The course is given in three parts:
The first part covers:
Electrical and magnetic fields – fundamentals. Atomic models. The band model for solids. Thermal radiation. Light sources. Lasers. Laser measurement techniques. Spectroscopy.
The second part covers:
Chemical reactions and reaction formulas. Representation of chemical compounds by names, formulas, and models. Atomic structure, the periodic table, electron configuration, orbitals, models for chemical bonding, Lewis structures, and the VSEPR model. Chemical reactivity, kinetics, and equilibrium. Stoichiometry. Thermochemistry. Application examples. Chemical work environment and safety regulations.
The third part covers:
Systems thinking, environmental and energy issues, and sustainable development. Societal trends serve as important examples used to introduce both problem areas and the engineer’s role in managing and finding solutions to environmental problems.
The course serves as an introduction to university studies in physics, chemistry, and engineering with a focus on energy, environment and sustainable development. The aim is to provide a broad scientific and technical foundation for continued studies and future professional work.
After completing the course, the student shall be able to:
- Solve problems in applied classical physics and assess the soundness of the solution.
- Explain and discuss physical problems, conditions, and limitations.
- Describe the structure of the atom and how the elements make up the periodic table, and from this draw conclusions about chemical reactivity and chemical bonding.
- Name and recognize chemical compounds based on systematic nomenclature and represent chemical compounds using molecular formulas, empirical formulas, and structural formulas.
- Classify reactions and predict which products are formed in certain reactions, as well as determine what functions as acid/base and oxidant/reductant, including calculations involving stoichiometry, thermochemistry, chemical equilibrium, and kinetics.
- Provide a written account of a chosen topic concerning the chemistry around us/in everyday life, or modern materials/the development of chemistry today, or instrumental analytical methods in modern chemistry.
- Perform basic chemical laboratory work in accordance with occupational health and safety regulations, make relevant observations of chemical reactions, and write balanced chemical equations.
- Apply systems thinking, demonstrate fundamental understanding of the Swedish energy system, energy use, and current developments.
- Possess knowledge of and reflect on challenges that need attention and some critical issues related to environmental effects.
- Give examples of the fulfilment of the Swedish environmental quality objectives as a reflection of current environmental problems and discuss the difficulties associated with the goal of sustainable development.
- Independently and in groups search for scientific information about a sustainability solution, compile the information, and present it in a scientific manner in both an oral presentation and a written report.
