Basic Course in Electricity and Magnetism, Optics, and Modern Physics

Objectives:

The course is tailored to the needs of students in other fields of science than physics, mathematics or geophysiscs. The course gives an overview and understanding of basic physics, with morderate use of mathematical formalism.

Content:

The course gives a quick introduction to electromagnetism, optics and modern physics: electric charge and electric field, current, voltage and resistance, magnetic field, electromagnetic waves, the nature of light and optical instrumentation, atom, nucleus and elementary particles, radioactivity and radiation.

On completion of the course the student should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student has acquired knowledge of

• Electromagnetism (electric and magnetic force and field, circuits, induction) and electromagnetic waves.
• Light (reflection, refraction, interference), the wave nature of light and the particle-wave duality.
• The atom, the atomic core, nuclear power, ionizing radiation and radioactivity.

Skills

The student can solve problems with moderate mathematical complexity related to

• Electric and magnetic force and field, electric charge, electric potential, current, voltage and resistance, capacitors, electromagnetic waves, reflection, refraction, interference and diffraction.
• Time dilatation, length contraction, relativistic momentum and addition of velocity.
• Photo-electric effect, Compton effect, de Broglie wavelength, models of the Hydrogen atom and electron configurations, the atomic core, binding energy and decay, ionizing radiation, fission and fusion.
• Application of Gauss law, Kirchhoffs laws, Faradays law, Lenz law, Malus law, Snells law and Hubble's law.

General competence

• Increased ability for reflection and insight in how physics connects cause and effect for simple processes in nature
• Knowledge of value for other fields of the natural sciences
• Training in systematic work and how to analyse complex problems