LV EN RU DE FR

Physics for engineers III

Course developer

Prior knowledge

Fizi3004, Physics for engineers II

Course abstract

The aim of the course is to give an overview of fundamental laws of Physics that are essential to problem solving in engineering sciences. Course consists of lectures, manual training, laboratory and individual works. During the lectures students are introduced to theory and ways of describing physical laws. Manual training includes practicing and understanding written exercises and calculating precise results. During laboratory workshops students’ deal with hands-on exercises where they measure, process and analyse various data readings. While working on individual works student learns to numerically calculate values of different physical parameters and to plot graphs.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

After completing the course students will have:
1. knowledge about regularity of essential concepts of physics and critical understanding of how to use it in real-world process description. – The knowledge is assessed in laboratory works and tests.
2. skills to use measurements of physical quantities and apply knowledge in calculation for their branch of research, summarize and analytically describe the results. – The skills are assessed in laboratory works and individual works.

3. competence to evaluate results of measurements and calculations, problem solving and understand what influence their professional activities have on environment. – The competence is assessed in laboratory works and tests.

Course Content(Calendar)

1. Geometrical optics. – 2,5h
2. Interference of light. – 2h
3. Diffraction of light. – 2h
4. Polarization. – 2,5h
5. 1st test: Geometrical and wave optics. – 2h
6. Quantum nature of radiation. Thermal radiation. – 3h
7. Fundamentals of quantum mechanics. Hypothesis of De Broglie. – 2h
8. Wave function. Shrodinger equation. – 2h
9. Electronic configuration of atoms. – 1 h
10. Atomic electron transitions. Lasers. – 1,5 h
11. 2nd test: Thermal radiation, fundamentals of quantum mechanics and atomic physics. – 1h
12. Quantum statistics of Bose-Einstein and Fermi-Dirac. Quantum theory for metals. – 2h
13. Fundamentals of nuclear physics. – 1,5 h
14. Radioactivity, radioactive decay processes. – 3 h
15. Nuclear reactions and laws of conservation. Particle physics. – 2h

16. 3rd test: Quantum theory for metals and nuclear physics. – 2h

Requirements for awarding credit points

The requirement is – passing the written exam.
The examination shall contain two parts:
1. Theoretical questions;
2. Practical exercises about the topics covered.

In order to be allowed to take the exam, all individual works must be submitted and defended, all tests must be written and the laboratory works must be performed and defended, and total 50% of the maximum possible points must be obtained (including - at least 50% of maximum possible points in theoretical tests).

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

Each student will be assigned 1 individual work on the following topic: Thermal radiation.
In accordance with the description of individual work, the calculation of the required values must be carried out and one or more graphs drawn.
The work must be submitted in paper format, and it must be defended.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

Knowledge control:
1) Theory tests – 3;
2) Practical exercise tests – 2;
3) Laboratory works (development and defence) – 4;
4) Individual works (development and defence) – 1.

Each test shall be evaluated by 0-10 points.

Compulsory reading

1. Fizika, Valtera redakcijā Rīga, Zvaigzne, 1992. 733 lpp. 2. Fizika, A. Apinis, Rīga, Zvaigzne, 1972. 708 lpp.
2. Jansone M., Kalnača A. u.c. Uzdevumu krājums vispārīgajā fizikā. Rīga: RTU, 2000. 247 lpp.

Further reading

1. Douglas C. Giancoli. Physics: principles with applications. 6th ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Education International, 2005. 946 p.
2. Serway R. A., Jewett J. W. Physics for scientists and engineers, with modern physics. 9th ed. Boston, MA: Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning, 2014. 1484 p.
3. Physics for scientists and engineers: an interactive approach. R. Hawkes et al. Toronto: Nelson Education, 2014. 946 p.
4. Tipler P. A., Mosca G. Physics for Scientists and Engineers. 6th edition. New York, NY: W. H. Freeman, 2008. 1172 p.

Notes

The study course is included in the compulsory part of the second level bachelor’s study programme Biosystems Machinery and Technologies. 2nd year, 1st semester.