Module Reviews

Aims of a module review

-To give the reader an idea of the modules content, teaching quality,
assessment so he/she may make an informed decision whether or not to take
the module. (1)
-To give suggestions on how to cope with the module and gain the most out of it,
usually based on personal experience. (2)
-To give the reader an enjoyable time by making the review clear, concise, and
entertaining. (3)
Overview: A summary of the content. Identify the main points, elaborate later.
Content & workload: Syllabus, workload, assessment.
Teaching staff: Lecturer, tutor.
Personal experience: POV of someone who has been there. Advice for future
students.
Go with the template format for now
Consider elaborating on the syllabus or content after listing the syllabus down.
PC1143
Taken in AY 2014/15 Sem 2
If youre not a Physics major, do not take this module. You have been warned.
Overview:
This module serves as an introduction to electricity and magnetism at the
university level and is a core module for Physics majors. You can consider it as a
gigantic extension of the EM portion of the A level syllabus. Like other Year 1
Physics modules, the emphasis is on being able to quantify (read: using math)
the physics, as opposed to merely being able to explain the physical significance
of the concept being taught.
Do not be fooled by the word introduction, as the current lecturer teaches this
module with the intention of preparing Physics majors for the rigour of higher
level modules such as PC2131. Basically, this module is like PC1141 reloaded,
with more calculus, more unfamiliar content, and more hair-pulling when doing
tutorials and assignments.
________
Syllabus:

1. Electric Force
2. Electric Field
3. Electric Flux
4. Gausss Law
5. Electric Potential
6. Capacitance
7. Current & Resistance
8. DC circuits
9. Magnetic Force
10. Magnetic Field
11. Electromagnetic Induction
12. Inductance
13. AC Circuits
14. Unification of Electricity and Magnetism
15. Electromagnetic waves
Lectures will be conducted twice a week, tutorials once every fortnight, and labs
once every fortnight as well. Im sure you are already familiar with this format if
you are a Physics major. If you arent, I hope you are just reading this for fun.
Dont let me give you any ideas ok? I hold no responsibility whatsoever for any
drop in CAP that might occur as a result of your taking this module.
________
The current assessment components are similar to other first-year Physics
modules:
-10% Assignment (Mastering Physics)
-5% Lecture clicker
-15% Laboratory
-10% Mid-term test: The test questions are organised into 3 levels of difficulty;
the harder the question, the more marks it is worth. Even though its an MCQ
paper, the paper wasnt easy, with the class median around 50-ish. Remember
that speed is of the essence. Don't spend too long on a single question as there
are easy questions near the end of the paper.
-60% Final exam: This was an absolute killer. A lot of people left half the
questions blank, and time was very limited. However, at least you know what the
questions were asking for, so if you drill the tutorial and past year papers hard
enough, it is definitely possible to get a good mark for this.
*Please note that the above curriculum might be tweaked sometime in the near
future. The department is currently contemplating lowering the weightage of the

final exam (to 50%), increasing the number of tutorials, and so forth. Do check
IVLE for the latest updates.
________
Workload:
The workload (apart from the standard lectures, lab reports etc.) mostly comes
from the challenging tutorials and assignments given by the lecturer. I would say
assignments are set at around exam paper difficulty, while tutorials are much
harder, often undoable by the average student. Many of my weekends were
burnt by the long hours I spent to complete tutorials and assignments.
Oh, and for those of you thinking lolll, doesnt this noob know that I can Google
all my answers for Mastering Physics like Ive been doing all this while?, let me
just say that the lecturer has a way of ensuring that you do not, I quote: shortcircuit your learning path. :)
________
Teaching staff:
Lecturer: Dr Kenneth Hong Chong Ming
Kenneth is very committed to his teaching. He talks about everything in a very
excitable manner, and you can sense his passion from a mile away (back of LT).
His lecture notes are very comprehensive, complete with derivations and
applications, which is pretty amazing considering it is his first time teaching this
module. He is approachable and more than happy to take questions from
students after lectures and during his consultation sessions.
Due to the vast amount of content to be covered, lectures tend to overrun to the
next session, so a typical lecture will cover the unfinished part of the previous
chapter, followed by the first half of the next chapter. Not that its a bad thing,
since it also gives us the opportunity to review the contents of the previous
chapter. (Perhaps Kenneth intended it that
way?) There arent any breaks as well. As someone who has a rather short
attention span, I found it difficult to concentrate for the entire session, while I
couldnt self-impose breaks since one has to be around for the lecture clicker
exercises.
Tutor: Angeline Shu Sze Yi
Angeline is, hands down, one of the best tutors in the physics department. Her
tutorials are like a breath of fresh air. She can make the most complicated and
inaccessible problems seem really simple with her clear and thorough

