Wave Physics

The subject is part of the skills strand for numerical and experimental physics

Mechanical oscillations, damped oscillations, forced oscillations, resonance, Q-factor.

Description of wave motion, the wave equation with general solution, harmonic waves.

Transverse and longitudinal mechanical waves, waves on a string, sound (and pressure) waves in gases and condensed media. Wave energy, density and transport, wave impulse. Boundary conditions, reflection and transmission. Superposition, standing waves, wave packets, Doppler effect, shock waves and levitation.

Multidimensional waves, plane waves, spherical waves, brief introduction to ocean waves.

Electromagnetic waves in vacuum. EM spectrum, Maxwell's equations in differential form, wave solution to Maxwell's equations. Energy and impulse, Poynting's vector, electromagnetic radiation, oscillating dipole, polarization. Electromagnetic waves in matter, boundary conditions, reflection and transmission, refraction, Snell's law, Huygens' principle, interference, diffraction.

Knowledge

After completing the course, the student will have:

• Basic understanding of oscillations and waves, including how these are described mathematically

• Knowledge of fundamental laws and concepts in wave physics

• Learned to analyze various problems in wave physics

• Learned to use mathematical methods involving differential and integral calculus

• Knowledge of the importance of wave physics and its connection to other fundamental areas of physics.

Skills

The student can:

• Conduct and analyze basic experiments and measurements in wave physics

• Analyze problems in wave physics with ICT-based methods

• Analyze various problems in wave physics using mathematical methods involving differential and integral calculus.

General competence

The student can:

• Apply known analytical models to new problems.

• Apply mathematical methods to solve practical problems.

The course will primarily contribute to the areas of competence K1 (Demonstrating professional knowledge and a professionally based perspective), K2 (Analysis of issues and systems), K4 (Application of methods and tools), K7 (Acquisition and critical assessment of information), K8 (Lifelong learning).

Lectures, calculation exercises, lab exercises.

The students' expected work effort in the course is 225 hours.

Required Activities

• Numerical Exercises

• Laboratory Exercises