PHYC30023 Light, Lasers, Optics
University of Melbourne · Level 3 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Semester 1.
- Final exam 75%: exam-heavy
- About 4 class hours a week
Is PHYC30023 hard?
PHYC30023: About average. Makes it harder: Final exam 75%. No student reviews yet — based on the Handbook only.
What you learn
Modern optics from rays and beams to interference, lasers and super-resolution microscopes.
After it you can
- Predict how optical instruments behave
- Explain how lasers work
- Use matrix methods to trace light rays
What you need first
PHYC20015 and ((MAST20009 or MAST20032) and (MAST20026 or MAST20030 or PHYC20014 or MAST20033))
- PHYC20015 Special Relativity and Electromagnetism
- MAST20009 Vector Calculus
- MAST20032 Vector Calculus: Advanced
- MAST20026 Real Analysis
- MAST20030 Differential Equations
- PHYC20014 Theoretical Physics 2
- MAST20033 Real Analysis: Advanced
Careers
Helps toward: Meteorologist
How it’s assessed
Assignments 15%, Projects 10%, Final exam 75%
Student reviews and ratings
No student reviews yet — be the first to rate it.
Taken this subject? Rate it anonymously (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Rate PHYC30023
Quick answers
- When is PHYC30023 offered?
- Runs in 2026: Semester 1.
- What do I need before taking PHYC30023?
- Needs PHYC20015 and ((MAST20009 or MAST20032) and (MAST20026 or MAST20030 or PHYC20014 or MAST20033)).
- Does PHYC30023 have a final exam?
- Yes, the final exam is 75% of the mark. Assessment: Assignments 15%, Projects 10%, Final exam 75%.
- How many class hours a week does PHYC30023 have?
- 4 h a week in class
- Can I take PHYC30023 as breadth?
- No, it isn’t listed as breadth for any course.
- Can I rate PHYC30023?
- 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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