explanations. Her tutorials are self-contained, meaning that even if you go into
the tutorial without looking at the questions beforehand, you will still benefit.
Her tutorial solutions are extremely detailed, listing out step-by-step the thinking
process for each problem. This can be either helpful or a hindrance depending on
who you are. She is also very approachable, and willing to spend time beyond
her (already extended) tutorial sessions to answer questions from students.
While she occasionally has difficulty with more advanced questions, which is not
unexpected considering its her first time teaching this module, she makes it a
point to get back to the student after class (usually via email).
________
Personal experience:
At the end of the module, I became much more comfortable with applying
calculus in physics problems, which for me was a vast improvement from
PC1141, when calculus problems spelt certain death. I believe its due to the
incredible amount of calculus problems we were exposed to from the beginning
to the end of the module. It truly gives a new meaning to the saying Practise
makes perfect.
This module is not going to be easy, but at the end, the reward for your hard
work will not just be the grade you receive, but also being more prepared to
bridge the gap to Year 2.

PC1144
Taken in AY 2014/15 Sem 2
Everything in this module is easy. To me that is.
Overview:
This core physics module introduces the most recent, and some may say,
outlandish ideas in Physics like relativity and quantum mechanics, which,
surprise, surprise, happens to be the subject of many higher level modules. In
that respect, much of the content can be said to be greatly dumbed down, with
the majority of advanced mathematics being omitted, while the focus being
more on the qualitative understanding of concepts.
It is worth noting that JC students are also taking this module as their H3 subject,
which slightly affects the conduct of the module. The good news is that you
wont be expected to draw upon your knowledge from PC1141/42 and other Math
modules, since they have to cater to the JC students. The bad news is that the
department will not release the past year papers (due to it being an A level

subject and all). Also, H3 students do not form part of the bell curve, so dont get
your hopes up.
Syllabus:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Relativity
Quantum Physics
Mathematical background
Quantum Mechanics
Atomic Structure
Nuclear Physics
Particle Physics
Cosmology (Not examinable)

Workload:
The workload consists of the standard components of a Year 1 physics mod.
Content-wise, as most of the above topics, such as particle physics and
cosmology, are really self-contained topics of study with their own modules and
are also active areas of research, only the bare essentials on each topic have
been selected to be taught.
That said, the lecturer will still include a lot of derivations and proofs in his
lecture notes, some of which are not examinable. This can lead to a lot of
confusion as to what to focus on for the exam. However, the lecturer likes to drop
hints on the exam coverage, so make sure you attend all the lectures!
Assessment (for NUS students):
10% Handwritten assignments (4-5 in total)
5% Tutorial attendance
15% Lab component
10% Mid-term test
60% Final exam
*H3 students have a slightly different assessment; minus the assignments and
tutorial attendance, and a larger weightage for the final exam to compensate.
Teaching Staff:
Lecturer: Dr Ng Wei Khim
Wei Khim is a good lecturer who is very familiar with the content he teaches, and
explains concepts relatively well. However, I personally feel that he pitches the
level of content a bit too high for a level 1 module, especially one which involves
a lot of abstract and counter-intuitive concepts. There were many times when I
was lost in the maze of calculus and algebra with hardly any idea of what the
math was supposed to represent. I guess he is just so used to doing theoretical

physics at such an advanced level that he had forgotten how much, or rather
how little, a typical H3 or first-year student knows.
His lecture practices were however, quite useful in helping many of us grasp the
concepts being taught. I also appreciate his stance of not spoon-feeding us the
content, allowing us to learn independently, as how it should be in university.
Tutor: Dr Ching Chee Leong
Chee Leong is a solid tutor. His style of teaching is unique in that he uses
PowerPoint slides to present the solutions instead of writing on the whiteboard. I
guess that is because the tutorial questions are mostly straightforward, with little
to no tedious calculations required. He is also very approachable, taking time to
answer students questions after class and giving advice on the various fields of
study in physics.
Do take the time to chat with either him or the lecturer; both of them studied at
NUS in the past, so they can give you advice from their past experience.
Personal Experience:
I had a great time in this module, as it allowed me to appreciate the finer points
of such ideas of time dilation or wave-particle duality which I was first introduced
to by popular science books.
However, it wasnt easy coming to terms with the new and abstract topics, such
as quantum mechanics. As the lecture notes are not meant to be comprehensive,
I got confused easily as I had little prior knowledge of the content. Thankfully,
reading the recommended textbook helped clear up many misconceptions. Doing
the practice questions at the end of every chapter in place of past year papers
was useful too, as many tutorial questions are actually taken from the textbook.
I kind of let my guard down during the exam, thinking that being able to do the
assignments and tutorial questions is sufficient. I think I wasnt the only one,
though. The lecturer has a way of luring you into a false sense of security,
making you think that the exam paper is really easy, when it is really from his
perspective, not yours. Make sure you fully understand what is going on, and be
familiar with the important derivations in the syllabus if you want to do well for
the exam.
PC2230
Taken in AY 2014/15 Sem 2
Please be reminded that you are allowed one double-sided A4 size help-sheet
for the final exam.
Overview:
Before I begin, I would like to highlight that I am reviewing the module taken by
Physics majors, not the one taken by ESP students. Although the module code

