Environmental physics and chemistry (5 cr)

Objective

You can solve kinematic problems with Newtonian mechanics and with the energy principle. You learn to calculate collisions and you understand what the conservation of energy, linear momentum and angular momentum mean in daily life. You know the atomic structure and chemical bonds. You are able to describe and identify common inorganic compounds as well as the groups and structures of organic compounds. You can write basic chemical equations, solve problems dealing with solutions, gases, pH, and amounts of substances needed for reactions. You master the basic principles of laboratory work. You can apply theoretical knowledge to practice and write a report on experiments.

Content

How can you predict how objects move? Does the car stop before the pedestrian on the road? What is a closed system, and how is the energy conservation principle used to solve problems? What are the basic chemical quantities, units, definitions and natural laws? How is matter constructed? What happens when a chemical reaction occurs? How are chemical compounds divided into groups and how are they named? What are the properties of chemical substances?

Evaluation

Based on entry-level know-how and skills students can:
use professional vocabulary systematically.
identify interrelated tasks.
use the key models, methods, software and techniques of the professional field.

Course material

Information about learning materials is given at the beginning of the course. Study materials are teacher-provided handouts and electronic material in Learn. There will be two separate Learn pages, one for the physics part and the other for the chemistry part.

Physics part is based on the book: "Principles of Physics", Halliday, Resnick and Walker. Wiley 10th edition. Previous versions have title "Fundamentals of Physics", and all editions since 8th are usable.

In Chemistry part an electric book is used: Gaffney, J. & Marley, N. (2018). General Chemistry for Engineers. Elsevier.

Study forms and methods

This course contains two parts Chemistry and Physics, which are taught by two teachers. The course starts with Physics and after winter break continues with Chemistry. Both parts contain voluntary online lectures which are held on certain times by the weekly schedule. Some parts of the course are recorded, so you may follow the course also by watching video recordings and doing weekly assignments on Learn environment. There are final exams after both Physics and Chemistry parts. Exams are also done online.

RDI and work-related cooperation

There is no co-operation with RND-department during this course.

Timing of exams and assignments

Separate exam from physics part and chemistry part.
The failed exam can be resit twice in both subjects.
Dates are announced in the beginning of the course.

International cooperation

There is no international co-operation during this course.

Student workload

Student's workload 135 h = 67,5 h/subject is covered by the online lectures, weekly homework assignments, self-study and exams.

Course part description

The course begins with physics part in January and continues with the chemistry part in March. Physics online lectures are held on Zoom video environment and the chemistry lectures are held via Teams.

Further information

Reijo Vuohelainen teaches physics part and Liisi Rajala teaches chemistry part. Both parts have separate Learn-pages.

Evaluation scale

1-5

Assessment methods and criteria

Chemistry: Exam + possibility to earn bonus points by doing homework. Evaluation: 1-5
Physics: Exam + possibility to earn bonus points by doing homework. Evaluation: 1-5

The course is passed when both parts, physics and chemistry, are passed.
The final grade of the course is calculated as an average of the grades from physics and chemistry part.