY 101
Theory Course: Mechanics1, Mechanics 2, Elasticity and Properties of Matter.
Experimental course: Measurement and data analysis.
PHY 102
Theory Course: Waves; Fields, Modern Physics and Kinetic Theory.
Experimental course: Electrical circuits; elementary
analogue and digital electronics.
The Department offers two other first-level courses in Physics and Electronics. PHY 1E1 is held in the first semester and PHY 1E2 in the second semester. Credit may be obtained in each course separately and, in addition, an aggregate mark of at least 50% will be deemed to be equivalent to a two-credit course PHY 1E, provided that a candidate obtains the required sub-minimum in each component. Supplementary examinations may be recommended in either course, provided that a candidate achieves a minimum standard specified by the Department. Class tests collectively comprise the class mark, which forms part of the final mark for each course.
Entry into PHY 1E2 does not require that a student has attended or passed PHY 1E1. The course is open to all university students. Credit may be obtained in all three of the courses PHY 101, PHY 102 and PHY 1E2.
PHY 1E1: Elementary Physics for the Life Sciences
Theory course: Mechanics; fluids; thermal physics;
vibrations and waves; electricity and magnetism; the
nucleus. Applications to the life sciences are
emphasised.
Experimental course: Measurement and data analysis.
Optics.
PHY 1E2: Electronics Literacy
Theory course: Basic electricity and electronics
necessary to connect up and commission modern,
popular commercial instrumentation, in particular
microprocessor based devices.
Experimental course: Electrical circuits; elementary analogue and digital electronics;
elementary interfacing and communication between computers and peripheral devices. cards
and peripherals.
There are two independent second-year courses in Physics with Electronics. PHY 201 is held in the first semester and PHY 202 in the second semester. Credit may be obtained in each course separately and, in addition, an aggregate mark of at least 50% will be deemed to be equivalent to a two-credit course PHY 2, provided that a candidate obtains the required sub-minimum in each component. No supplementary examinations will be offered for either course. Class tests, assignments and reports collectively comprise the class mark, which forms part of the final mark for each course.
Credit in Physics with Electronics (PHY 1), and in Mathematics (MAT 1) is normally required before a student may register for PHY 201 or PHY 202.
PHY 201
Theory course: AC theory; Vibrations; Classical Mechanics; Waves
Experimental course: AC circuits; analogue and digital
electronics.
PHY 202
Theory course: Optics; Electrostatics; Quantum Mechanics; Special
Relativity.
Experimental course: Physics laboratory techniques.
There are two third-year courses in Physics with Electronics. PHY 301 is held in the first semester and PHY 302 in the second semester. Credit may be obtained in each course separately and, in addition, an aggregate mark of at least 50% will be deemed to be equivalent to a two-credit course PHY 3, provided that a candidate obtains the required sub-minimum in each component. No supplementary examinations will be offered for either course. Class tests, assignments and reports collectively comprise the class mark, which forms part of the final mark for each course.
Credits in Physics with Electronics (PHY 2), and in Mathematics 2 (MAT 2 or MAP 2 with the modules in Advanced Calculus and Linear Algebra) are normally required before a student may register for PHY 301 or PHY 302. Adequate performance in PHY 301 is required before a candidate may register for PHY 302.
PHY 301
Theory course: Electromagnetism; Quantum Mechanics 1; Quantum Mechanics 2;
Spectra.
Experimental course: Analogue electronics; advanced
digital electronics.
PHY 302
Theory course: Thermodynamics; Statistical Physics; Solid State Physics;
Nuclear Physics; General Relativity.
Experimental course: Physics laboratory techniques.
Candidates may choose to read for Honours degrees in Physics, Electronics, Telecommunications, Joint Physics and Electronics or in approved combinations with subjects offered by other departments.
A BSc with a major in Physics with Electronics, and credit in either MAT 2 or MAP 2 is the normal entrance requirement for these courses.
Practical work, essays, tests and a project done during the year form part of the final mark, and a full course typically includes an approved selection of nine topics from those listed below.
Physics Honours
Aeronomy; radio astronomy; computer interfacing; classical mechanics; electrodynamics; optics; solid state physics; defects in solids; signal processing, quantum physics, nuclear physics. Appropriate topics from the list of the Electronics Honours course.
Electronics Honours
Computer interfacing; control; electronics design; optics; telecommunications; signal processing; waveguides and antennas. Appropriate topics from the list of the Physics Honours course.
Telecommunications Honours
Aeronomy; computer interfacing; control theory; electronics design; optics; radio propagation; signal processing; telecommunications; waveguides and antennas.
Joint Physics and Electronics Honours, and other combinations
For Joint Honours programmes, an approved selection of topics may be taken from the lists given for the Physics and Electronics Honours courses, so that the final proportion in each is between 40% and 60%. Similarly, Physics or Electronics may be combined with another approved Honours course (e.g. in Computer Science, Geology, Chemistry, Mathematics) to form a joint Honours course. A candidate may substitute approved topics from other Honours courses in the Faculty of Science for topics in any of the Honours courses in this Department.
Suitably qualified students are encouraged to proceed to the research degrees of MSc and PhD under the direction of the staff of the Department. Requirements for the MSc and PhD degrees are given in the General Rules.
The Master's degree may be taken in Physics, or Electronics, and will be examined by thesis. Candidates may also be required to take an oral examination. Acceptance of the candidate will depend on previous academic record and availability of suitable projects. Current areas of specialisation include radio astronomy; particle physics; nuclear physics; upper atmosphere physics; and luminescence. The current areas of specialisation in Electronics are transducers, instrumentation and digital signal processing.
A PhD degree may be taken by thesis. Candidates may also be required to take an oral examination. Acceptance of the candidate will depend on previous academic record and availability of suitable projects, and is at the discretion of the Head of Department. Current areas of specialisation are as for the MSc degree.
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