Physics

Study physics at home by distance education to understand physical sciences and study or work in physics or engineering.

Course Code: BSC206
Fee Code: S2
Duration (approx) Duration (approx) 100 hours
Qualification Statement of Attainment
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A knowledge of Physics is Fundamental to Most Jobs Today
 
If you didn't learn enough about physics while at school; this can be an opportunity to learn now. 
  • Start any time
  • Study from anywhere and at your own pace
Develop a foundation to applying theoretical physics in any world situations, from engineering and environmental management to rural industries and health sciences.
Examining objects in motion and understanding the concepts of displacement, velocity, speed and acceleration is a great way to understand how physics work.
This course guides you through a journey of discovery, through reading, observing things, interacting with knowledgeable and experienced academics and discovering new ways of looking at the physical world around you. 
 

Lesson Structure

There are 10 lessons in this course:

  1. Review of Basic Algebra
    • Introduction
    • Equations and formulae
    • Variables
    • Quadratic equations
    • Graphing
    • Geometry
    • Triangles
    • Basic formulae
    • Quadrilaterals
    • Angles and radians
    • Logarithms and exponentials
    • Trigonometry
  2. Introduction: Scope and Nature of Physics
    • Observing, measuring, modeling, predicting
    • Units of measurement
    • Converting between units
    • Precision of measurements and identifying significant digits
  3. Forces and Mechanics
    • Physics and motion
    • Displacement
    • Speed and velocity
    • Acceleration
    • Force
    • Force of gravity
    • Work
    • Power
    • Energy
  4. Waves
    • What are waves
    • Properties of waves: longitudinal waves, transverse waves
    • Wave terminology
    • Relationship of frequency or period
    • Wave speed
    • Electromagnetic radiation and waves
    • Sound waves
    • Sound spectrum
    • Measuring sound
    • Speed of sound
    • Doppler effect
    • Standing waves and resonance
  5. Electricity and Magnetism
    • Electrostatics
    • Conductors and insulators
    • How to make an electroscope
    • Coulomb's law
    • The electric field
    • Electricity and electric circuits
    • Current
    • Voltage
    • Resistance
    • Power
    • Ohm's law
    • Circuits: series, parallel
    • Magnets
    • Magnetic forces
    • Ferromagnetism
    • Creating magnets
    • Earth's magnetic field
    • Geomagnetic reversal
    • Electromagnetism
    • Electromagnetism and solenoids
    • Electric motors
    • Magnetic force
    • Right hand rule
    • Inductors
    • Lenz's law
  6. Energy and Work
    • What is energy
    • Mechanical energy
    • Potential energy
    • Kinetic energy
    • Conservation of total energy and mechanical energy
    • Converting kinetic energy into potential energy
    • Work and force
    • Conservative and non conservative forces
    • Conservation of mass energy
  7. Fundamentals of Thermodynamics
    • Temperature measurement units
    • Fahrenheit
    • Celsius
    • Kelvin
    • Converting between units
    • What is heat
    • Heat transfers: thermal equilibrium
    • Thermal expansion and thermal contraction
  8. Light and Optics
    • What is light
    • Reflection
    • Refraction
    • Demonstration of refraction
    • Index of refraction
    • Diffraction
    • The electromagnetic spectrum
    • How a rainbow forms
    • What are mirrors
    • Flat mirrors
    • Convex mirrors
    • Concave mirrors
    • Lenses
    • Converging lenses
    • Diverging lenses
  9. Nuclear Physics and Radioactivity
    • Structure of matter
    • The periodic table
    • What is radioactivity
    • Alpha radiation
    • Beta radiation
    • Gamma radiation
    • Radioactivity applications
    • Nuclear medicine -diagnostic and therapy
    • Radioactive tracers in agriculture
    • Food irradiation
    • Archeological and geological dating
    • Radiocarbon dating
    • Half life
    • Power generation
    • Radiation effects and injuries
    • Cancer and burns caused by radiation
  10. Astronomy, Cosmology and Astrophysics
    • What is astronomy
    • The pioneers of astronomy
    • The branches of astronomy
    • Sub fields of astronomy
    • Astronomy in our daily life
    • The most important discoveries in astronomy
    • What is Cosmology
    • How did cosmology evolve
    • Hubble's law
    • Cosmological principle
    • Calculate the age of the universe using the Hubble constant
    • What is astrophysics

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.


