Syllabus 2007/2008 FAFA25

Syllabus academic year 2007/2008

WAVE PROPAGATION AND INTRODUCTION TO ENGINEERING PHYSICS

FAFA25

Higher education credits: 9. Grading scale: TH. Level: G1 (First level). Language of instruction: The course will be given in Swedish. Compulsory for: F1. Course coordinator: Stefan Kröll, Stefan.Kroll@fysik.lth.se, Fysik, kurslaboratoriet. Assessment: Approved presentations from visits at research divisions at the Physics department, approved laboratory exercises, approved oral presentations of selected exercise problems and active participation at 3 out of 5 alumni lectures are required to pass the course. In addition the student needs to carry out a project where he/she can choose whether this should be for the grade 3, 4 or 5. Home page: http://kurslab.fysik.lth.se/F1Waves/index.htm.

Aim
The course introduces the students to the Engineering Physics programme. It has the ambition to convey to the students the feeling that they have the ability to graduate from the Engineering Physics programme provided that they work actively with their courses and their education. The course aims at developing the physics problem solving skills of the participants. It gives the participants training in discussing physics, improve their experimental skills and introduces computer aided data analysis and graphical data representation. It treats wave propagation with particular emphasis on electromagnetic waves and optics. Electromagnetic radiation and wave propagation are central for the technology of today and at the same time waves and wave propagation directly connects to the wave function description of the quantum world. This course provides the first bricks in the Engineering Physics programme, which prepares the students for developing the technology of tomorrow.

Knowledge and understanding
For a passing grade the student must

know the basic physical principles of wave propagation
know how to analyse basic problems and calculations on waves and wave propagation as well as analysing and judging the function and performance of simple imaging and spectrally resolving optical systems

Skills and abilities
For a passing grade the student must

have improved his ability to carry out laboratory work and analyse the results using computers
have improved his ability to present calculations and observations in written as well as oral form
have improved his ability to constructively discuss physics and physics problems with colleagues
be able to solve simple physics problems in structured way

Contents
Waves and wave propagation, in particular sound wave propagation and optics. The curriculum also includes harmonic oscillations, interference, electromagnetic waves, optical imaging and diffraction. Lectures by alumni, who describe their work and views on the Engineering Physics programme.

Literature
Jönsson, G och Nilsson, E: "Våglära och optik", Teach Support.
Material for the laboratory exercises and projects produced at the department.