and content are mostly identical, the focus for ESP students is more on
applications while the emphasis for Physics majors is on fundamental theorems
and their derivations. ESP students currently take the module in Sem 1, while
Physics majors can only take it in Sem 2. Just in case you were confused. I know I
was.
This module can be seen as an extension of the thermodynamics part of PC1142,
but with the inclusion of statistical ideas, e.g. permutations, to explain
thermodynamic concepts such as entropy. A lot of emphasis is placed on
derivations of important formulae, over solving practical problems; hence a lot of
people find this module to be very dry and abstract. That said, many concepts
are taught here which link to other areas of physics like EM and QM, letting you
appreciate the interconnectedness between different areas of physics.
Syllabus:
1. 1st Law of Thermodynamics
2. 2nd Law of Thermodynamics (Part 1)
3. Para-magnetism
4. 2nd Law of Thermodynamics (Part 2)
5. Heat Capacity
6. Perfect Classical Gas
7. Phase Equilibria
8. Perfect QM Gas
9. Blackbody Radiation
10.Systems with Variable Particle Numbers
Almost all the content is taken from the textbook (Statistical Physics by Mandl),
so it might be a good idea to get your hands on it (or not, depending on how you
look at it). If you are having trouble understanding the lecture notes, the
textbook does provide a fuller explanation that may help. Otherwise, the
textbook is not necessary since it doesnt really add anything new to what is
already covered in the lectures.
Lectures are conducted twice a week (2x2 hours), and an hour-long tutorial once
every fortnight.
The assessment components for my year are:
15% Test (Week 5)
15% Test (Week 12, 1-sided help-sheet allowed)
70% Final exam (2-sided help-sheet allowed)
Teaching Staff:
Lecturer: Prof Kwok Meng Hau
Prof Kwok has been lecturing this module for quite a number of years now. He is
a kind and elderly lecturer, quite approachable, though his lecturing is not the
most effective. He has the tendency to gloss over most of the math during his

lectures, assuming that we are already familiar with it. Perhaps the quality of
students during his time was better, but many people, me included, do not have
the strongest mathematical background, and thus struggle to make sense of the
derivations.
Prof Kwok is aware of this, I believe, as he tries his best not to fail anyone in his
class. His tests and exams are very straightforward, with questions taken from
the tutorials and lecture practices. While derivations will be tested, no
memorization is required as you can refer to your help-sheet. So do spend some
quality time preparing your help-sheet! It can make the difference between a
pass and a fail.
Tutor: Dr Kenneth Hong Chong Ming
Those of you who have been taught by Kenneth before will recognise his
excitable personality when he conducts his tutorials.
The tutorial questions are set by Kenneth himself, which is great. I cant describe
in words how much the tutorials helped me to understand the content. Kenneth
includes modified past exam questions to prepare us for exams, while also
choosing interesting questions which puts the thermodynamics concepts taught
in class to surprising uses.
Personal Experience:
One of the things that shocked me the most was the realization that PC1142 was
not helpful at all, even though I took it as recently as the previous semester. Its
probably because PC1142 covers things like heat engines, which is easier to
visualize, while the focus here is skewed towards more abstract stuff, i.e.
fundamental ideas and their derivations.
They say that the difficulty jump between 1st and 2nd year physics is gigantic, and
after taking this module, I can say that they were absolutely right. I was a
nervous wreck before every single test and the exam, as I was acutely aware of
how little I understood. It always seemed like a miracle that I was able to do most
of the questions, courtesy of Prof Kwok of course. It was really very humbling, as
I honestly felt like I didnt deserve the marks that I received for the tests.
MA1506
Taken in AY 2014/15 Sem 2
Overview:
In a nutshell, this module teaches you how to solve various differential equations
and linear algebra problems, then applying these techniques to solve actual
problems in the real world (albeit their simplified versions). As the reviews below
mine note, the problem-solving and mathematical modelling skills acquired from
this module form part of the core competencies required to tackle future
engineering (or for my case, physics) modules.