What sorts of things will you learn in this course?

Maths is the language of physics, that’s why any Physics course needs to contain "some" maths.
This is not a maths course though! (We review basic and relevant maths in the first lesson).
 
Much of physics is about explaining physical phenomena and being able to create predictive mathematical models or theories to explain why things occur as they do and be able to predict future results in a reliable manner.
 
 
Learn to Understand Motion
 
Examining objects in motion and understanding the concepts of displacement, velocity, speed and acceleration is a great way to understand how physics work. It is the study of motion which began since 400 years that gave birth to the science of physics, and is often known as “kinematics”. There are only a few mathematical equations that you need to know in this section and they are relatively simple and straight forward and easy to remember.
 
 
What are Waves?
 
Simply put waves are a form of energy travelling from one place to another; for example think of the sun, it is very far away yet its light and heat reaches earth, think of hitting a snare drum; the sound travels to your ears. These are only two examples of waves but there are many more. Unfortunately sound waves and radio waves can’t really be seen, this makes them hard to describe, however one can visualize how waves behave when dropping a stone into water.
 
 
What are Electrostatics?
 
Over the past few decades, people’s dependency on electricity has witnessed an exponential growth, compared with the past century where people only used a few electric lights. However, scientists began to study and research electricity long before electric lamps were invented. These studies and observations date back to the days of ancient Greeks when they observed that rubbing amber would allow it to attract smaller objects such as feathers. To better understand electricity, we need to start with understanding electrostatics which is the study of electric charges at rest.
 
 
Understanding Energy
 
The energy of an object can be defined as the potential of that object to do work. This has relevance to kinetic energy, potential energy and other types of energy, such as chemical, electrical, nuclear and thermal energy. To further understand the concept of energy, consider a ball rolling on the ground. If you apply a force to the ball and increase its rolling speed, you are actually doing work on the ball which results in an increase in the ball’s energy. So as you can see, work and energy are inter-related and in this lesson you will learn how to calculate the work done on an object as well as the amount of potential and kinetic energy that object possesses at any point in time.
 

WHY STUDY PHYSICS?

Physics is the foundation of so much of our daily lives. Machines, tools and equipment that we use every day, both at work, and in our private lives, are commonly designed, built and used by applying the principles of physics. Without physics, we wouldn't have computers, cameras, broadcasting (TV and radio), plumbing or electric lighting.
An understanding of physics allows construction workers to move things more easily and build things more soundly.
Physics even allows athletes to better understand how the human body moves.

This is an excellent foundation course for many industries; from engineering to photography and farming to transport.



 

ACS Distance Education holds an Educational Membership with the ATA.
ACS Distance Education holds an Educational Membership with the ATA.
Member of Study Gold Coast Education Network.
Member of Study Gold Coast Education Network.
ACS Global Partner - Affiliated with colleges in seven countries around the world.
ACS Global Partner - Affiliated with colleges in seven countries around the world.
Since 1999 ACS has been a recognised member of IARC (International Approval and Registration Centre). A non-profit quality management organisation servicing education.
Since 1999 ACS has been a recognised member of IARC (International Approval and Registration Centre). A non-profit quality management organisation servicing education.

How can I start this course?

You can enrol at anytime and start the course when you are ready. Enrolments are accepted all year - students can commence study at any time. All study is self paced and ACS does not set assignment deadlines.

