PHYC10006 Physics 2: Life Sciences & Environment
University of Melbourne · Level 1 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Semester 2.
- Final exam 60%: exam-heavy
- About 5 class hours a week
Is PHYC10006 hard?
PHYC10006: Harder. #17 on the hardest list for Bachelor of Science. Makes it easier: First-year subject. Makes it harder: Reviewers say it’s hard (10 reviews), Final exam 60%, 1 other hurdle task, 5 class hours a week.
What you learn
Physics behind living things and the environment: blood flow, heat, nerves, radiation and medical imaging.
After it you can
- Apply physics to biology and environment problems
- Explain how X-rays, CT and ultrasound work
- Take measurements in the lab and interpret them
What you need first
a VCE Physics study score of 25 or more (or equivalent) or (PHYC10001 or PHYC10003) or PHYC10009
- PHYC10001 Physics 1: Advanced
- PHYC10003 Physics 1
- PHYC10009 Foundations of Physics
- MAST10014 Foundation Mathematics 1
- MAST10015 Foundation Mathematics 2
What it leads to
- PHYC20012 Quantum and Thermal Physics
- PHYC20013 Laboratory and Computational Physics 2
- PHYC20014 Theoretical Physics 2
- PHYC20015 Special Relativity and Electromagnetism
Can’t be taken together with
- PHYC10002 Physics 2: Advanced
- PHYC10004 Physics 2: Physical Science & Technology
- PHYC10007 Physics for Biomedicine
Careers
Helps toward: Meteorologist
How it’s assessed
Assignments 40%, Final exam 60%
Student reviews and ratings
Summarised from 10 students on StudentVIP (2014–2023)
- The content is challenging, and electricity and magnetism take up a large share. The life-science side is mostly just examples.
- Pracs are often time-pressured and logbooks take effort. Do the pre-lab work and read the prac notes beforehand.
- The exam is long and can be hard. Revise the lecture demonstrations, know how to derive formulas, and use the problem classes and past exams.
- Opinions on the teaching are split. Some liked the lectures, while others mostly taught themselves from the textbook and videos.
A summary of public reviews, not scored here.
Taken this subject? Rate it anonymously (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Rate PHYC10006
Quick answers
- When is PHYC10006 offered?
- Runs in 2026: Semester 2.
- What do I need before taking PHYC10006?
- Needs a VCE Physics study score of 25 or more (or equivalent) or (PHYC10001 or PHYC10003) or PHYC10009.
- Does PHYC10006 have a final exam?
- Yes, the final exam is 60% of the mark. Assessment: Assignments 40%, Final exam 60%.
- Is PHYC10006 hard?
- From 10 student reviews on StudentVIP: The content is challenging, and electricity and magnetism take up a large share. The life-science side is mostly just examples.
- What do students say about PHYC10006?
- The content is challenging, and electricity and magnetism take up a large share. The life-science side is mostly just examples. Pracs are often time-pressured and logbooks take effort. Do the pre-lab work and read the prac notes beforehand. The exam is long and can be hard. Revise the lecture demonstrations, know how to derive formulas, and use the problem classes and past exams.
- How many class hours a week does PHYC10006 have?
- 5 h a week in class
- Can I take PHYC10006 as breadth?
- Yes, for: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art), Bachelor of Music.
- What can I take after PHYC10006?
- 4 subjects need it first, for example PHYC20012, PHYC20013, PHYC20014, PHYC20015.
- Can I rate PHYC10006?
- Yes. If you've taken it, rate it anonymously on this page (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Averages show once 3 students have rated it; tips are checked before they appear.
Source: University of Melbourne Handbook 2026
Always confirm in the official Handbook.
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