If you hated MA1505, heres some good news: with interconnected topics, less
abstract content, and plenty of applications, this module is much more
interesting than MA1505. Most people will enjoy this module both for its
relevance to engineering topics and the uniquely engaging way it is taught; or if
not, at least find it less of a bitter pill to swallow.
Syllabus:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Ordinary Differential Equations (Separable, first-order, second-order linear)

Applications of ODEs
Population Modelling
Laplace Transform
Matrices
Linear Transformations
Systems of First-order ODEs
Partial Differential Equations

The format of MA1506 is very similar to MA1505. With all the materials uploaded
to IVLE, most people dont attend lectures and tutorials, preferring to watch
webcast lectures and refer to the worked tutorial solutions and PYPs instead.
There is also a lab component where you learn how to use MatLab over four
sessions in the latter half of the semester. As these are optional, I did not go for
any of them, so I cant give any useful info on this. Apparently it used to form
part of the assessment, but has since been removed (probably so Chem engin
people dont gain an unfair advantage?).
Assessment:
20% Mid-term: Only Chapter 1 is tested.
80% Final Exam: Entire syllabus tested, 1 A4-sized double-sided help-sheet
allowed.
MA1506 uses the exact same mode of assessment as MA1505, with 10 MCQs in
1 hour for the mid-term, and 8 x 2 = 16 questions for the final. The difficulty
varies very little between semesters; most are cookie-cutter type questions,
which you should be able to ace by doing your PYPs, but there are always those
couple of questions which require you to think out of the box, to differentiate
those who really know their stuff.
Teaching Staff:
Lecturer: A/Prof Fred Leung Pui Fai
Prof Leung was the lecturer for my lecture group (Group B). You may know him as
the module coordinator from MA1505, and some of you may have been taught
by him before. He took two lecture slots (A & B) for this semester.
He is a decent lecturer who has had quite a lot of experience teaching, hes been
in NUS more than three decades if Im not wrong. He speaks with a Hong Kong

accent which is pretty funny at times, but it gets in the way of comprehension,
and I often had to concentrate hard to catch his words.
He uses his own handwritten notes to supplement the ones by the module
coordinator (more on him later), and its clear that he knows the content through
and through. Maybe too much, however, as he tends to skip steps when doing
calculations, often losing slower students (like myself) who are unable to see the
missing link(s).
Webcasted lecturer: Prof Brett McInnes
I was playing around with the webcast menu, wondering where lecture group Cs
lectures were, when I stumbled upon Prof McInnes Sem 1 lectures. It turned out
to be the best thing thats happened to me in the module.
Prof McInnes is, hands down, one of the best (and coolest) lecturers in NUS.
Watching his lectures is like watching a Hollywood movie. Not a bad analogy,
considering that he once showed us a clip of Lord of the Rings to illustrate the
mathematical modelling of warfare. How many of you can say youve seen
something like that in your math class?
He has some sort of magical ability to keep your attention throughout his entire
lecture (which is on math, thats saying something). He is able to explain things
in a succinct manner and make it entertaining at the same time. He often uses
online resources, such as applets, to illustrate certain topics, which greatly
helped me to visualize the math involved.
As the module coordinator, he created all the lecture notes and tutorials. In both,
he does his best to minimize the tedium of the mathematics by dreaming up
various imaginative scenarios where your newly acquired knowledge can be put
to use. Some examples include gambling in RWS, Angelina Jolie fandom, and lets
not forget about his favourite Shakespearian couple, Romeo and Juliet.
My only regret is not being able to join his lecture group so I can nominate him
for the teaching awards he deserves.
Personal experience:
I felt that I was much better prepared for this mod compared to MA1505. Firstly, I
finally understood the importance of spamming past year papers, which was
exactly what I did for both the mid-term and final exam, to astonishing results.
Second, I attended nearly all lectures and webcasted a different lecturer during
my revision to refresh my memory. Lastly, the great number of applications used
to illustrate concepts just made everything easier to grasp and understand.
While I believe that most people do better in MA1506 (and thus a steeper bell
curve), it still holds true that because of the enormous class size and
standardized format of testing, this is one of those modules where you are
almost guaranteed an A if you do your due diligence.
MA1104