Please note that if a student is being assisted by someone else (e.g. an employer or government subsidy), the body offering the assistance may set deadlines. Students in such situations are advised to check with their sponsor prior to enrolling. The nominal duration of a course is approximately how long a course takes to complete. A course with a nominal duration of 100 hours is expected to take roughly 100 hours of study time to complete. However, this will vary from student to student. Short courses (eg. 100 hrs duration) should be completed within 12 months of enrolment. Certificates, Advanced Certificates and Awards (eg. over 500 hours duration) would normally be completed within 3 -5 years of enrolment. Additional fees may apply if a student requires an extended period to complete.
If a student cannot submit their assignments for 6 months to ACS, they should advise the school to avoid cancellation of their student
registration. Recommencement fees may apply.

Simply click on the ENROL OPTIONS button at the top of this screen and follow the prompts.

You can see the course price at the top of this page. Click 'enrolment options' to see any payment options available.

You can pay by Credit Card, PayPal, Afterpay or bank transfer.

Yes! We have payment plans for most courses. Click 'enrolment options' to see the available payment plans.
We also have Afterpay that will allow you to pay for your course or payment plans in four instalments (if you are in Australia).


What do I need to know before I enrol?

There are no entry requirements that you need to meet to enrol in our courses, our courses are for everyone.
If you are under 18, we need written permission from your parent/ guardian for your enrolment to continue, we can arrange that after you have enrolled.

You don’t need to purchase any additional resources to complete our courses.

We aim to teach you the essentials without you having to purchase any specific computer program.
We recommend that you have access to a word processing program, such as Microsoft Word or Google Docs, so that you can easily complete and submit your assignments.

You sure can. We are here to help you learn whatever your abilities.

Yes, if you are enrolling in a Certificate or Advanced Certificate, you might be eligible for credits if you have evidence of your previous studies or relevant experience. More information is here.

We recommend that you are able to browse websites, send emails and conduct online research. You will need to be able to type and submit your assignments.
If you have limited computer skills, we can make special arrangements for you.

This is possible, it depends on the institution. We recommend that if you would like to use our courses that you contact the institution first. Our Course Handbook is a good resource for this.

Our courses are written in English and we only have English speaking academic staff. If you can read and complete your assignments in English, our courses are ideal for you.

Our courses are designed to build knowledge, hands on skills and industry connections to help prepare you to work in the area, running your own business, professional development or as a base for further study.

This course has been designed to cover the fundamentals of the topic. It will take around 100 hours to complete, which includes your course reading, assignment work, research, practical tasks, watching videos and anything else that is contained in the course. Our short courses are a great way to do some professional development or to learn a new skill.

It’s up to you. The study hours listed in the course are a rough guide, however if you were to study a short course (100 hours) at 10 hours per week, you could finish the course in 10 weeks (just an example). Our courses are self-paced, so you can work through the courses in your own time. We recommend that you wait for your tutor to mark and return your assignment before your start your next one, so you get the benefits of their feedback.

The course consists of course notes, videos, set tasks for your practical work, online quizzes, an assignment for each lesson (that you receive feedback from your tutor from) and ends in an exam (which is optional, if would like to receive the formal award at the end), using our custom built Learning Management System - Login.Training.

Our courses are designed for adults to gain professional development and skills to further their careers and start businesses.

Our custom online learning portal allows you to conduct your learning online. There may be practical tasks that you can do offline. You have the option of downloading your course notes or print them to read later.

There is also the option to pay an additional fee for printed course notes and or USB (availability limited to location and deliverability).

Yes, if you don’t have access to the internet, you can receive the course as paper notes or on a USB stick for an additional fee. We can also make alternative arrangements for you to send your assignments to us.

We offer printed notes for an additional fee. Also, you can request your course notes on a USB stick for an additional fee.

Yes, your tutor is here to help you. Simply post any questions you have in your login.training portal or contact the office and we can pass on a message to your tutor.

