Study Programmes 2015-2016
PHYS2007-1  
Physics II : optics and thermodynamics
Duration :
25h Th, 15h Pr
Number of credits :
Bachelor in geology4
Lecturer :
Alain Seret
Language(s) of instruction :
French language
Organisation and examination :
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Course contents :
The course is an introduction to optics and thermodynamics. Optics :
  • Light: nature, production, detection
  • Propagation in matter
  • Geometric optics
  • Wave optics
  • Quantum optics
Thermodynamics :
  • Temperature, thermal expansion
  • Ideal gas law, kinetic theory
  • Heat, work and the first law of thermodynamics
  • Cycles and heat engines
  • Entropy and the second law
Learning outcomes of the course :
See french version
Prerequisite knowledge and skills :
Physics course of first year.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
Face-to-face course with active participation of the students and independent practical works.
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
Optics: face-to-face with active participation of the students (15h) and practical works (9h).
Thermodnamics: face-to-face (10h) and practical works (6h).
Recommended or required readings :
"Optique: première approche" by A. Seret, Presses Universitaires de Liège (2015). A pdf file with short solutions to the exercices proposed in this book is also downloadable via eCampus.
"Physique thermique: première approche" by A. Seret (2014), downloadable as pdf file via eCampus.
Assessment methods and criteria :
The exam is divided in two parts: an oral test covering theory and a written and oral test for the exercices and practical parts.
Theory accounts for 60 % of the final mark, and exercice and practice for 40 %.
The tests will be organized in January and August.
Work placement(s) :
Organizational remarks :
The secretary of the Department of geology is in charge of the schedule.
Contacts :
Alain SERET - Phone: +32-4-3663705 - E-mail: aseret@ulg.ac.be Institute of Physics, B5 - Quartier Agora - Allée du six Aout 19 - Sart Tilman, 4000 Liège - BELGIUM.