Taken in AY2014/15 Sem 2

Overview:
MA1104 is a straightforward, content-covering module. It essentially explores
what happens if a function were dependent on more than one variable. And it
turns out that this simple change opens up a whole new realm of mathematics.
The module is unique in that it is one of the few math modules taken by math
majors which has direct applications to physics and engineering (thats just the
impression I get about math modules in general; math majors, do correct me if
Im wrong). Consequently, it is also not as abstract as many other math modules,
with less emphasis on proofs. It is definitely one of those math modules which
physics and engineering students can consider taking to strengthen their
mathematical foundation.
Syllabus:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Vectors
Functions of multiple variables
Partial derivatives
Directional derivative, Gradient vector
Extrema of functions, Lagrange multiplier
Double, triple integrals
Plane transformation
Line integrals
Surface integrals

Workload:
Quite manageable for a core module. With 2 x 2 hour lectures which are
webcasted, and 1 (optional) tutorial a week, much of your learning is selfdirected. So the amount of time you will be spending on this module will be a
function of both your desire to get good grades and your prior mathematical
background.
Assessment:
15% Assignments 4 sets of worksheets. Assignment questions are quite easy
by most standards, so you should be getting full marks or close to full marks for
them.
20% Mid-term test - For my class, the mid-term test was ridiculously easy, the
median score being 44/50. Most of the questions were taken from the practice
questions posted by the prof before the test, so really, all one has to do is copy
them down on the (2-sided) cheat sheet and score close to full marks without
even studying.
65% Final exam Typically has a mixture of simple questions and challenging
ones, which are conveniently arranged in order of difficulty. Make sure you score
full marks for the simple questions by attempting the past year papers and
copying the questions you think you might forget into your 2 cheat-sheets.

Teaching staff:
Lecturer/tutor: Dr Ku Cheng Yeaw
Dr Ku is great at both lectures and tutorials. He explains stuff slowly and
methodically, and I was able to follow his logic quite easily. Hes also very
patient, willing to repeat himself and explain basic concepts for slower students
like myself.
Also, I particularly liked the way he handled the moreenthusiastic elements in
the class. Those who took the module with me would know what I mean
Personal experience:
I found this module to be both manageable and helpful. As a core module for
math majors, it was easier than I expected. My math major friends also found it
easy compared to their other more proof-intensive modules. That is not to say
its a walk in the park, however. Its still content heavy, and you have to really
understand the content if you want to score well in the final exam.
As implied above, this module provides good training to tackle the multi variable
problems that appear in both physics and engineering. I cant speak for the
various fields of engineering, but you cant run away from partial derivatives and
vector calculus from year 2 physics onwards. A few days ago, I was looking at
some old tests for PC2132 Classical Mechanics when, to my shock, I realised I
could do a couple of the questions without referring to any of the lecture notes,
all thanks to the stuff I learnt here. So heads-up to all physics majors out there:
please take this module as your priority. It is even more important next year, as
MA1505 is no longer part of the curriculum.
PC1141
Taken in AY 2014/15 Sem 1
If you got your A in physics from the computation questions, thats fine. But if
you got it by memorizing definitions and ten-year series questions, youre going
to be in for a lot of trouble.
Overview:
This is one of the two core modules taken by first year physics majors in
semester 1. It covers fundamental topics in classical mechanics such as
Newtons three laws, kinematics, rotational dynamics etc. If you have taken H2
physics, many of the concepts taught here would be familiar to you.
However, believe me when I say that things are taken to a whole new level in
this module. As the lecturer likes to remind us, this is no longer A level physics;
the emphasis is no longer on conceptual understanding (conceptual
understanding should be a given), but on the solving of problems. It is also
probably the first time you will start to use calculus in physics problems.

Syllabus:
1. Measurements & 1D Kinematics
2. Vectors & Kinematics in 2D and 3D
3. Newtons Laws of motion
4. Applications of Newtons laws
5. Work and Kinetic energy
6. Potential energy
7. Linear momentum & collisions
8. Centre of mass & system of particles
9. Rotation & Moment of inertia
10.Rotational dynamics
11.Angular momentum
12.Statics & Elastic properties
13.Fluid mechanics
14.Gravitation
15.Oscillations
16.Waves
17.Sound waves
18.Superposition of waves
The recommended textbook, University Physics by Young and Freedman, is
available in soft copy on the Mastering Physics portal. So purchasing the
hardcopy is not really necessary. But then again, some (like me) prefer a
hardcopy, and to use it as a reference in the future. Since the textbook covers all
4 first-year physics modules, its quite a worthwhile investment. Its up to
personal preference on this one.
Workload:
There are two lectures a week, a tutorial every fortnight, and a lab session every
fortnight as well. Lectures will be webcasted, although you should attend as
there is a graded Learning Catalytics component where you log onto an online
portal to respond to questions during lecture. Tutorial attendance will be taken
and graded, and the lab reports can take up a lot of time.
The first half of the module will be rather lax, as you would have learnt most of
the concepts before in your H2 physics. I recommend you take this time to
practice and get used to doing those pesky calculus questions, because you will
likely be overwhelmed once rotational dynamics (and everything after that) hits
you in the face.
Assessment:
2% Learning Catalytics
3% Tutorial attendance
10% Mastering Physics assignments: Mastering Physics is an online learning
portal where the lecturer selects questions from a vast database for your
assignments. The questions set are not difficult. So, if youre stuck, do try to
resist the temptation to Google for answers, as its usually possible to figure out

