Course
Specifications
Valid as from the academic year 2015-2016
Physics III: Optics and Physical Concepts from the 20th Century (I700017)
Course size
Credits 4.0
(nominal values; actual values may depend on programme)
Study time 120 h
Contact hrs
42.0 h
Course offerings and teaching methods in academic year 2015-2016
B (semester 2)
practicum
12.0 h
lecture
30.0 h
Lecturers in academic year 2015-2016
D'heer, Johan
LA15
Offered in the following programmes in 2015-2016
Bachelor of Science in Bioscience Engineering Technology
lecturer-in-charge
crdts
4
offering
B
Teaching languages
Dutch
Keywords
Optics, reflection, refraction, optical instruments, interference, diffraction, diffraction
limit, blackbody radiation, photons, atomic model, atomic spectrum, matter waves,
uncertainty principle of Heisenberg, quantummechanics, wavemechanics, Schrödinger
equation, atomic physics, hydrogen atom, spin, many-electron atoms, molecular bond,
rotation and vibration spectrum, laser, X-rays, luminiscence, fluorescence, nuclear
physics, isotopes, nuclear spin, NMR, radioactivity, fusion, fission, dosimetry.
Position of the course
Many analytical techniques are based on properties of molecules and matter and use
optical instruments. Some analytical techniques are based on magnetic properties of
the electron. Radioactive tracers are used to study processes in plants and animals.
In this course, we will study the physics behind these techniques, in order to gain
knowledge and insicht in the strong and weak points of these techniques.
Contents
Optics:
• Reflection.
• Refraction.
• Total internal reflection.
• Dispersion.
• Images with mirrors and lenses.
• Refraction in lenses.
• Optical instruments.
• Interference.
• Diffraction.
• Diffraction limit.
• Huygens principle and diffraction.
Modern physics:
• Blackbody radiation.
• Atomic spectra and Bohr model.
• Matter waves.
• Uncertainty principle of Heisenberg.
• Schrödinger equation and wave functions.
• Interpretation of wave function.
• Particle in potentialwell.
• Scanning Tunneling Microscope.
• Hydrogen atom and spin of electron.
• Many-electron atoms and atomic spectra.
(Approved)
1
• Bonding in molecules and solids.
• Molecular energylevels and molecular spectra.
• Laser, X-ray diffraction.
• Nuclear physics: atomic nucleus, isotopes.
• Radioactivity and radioactive radiation.
• Binding energy of nucleus.
• Nuclear fusion and fission.
• NMR, dosimetry.
Initial competences
Competences obtained in "Mathematics I (I700114)", "Mathematics II (I700115)",
"Physics I (I700015)" and "Physics II (I700016)".
Final competences
1 The student has knowledge of the basic principles in optics, atomic and nuclear
1 physics.
2 The student is able to solve simple problems involving optics and concepts of
1 modern physics.
3 The student is able to communicate about problems about optics, modern physics.
4 The student is able to recognize and clarify aspects of optics and modern physics in
1 technical-scientifical problems
5 The student is able to perform experiments about optics.
6 The student is able to communicate (verbal and written) about optics experiments.
7 The student is able to work in a team on experiments about optics.
Conditions for credit contract
Access to this course unit via a credit contract is determined after successful competences
assessment
Conditions for exam contract
This course unit cannot be taken via an exam contract
Teaching methods
Lecture, practicum
Extra information on the teaching methods
Lectures (30 u)
Lectures demand active participation of students by e.g. using concept questions.
Labexperiments (12 u)
Labexperiments are done in a team of 2 or 3 students. Each students writes a report
about the experiment.
At the end of the semester, each team of students gives a powerpoint presentation
about a chosen subject from a list provided by the teacher.
Learning materials and price
Book: CU.Wolfson HOGent MP 2014 pack, ISBN 9781783990894. This package
contains: Essential University Physics Volume 1+2 with MasteringPhysics,International
Edition, 2/E + extended access to MasteringPhysics.
Electronic course management system MasteringPhysics with tests and supplemental
course material.
Electronic course management system Minerva with handouts of slides, old exams,
problem sets.
References
See Course materials.
Course content-related study coaching
After every lecture, the teacher can be consulted for additional explanations about the
lecture.
Selftests, solved problemsets and old exams can be found on the course management
systems.
Evaluation methods
end-of-term evaluation and continuous assessment
Examination methods in case of periodic evaluation during the first examination period
Written examination with open questions, written examination with multiple choice questions,
open book examination
Examination methods in case of periodic evaluation during the second examination period
Written examination with open questions, written examination with multiple choice questions,
open book examination, oral examination
(Approved)
2
Examination methods in case of permanent evaluation
Assignment, peer assessment
Possibilities of retake in case of permanent evaluation
examination during the second examination period is not possible
Extra information on the examination methods
• Theory: written exam with open problems and multiple choise questions (theory +
• problems), continuous assessment via electronic test environment.
• Lab: permanent evaluation of lab reports and test at the end of the semester. Peer• evaluation of presentation. Participation in the lab sessions is mandatory. Unjustified
• absences can be taken into account to diminish final labscore at the rate of absence.
• Unjustified absence of more than 30% of the sessions can result in grading "afw"
• (absent).
Calculation of the examination mark
• Theory: 75%
• theory + problems 13/20, tests via electronic test environment 2/20.
• Lab: 25%
• 5/20
In order to be able to pass, students are required to take part in all exams and
assignments. Grading "afw" for exams or assignments results in a score zero. A
weighted average is used to compute the final score. However, if a student gains a
score of 7 or less on 20 on one of the different parts of this course and the weighted
score is 10/20 or more, the final score will be the lowest subscore
(Approved)
3