IF1601 Physics part 1, Thermodynamics and Wave Physics 6.0 credits

• Educational level

  First cycle

• Academic level (A-D)

  A

• Subject area

  Physics
  Techonology
  

• Grade scale

  A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

• Home page

• Course page on KTH Social

Learning outcomes

The aim of the course is to give the students basic knowledge and know-how in wave physics and thermodynamics so that they can apply this on realistic problems.

After the course, the students should be able to

- identify a wave equation and know its solutions

- relate a real harmonic or spherical wave to its mathematical description

- apply basic concepts such as interference, beats, diffraction, Doppler effect, standing waves and polarisation

- apply idealised thermodynamic processes (isobaric, isovolumetric, isothermal and adiabatic process) both individually and when combined for describing an engine

- maitrise the first and second law of thermodynamics and being able to use this for calculations of energies and entropies

- relate the energy flow in a thermodynamic process to the thermal efficiency for engines and to the coefficient of performance for heat and cooling machines to allow for calculations

- make calculations on heat transfer problems (radiation, convection, heat conduction)

- describe statistical distributions of particles and being able to use them for simple calculations

- apply all above in order to create calculable models of realistic, real problems

- for higher grades, the student should in addtion be able to apply all above in various areas of wave physics and thermodynamics including applications not discussed in the course

- perform and criticially analyse the results of some physics experiments and report the results in a well written and concise report

Course main content

Wave equation, harmonic and spherical waves, wave propagation. Mechanical waves, intensity, reflection, standing waves. Electomagnetic waves, polarisation, interferens, diffraction, lasers, fiber optics, geometrical optics. Gas laws, kinetci gas theory. The first and second law of thermodynamics, energy and entropy. Thermodynamic processes, Carnot process, thermal efficiency, coefficient of performance. Heat transfer (radiation, convection, heat conduction). Introduction to statistical physics, Bose-Einstein, Fermi-Dirac and Maxwell-Boltzmann distributions

Eligibility

Prerequisites

Basic course in calculus in one and several variables.

Literature

O. Beckman, G. Grimvall, B. Kjöllerström och T. Sundström, Energilära, Liber AB (2005), ISBN 91-47-05218-X
G. Jönsson och E. Nilsson, Våglära och optik, Teach Support (2008), Lund, ISBN 978-91-972499-6-3
Lab instructions supplied by the course coordinator.

Examination

• LAB1 - Laboratory Work, 1.5 credits, grade scale: P, F
• TEN1 - Examination, 4.5 credits, grade scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Requirements for final grade

Written exam (TEN1, 4.5 hp), grade A/B/C/D/E/Fx/F
Laboratory work (LAB1, 1.5 hp), grade Pass/Fail
Additional points on the exam from home excercises are only valid until the next years course starts.

Offered by

ICT/Material Physics

Examiner

Magnus Andersson <magnusan@kth.se>

Supplementary information

The course is evaluated and devleoped according to the KTH policy for course analysis.

Version

Course plan valid from: Autumn 09.
Examination information valid from: Spring 08.