the solution after some thought. Assignments also help you to internalize the
concepts for the final exam.
15% Lab reports: This component comprises of a viva (10%) and a lab report
(90%). After every lab session, the lab demonstrators will ask you and your lab
partner questions on the experiment you just did. The number and difficulty of
questions depends on who your lab demo is. I personally find the Year 4 students
to be much more helpful and committed than the grad students.
Afterwards, you will be expected to submit a lab report in a weeks time. Firstyear lab reports are straightforward; you are hand-held through the process with
a series of guiding questions. The two components that may throw people off are
the summary at the end of every report and the use of Excel to input data and
create graphs. Once you get used to these, scoring As for lab reports should be
easy.
10% Mid-term test: Fairly simple. Most of the content tested is from H2 physics,
and there is little to no calculus required. Doing the mechanics questions from
the textbook is good practice for the test.
60% Final exam: Walk into the exam hall with the expectation that there will be a
killer paper waiting for you. It will be nothing like any of the past year papers,
with at most a couple of giveaway questions, which will be tough anyway.
Sometimes you dont even know what the question is asking for! So there is
really no shortcut to scoring for this paper; you just have to understand the
various mechanics concepts well enough and hope for the best.
Teaching staff:
Lecturer: Dr Wang Qinghai
Qinghai is an excellent lecturer. On the whole, he explains concepts very well,
but occasionally runs into trouble with grammar and spelling, which can be quite
funny especially when he comments on how difficult the English language is.
He often solves problems on the spot using the projector, which is very helpful in
illustrating the various techniques of doing physics problems. Remember to bring
writing materials to copy his solutions down for future reference.
Tutor: Hariom Kirit Jani
Harioms tutorials are always a joy to attend. I never get bored of listening to
him, as the way he expresses concepts is both refreshing and enlightening. He
also sometimes brings in various physics toys to class to illustrate a certain
concept being taught in the tutorial.
He likes to ask students to present their solutions on the whiteboard at the
beginning of every tutorial, so try to come prepared if you want to gain the most
out of the tutorial.
Personal experience:

I felt that this was one of the hardest modules I took in Sem 1. The shift in
emphasis to computation and proving questions was quite taxing, but the
change I was not used to was the use of calculus to solve problems. The thing is,
its nothing like the calculus taught in H2 math. We were taught how to use
differentiation and integration, but the process of applying those techniques to
solve an actual physics problem, i.e. setting up the problem is a different ball
game altogether.
From what Ive heard, this module seems to be the deciding factor on whether
you continue with the physics curriculum. Every year, a good number of students
switch major after taking this module in Sem 1. I guess its because they werent
expecting university physics to be so different from A level physics.
If these people were my friends, however, I would urge them to reconsider. Yes,
physics is hard. And yes, you might have an easier time in other science majors.
But unless you have a burning passion for another subject, it pays to stay on this
path.
Many of us spend much of our time in NUS mugging for grades and that degree,
but return that knowledge to the profs the moment we step into the working
world. What sets physics apart is the quantitative and abstract reasoning skills
acquired from a physics education, which will stay with you for life. In other
words, studying physics makes you smarter.

PC1142
Taken in AY2014/15 Sem 1
Its great to be a physics student in a module where you can have equations
dropping from the sky.
Overview:
Unlike the other level-1 physics modules, PC1142 covers two distinct areas in
physics, thermodynamics and optics. Thermodynamics, which is covered first, is
the easier topic as some of the content had been covered in H2 physics; things
like enthalpy, heat cycles, ideal gas law etc. Optics, on the other hand, was
completely omitted in the H2 physics curriculum, so most of the content will be
unfamiliar to most people.
The module is conceptually heavy; there is a lot of new content to digest, but the
good news is that the mathematics is slightly toned down relative to PC1141.
Also, as this is an introductory module, many of the theorems taught are given
without proof, making things a lot easier. Still, the emphasis remains on
computational questions, and some require knowledge of basic calculus.
Syllabus:
1. Temperature & Heat

