6 ECTS credits
175 h study time
Offer 1 with catalog number 1015238ANR for all students in the 2nd semester at a (A) Bachelor - preliminary level.
Mechanics: kinematics & dynamics of rotational motion, angular momentum & rotations.
Oscillations & waves: Elasticity (Hooke’s law), Harmonic motion, waves, sound, interference and diffraction.
Hydrodynamics (conservation of mass, equation of Bernouilli)
Introduction to physical thermodynamics: thermal properties of matter, thermal energy, thermodynamics: zeroth (temperature), first (conservation of energy) and second law (entropy), Carnot cycle. Heat transport (radiation laws of Stefan-Boltzmann and Wien).
The assignment “verwerkingsopdracht (VWO)” encourages students to assimilate new subject matter and to use it independently. The task is specific per discipline. Students have to present their work orally. For some groups of students (e.g. Bio-engineering, Chemistry), the VWO task can be interdisciplinary.
The students also get several assignments (spread over the academic year) at the online system Mastering Physics. These assignments have to be made within a given time-limit.
We have chosen to use an English textbook: “Physics for scientists and engineers” by R. Knight (Pearson Int’al). This will help students to get familiar with the use of scientific English language from the beginning.
Students also get access to the online system “Mastering Physics” where they have to make certain assignments (problem solving).
Complementary study material:
Any other textbook “University Physics” or “Physics for Scientists and Engineers” can be useful.
This is a general physics course for Science students (Biology, Bio-engineering, Chemistry and Geography) who need a profound knowledge of physics but for whom physics is not the main subject of their curriculum. Physics is important for these students for several reasons. In the first place, the essence of physics is the development of models of reality, which is essential in many branches of science.
Furthermore, physics is a basic natural science, describing the structure of matter (in terms of atoms and molecules), and the interactions and exchanges of energy between matter and radiation. A substantial part of these studenst will become science teachers in Secondary school.
Competences
A. General competences
1. The student can work accurately with unities, orders of magnitude and dimensions of physical and other quantities.
2. The student is capable of modeling, interpreting and analyzing a simple physical problem.
3. The bachelor has a basic knowledge of the scientific method, the relevance of physics in other branches of science and society.
4. The student is able to produce a scientific report and present his/her measurements accurately. The student can use a word processor and electronic spreadsheets, produce and interpret charts.
5. The student is familiar with mathematical techniques in physics, like vector calculation, derivatives, integrals and complex numbers, and is able to physically interpret mathematical equations.
B. Specific competences
1. The student knows the basics of kinematics and dynamics of rotating rigid bodies and is able to apply them. He/she knows the concepts torque, angular momentum, moment of inertia and their relationship and can apply them.
2. The student knows the basic principles of harmonic motion (simple harmonic motion, damped oscillations, driven oscillations).
3. The student knows the concepts of one- and more dimensional waves. He/she knows the wave equation in one and more dimensions, and can correctly define different types of waves mathematically.
4. The student understands the superposition of waves, and the phenomena standing waves, beats, interference (Young’s 2 slit experiment) and diffraction (to a single slit) including diffraction to crystals. He/she knows the difference between coherent and incoherent superposition.
5. The student acquires basic knowledge and can solve problems about hydrodynamics (conversation of mass, equation of Bernouilli).
5. The student acquires basic knowledge and can solve problems about energy transfer, specifically about heat capacity, work in a thermodynamic process, and can apply this to a number of processes (cyclic, isolated, isobaric, adiabatic, isothermal,…).
7. He/she knows the laws of thermodynamics and can apply them to thermodynamic processes. Specifically, he/she knows the concepts energy, heat, entropy. He/she understands the Carnot cycle, how entropy can be derived from it and is able to formulate the second law in terms of entropy.
8. The student is able to describe the phenomenon of heat conduction in one dimension, heat-transfer by radiation (Stefan-Boltzmann’s law, Wien’s law) and convection.
9. The student is able to solve problems about these subjects.
10. The student is able to verify a theoretical model by experimenting in the lab and can report about this.
11. The student can “discover by experimenting” doing simple experiments, i.e. develop a model through observation without previous knowledge of an elaborate theoretical background.
12. The student can process data by error calculation and statistical analysis, perform linearisations of non-linear function, produce and interpret charts.
Additional goals are to eliminate some common misconceptions about physical concepts, to contribute to the study of scientific and technical English using English reference works and to develop written and oral presentation skills.
C. General interdisciplinary competences
The bachelor also developed the general competences required by the Faculty of Science and Bio-Engineering Sciences:
1. The bachelor has gained the necessary theoretical insights and methodological skills to successfully begin a subsequent master program at national and European universities.
2. Although our priority is to prepare the student for the master program, the bachelor will also develop skills and attitudes useful for the labor market.
3. The bachelor possesses the necessary skills and attitudes to gain and use new knowledge independently.
4. The bachelor is able to consult scientific sources, collect, select and process information.
5. The bachelor is able to understand professional literature in English (scientific English).
6. The bachelor has an inquisitive attitude.
7. The bachelor possesses the necessary computer skills.
8. The bachelor is able to present his/her results by letter or orally.
9. The bachelor is able to function in a team. He/she can communicate with colleagues from his/her own as well as from other, related scientific disciplines.
10. The bachelor is able to work and plan independently, evaluate and adjust him/herself.
The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 70% of the final mark.
PRAC Practical Assignment determines 30% of the final mark.
Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:
Within the PRAC Practical Assignment category, the following assignments need to be completed:
Competence A4, B10-12 and C will be evaluated based on the work during the year and the lab physics.
Competence A, B and C will be evaluated during the oral and written exams. Insight (and the ability to apply the subject matter) is more important than the reproduction of knowledge.
Work during the year (lab, processing tasks, written evaluation error calculus) : 30%. No second session exam is organised for this part.
70%: written exam (exercises, problem solving, multiple choice, half-open and open questions) and theory. A short oral explanation is posisble for some of the theory questions.
Attendance of the lab sessions and the assignment (VWO) is mandatory. Absences can be proved through the standard process (as for ex described in Canvas). Partial marks for the "jaarwerk" component can be passed to the next academic year if the mark received was a passing grade (at least 10/20). If a student wishes to redo the "jaarwerk" they should contact the lecturer by e-mail the first week of the semester at the latest.
This offer is part of the following study plans:
Bachelor of Philosophy and Moral Sciences: default (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Biology: Default track (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Chemistry: Default track (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Geography: Default track (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Bioengineering Sciences: Profile Cell and Gene Biotechnology (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Bioengineering Sciences: Profile Chemistry and Bioprocess Technology (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Bioengineering Sciences: Initial track (only offered in Dutch)
Bridging Programme Master of Science in Biology: Ecology (only offered in Dutch)