We are more learning focussed, rather than assessment focussed. You have online quizzes to test your learning, written assignments and can complete an exam at the end of the course (if you want to receive your certificate). You will not receive a pass/ fail on your course work. If you need to add more details on your assignment, we will ask you to resubmit and direct you where you need to focus. If you need help, you can ask your tutor for advice in the student room.

Each module (short course) is completed with one exam.

Exams are optional, however you must sit an exam if you would like to receive a formal award. You will need to find someone who can supervise that you are sitting the exams under exams conditions. There is an additional cost of $60 incl. GST for each exam.
More information is here

There are practical components built into the course that have been designed to be achieved by anyone, anywhere. If you are unable to complete a task for any reason, you can ask your tutor for an alternative.

When you complete the course work and the exam and you will be able receive your course certificate- a Statement of Attainment. Otherwise, you can receive a Letter of Completion.

You can bundle the short courses to create your own customised learning bundle, Certificates or Advanced Certificates. More information is on this page.

Yes, our courses are built to be applicable for people living anywhere in any situation. We provide the fundamentals, and each student can apply their own unique flair for their own interests, region and circumstances with the one-on-one guidance of a tutor. There is also a bit of student directed research involved.

Employers value candidates with industry skills, knowledge, practical skills and formal learning. Our courses arm you with all of these things to help prepare you for a job or start your own business. The longer you study the more you will learn.

ACS has an arrangement with OAMPS (formerly AMP) who can arrange Professional Indemnity from Australian and New Zealand graduates across all disciplines. Ph: 1800 222 012 or email acs@oamps.com.au.


Who are ACS Distance Education?

ACS Distance Education have been educating people for over 40 years.

We are established and safe- we have been in education for over 40 years.
We are focused on developing innovative courses that are relevant to you now and what you will need to know in the future.
We are focused on helping you learn and make the most of your experience.
You can enrol at any time, you can work on your course when it suits you and at your own pace.
We are connected to many industry bodies and our staff participate in continuous improvement and learning activities to ensure that we are ahead of what learning is needed for the future.

Our courses are not accredited by the Australian Government. However many of our courses are recognised and held in high regard by many industry bodies.

Our courses are written by our staff, who all have many years experience and have qualifications in their speciality area. We have lots of academic staff who write and update our courses regularly.


How do I enrol my staff/ sponsored students?

Yes, you can do a request for a bulk enrolment and request an invoice on our Invoice Request Form

We can prepare an invoice, quote or proforma invoice. Simply complete your details on our Invoice Request form

We can arrange bulk discounts for your course enrolment, please get in touch with us to discuss your needs.

Yes, we have many students who are in locked facilities, such as prisons or hospitals. We can cater by also offering paper notes at an additional cost.


What if I have any more questions or need more information?

We can assist you to find the right course for your needs. Get in touch with us via email (admin@acs.edu.au) call on +61 7 5562 1088 or complete our course advice form.


What if I change my mind?

Please get in touch with studentservices@acs.edu.au if you would like to be removed from our mail list.

If you would like ACS Distance Education to delete your information at any time (whether you are a customer or a prospective customer), please contact our privacy officer and we will process this ( admin@acs.edu.au ).

If students require a reproduction of their certificate, an electronic copy can be provided at a cost of AUD$35 incl GST. Printed copies are not available.




Course Contributors

The following academics were involved in the development and/or updating of this course.

Dr. Sherif Sakr

Research Scientist and University Lecturer in Computer Science and Engineering. Sherif has a PhD in Computer Science, MSc, BSc.

Jade Sciascia

Biologist, Business Coordinator, Government Environmental Dept, Secondary School teacher (Biology); Recruitment Consultant, Senior Supervisor in Youth Welfare, Horse Riding Instructor (part-completed) and Boarding Kennel Manager.
Jade has a B.Sc.Biol, Dip.Professional Education, Cert IV TESOL, Cert Food Hygiene.

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