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Kinetic Theory of Gases

First Law of Thermodynamics
Second Law of Thermodynamics
Light & Geometric Optics
Image Formation
Interference & Diffraction
Polarisation

Assessment:
5% Tutorial attendance
10% Lab reports
10% Mastering Physics assignments
15% Mid-term test: Covers only the thermodynamics portion. The prof uploads
past mid-term tests and solutions to IVLE, so this is a very good opportunity to
score, especially since the questions dont vary that much between years.
60% Final exam: Can be quite challenging, with several application-based
questions. Not too mathematically intensive, however, so if you spend the time
to thoroughly understand the lecture content, it shouldnt be difficult to do well.
Teaching staff:
Lecturer: A/Prof Peter Ho
Prof Ho does a fairly good job of conducting the module. His teaching is fine, I
dont really have any comment on it, however I do like the way he uses test your
understanding questions interspersed throughout his lecture slides to ensure
that we are keeping up with the lecture.
He seems to be a busy prof, and rarely has time for individual consultations.
However, he does conduct mass consultation sessions he calls special clinics
before the mid-term and final exam.
Tutor: Dr Ching Chee Leong
Chee Leong does a great job in conducting his tutorials. He has a warm
demeanour; listening to him talk makes one feel at ease. He is able to present
the solutions in a clear cut way, so it is easy to grasp the concepts after his
explanation. Im not sure if he sets them, but tutorial questions are generally
short and do not require excessive mathematics, and some of them reference
various applications in the real world, which I felt was quite enlightening,
explaining why we are learning what we learn.
Personal experience:
I did alright for the thermodynamics part, but couldnt revise optics properly as I
was on the verge of being burnt out near the end of the semester. As a result, my
understanding was rather limited and it showed in the final exam when I couldnt

do all the long questions. I ended up writing random equations down on the
paper, hoping for some sympathy marks.
I felt really terrible after the paper and walked out of the exam hall without
talking to anyone. I was ready to S/U this module, but in the end, the grade I got
was far beyond my expectations. Maybe its due to the bell curve, but I think that
my near-perfect CA score pulled my grades up significantly.
So dont underestimate the importance of the CA component. What Ive learnt
from this experience is that it pays to be consistent, not just throughout the
semester for the CA, but also through the final push at the end of the semester.

MA1505
Did you all get that? Let me come again. Actually, I shouldnt be saying such
things in public. But to come again, it must be hard. as in difficult. I dont
know what all of you are thinking about.
Overview:
MA1505 is the first of two modules which covers the mathematical fundamentals
which are commonly used across the various fields of engineering. The main
topic of interest here is calculus and its branches which are most relevant to
engineering applications. This means learning about things like Taylors theorem,
Fourier series and vector calculus, up and above the regular differentiation and
integration techniques and applications covered in H2 math.
This is not a light module. The content taught here is arguably the equivalent of
2 modules taken by math majors, as it covers both single and multivariable
calculus. Therefore, much of the content is condensed with the focus on applying
the theorems taught, and the proofs of said theorems given only a passing
mention or else omitted entirely.
Syllabus:
1. Functions
2. Differentiation
3. Integration
4. Series
5. Vectors
6. Fourier series
7. Functions of several variables
8. Multiple integrals
9. Line integrals
10.Surface integrals
Workload:
There will be one 2-hour and one 1-hour lecture per week, plus 1 tutorial per
week. Attendance is not graded, plus there is webcast, so you can self-study

everything at home if you want. However, if you are an average student, be

prepared to spend a lot of time wrapping your head around things like Fourier
series, Stokes theorem, Divergence theorem etc.
Assessment:
20% Mid-term test: This 1-hour paper contains 10 MCQ questions and covers the
first 5 chapters. The paper is harder than it looks (the mean score for my cohort
was 6/10), as almost all questions require some form of computation. If you want
to do well, attempt all the past year test papers uploaded on IVLE as the format
of the papers are more or less the same.
80% Final exam: Although the exam covers only chapters 6-10, it is not easy as
these chapters are the hardest in the module. Again, doing the past year papers
helps a lot. You will also be allowed to bring in 1 cheat sheet into the exam. You
can write whatever you want in the cheat sheet, but I recommend you include all
the important formulas in case you forget them during the exam. If you have
extra space, copying the past year paper solutions is a good idea as well.
Teaching staff:
Lecturer: Dr Yap Weng Yin
Dr Yap was my webcasted lecturer. He lectures quite well; nothing spectacular,
but he is comprehensible and gets the idea across. He occasionally punctuates
his lecture with some, uh, not-so-decent jokes, which always gave the class a
good laugh. I felt it provided a very welcome relief from solving integrals and
analysing vector fields all the time.
I only attended a couple of tutorials, and mostly studied using the solutions
provided on IVLE, so I cant say anything much about the tutor.
Personal experience:
I did not have a pleasant experience in this module, although it is partially my
fault. I only started watching webcast lectures during reading week, and
cramming that much information into my brain in such a short time was very
painful. If that wasnt enough, I then realized after the exam that I hardly
understood anything that I had learnt, beyond memorizing the steps to solve
exam problems.
Hence, my advice to you is to study consistently throughout the semester, even
though most of the marks are in the final exam. Many of the concepts taught
here which seem dry and abstract, will likely appear again in later modules.
Building a solid foundation now would mean having an easier time later.
ES1541
Taken in AY 2014/15 Sem 1

