Course syllabus for Basic physics

Course syllabus adopted 2023-02-16 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameGrundläggande fysik
  • CodeMCC160
  • Credits7.5 Credits
  • OwnerTKMED
  • Education cycleFirst-cycle
  • Main field of studyBiomedical engineering, Engineering Physics
  • DepartmentMICROTECHNOLOGY AND NANOSCIENCE
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language Swedish
  • Application code 73121
  • Maximum participants80
  • Open for exchange studentsNo
  • Only students with the course round in the programme overview.

Credit distribution

0120 Project 3 c
Grading: TH
3 c
0220 Written and oral assignments 1.5 c
Grading: UG
1.5 c
0320 Examination 3 c
Grading: TH
3 c
  • 29 Okt 2024 am J DIG
  • 07 Jan 2025 am J DIG
  • 28 Aug 2025 am J DIG

In programmes

Examiner

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Eligibility

General entry requirements for bachelor's level (first cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

The same as for the programme that owns the course.
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Course specific prerequisites

Introductory course in Mathematics, Calculus, Linear algebra

Skills prior knowledge: handling linear differential equations of first and second order, handling of vectors.

Aim

The course aims to provide students with the skills to deal with basic physical concepts and relationships regarding solid bodies and mechanical and thermal properties of fluids, in a way that is relevant in engineering terms to in particular medical technology applications. When completing the course the student should have acquired the knowledge that is expected after a first university physics course.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

  • state the conservation laws for momentum and mechanical energy, know their limitations and be able to use them to solve basic mechanics problems.
  • use central concepts and relationships in Newtonian mechanics, mechanical wave propagation, heat transfer and basic thermodynamics to determine which consequences that are reasonable in a well-defined situation, including being able to perform simple calculations.
  • simplify relevant and realistic problems in the field of medical engineering in order to draw useful conclusions from concepts and relationships from Newtonian mechanics, mechanical wave propagation, heat conduction and basic thermodynamics.
  • make order-of-magnitude estimates, verify dimensional consistency and make calculations with appropriate accuracy.
  • adopt an engineering approach to a medically relevant design task.

Content

Order-of-magnitude estimates
Units
Newtons's laws of motion
Momentum and energy in collisions
Rigid and elastic bodies, fluids
Mechanical oscillations
Temperature and heat
Basic thermodynamics
Examples of important concepts included:
static equilibrium, motion, forces, torque, momentum, work, kinetic and potential energy, pressure, viscosity, amplitude, wavelength, frequency, propagation velocity, wave number, phase, Doppler shift, heat capacity, conduction, convection and radiation, temperature, the Carnot process, entropy

Organisation

The course consists of supervised project work and lectures. More detailed information will be given on the course web page before the start of the course.

Literature

Young and Freedman: University Physics with Modern Physics, chapters 1 – 18 (emphasising chapters 1, 5-8, 11-12, 14-20)

Examination including compulsory elements

The course is examined by compulsory home assignments, graded project work and a final graded written examination at the end of the course. The final grade is based on the grades received on the project and on the written examination. More detailed information about assignments, project work and written examination will be given on the Canvas web page for the course.

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.