Bachelor of Arts (BA) - The University of Hong Kong

293PHYS0605.Nuclear energy and the environment (3 credits)*To introduce the use of nuclear power and its impact to our environment; and to arouse an awareness ofthe safety use of nuclear energy.Natural and man-made radioactivity; health effects of radiations; fission and fusion; nuclear fuel cycles;nuclear power plants; nuclear explosions and nuclear weapons; risk assessment; accidents andinterventions; radionuclide behavior in ecosystems; the future of nuclear power.Prerequisite: Nil.Assessment: 1-hour written examination (60% weighting) and continuous assessment (40%weighting).This course will be offered in the first semester.* This course will be offered as broadening course in this academic year.PHYS1606.Introductory meteorology (3 credits)To introduce the phenomena and mechanisms of the atmosphere, including typhoons, tornadoes, ElNino and La Nina. This course is designed to be a non-mathematical exposition of weather and climate.It is suitable for any students with some minimum background in physics or science.Topics include: Composition and structure of our atmosphere, the seasons, energy balance, humidityand temperature, clouds and precipitation, air pressure and winds, typhoons and tornadoes, lightning,weather forecasting and global climate changes.Prerequisite: AL/AS Physics or Engineering Science.Assessment: One 1 hour written examination (50%) with course works (50%).This course will be offered in the second semester.PHYS2622.Science and society (6 credits)The course is designed as an exploration of the ways in which science and human society havedeveloped and interacted throughout history up to the present time. One of its main purposes is toprovide students with experience in expressing their ideas and opinions in written and spoken form.The course explores the role of science in society through its mutual interaction with philosophy,politics, ethics, religion, literature and other arts.Prerequisite: Nil.Assessment: One 3-hour written examination (50% weighting) and course assessment (50%weighting).This course will be offered in the first semester.POLITICS AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATIONJunior level coursesThere is no departmental prerequisite for admission to the junior level courses in Politics and PublicAdministration, namely, POLI1002 Fundamentals of Public Administration and POLI1003 MakingSense of Politics. Both carry 6 credits and last one semester. Students may take both courses.The examination will consist of one two-hour paper. The final grading will be determined byperformance in the examination and an assessment of coursework in the proportion 60:40.