What reporting verb do you use to express disagreement with someone in an

academic essay? Claims. He claims that this and that is true, but actually you
think that its a load of crap.
Overview:
ES1541 is the fairly new writing module introduced back in 2013 to develop the
written and verbal communication skills of science students. As you might infer
from the module name, you will be expected to write a lot, and present a lot.
The popular science part comes in the form of 5 popular science books from
different disciplines, and the idea is to analyse how these books communicated
obscure scientific knowledge to the general public in an accessible way, then
applying what you have learnt in your presentations and essay.
It is compulsory for all science students to take this module, unless you are part
of a programme which already offers a writing module in their curriculum, e.g.
Utown programmes.
You can decide whether you want to take the module in your first, second or third
year, although I would recommend clearing it in your first year, not only because
of the lower bid points, but also because it is a requirement to go on overseas
exchange.
Syllabus: As this is a writing module, learning is usually done via class activities
and assignments. For my cohort, these included:
- Individual and group summaries
- Synthesis (of multiple sources to support your thesis)
- Individual and group presentations
- Argumentative essay (on a topic of your choice)
- Peer review (of summaries, essay drafts)
- Reflections
Workload:
I feel that talking about the workload isnt meaningful here, due to the fact that
this is a relatively new module which is still in the process of fine-tuning. The
assessment components have changed drastically in the semester since I took
the module, and will likely continue to do so.
The amount of workload you experience will also differ depending on who you
are and who your tutor is. I know people who found the module easy, but to
others (like me), it is a major burden. In general, having a good command of
spoken and written English and being comfortable with making presentations will
make things easier for you.

Teaching staff:
Tutor: Ms Serene Eng
Ms Eng is one of the most enthusiastic teachers Ive seen. Even though my class
is at 8 am, she has the ability to make the class come alive during lessons. She
brings a new meaning to walking the talk, using the presentation techniques
taught in the syllabus to capture the classs attention and engage each and
every one of us.
She often shares her past experiences with us, which was an eye-opener for me.
It shows that she genuinely cares about her students. Near the end of the
semester, she even got a director of an MNC to advise us from an employers
point of view, highlighting why communication skills are so important in todays
globalised job market.
Personal experience:
I am someone who has always been terrible at presentations, from primary
school all the way to the PW OP in A levels. Whenever I have an upcoming
presentation, I will go almost crazy with anxiety over it, sometimes to the extent
of losing sleep the entire night. So you can imagine the horror I felt when I
realized I couldnt escape from this mod which has presentations nearly every
week.
But you know, it turned out to be one of those times when you are pushed to
your limit, your perspective changes. I realized that if I dont do anything, this
problem will plague me for the rest of my life. I decided I had to face it. I
accepted that I was going to stumble and fall, but I resolved to start learning
from my mistakes and find ways to improve on the next presentation. Over the
course of the semester, I experimented on various strategies, e.g. memorising
the entire script, remembering the key points, using props etc. While I didnt do
well for the majority of the presentations (sometimes I will literally stun there
when I forget my script), I was beginning to understand what I could or couldnt
do. I finally managed to put it together in the last 10-minute presentation,
scoring (what I felt) was an amazing 78/100.
I still suck at presentations, no kidding, but at least I now know why I suck. And
that makes all the difference, because for the first time in my life, I felt hope in
my presentation skills. So it goes without saying that I am very happy with my
performance in this module, regardless of the grade I obtained.
So if you find yourself in a similar situation as me, dont give up. Most people get
at least a B+ for this module (I think the bell curve is slightly modified here), so
your hard work will surely pay off in the end. More importantly, if you have the
positive attitude of wanting to learn as much as possible, classes will become
much more bearable, even enjoyable at times. The curriculum is structured in
such a way that you will have to do just as many assignments as everyone else
anyway, so why not learn something while you are at it?