Optics and ElectricityLaajuus (3 ECTS)

Objective

On completion of the course the student will have acquired the basic knowledge and skills needed in professional studies in electricity. The student will know the connection between electric charge, current and voltage. The student will be familiar with the calculations of energy and power related to electricity. The student will be able to form equations of a given circuit and to solve the unknown currents. The student will know how to control the movement of a charged particle in electric and magnetic fields. The student will be familiar with the operating principles of a direct-current motor and generator.

Content

Electrostatics (electric charge, Coulomb’s law, electric field, insulators and conductors, motion of charge in electric field, potential difference and voltage, capacitance and parallel-plate capacitor, connections of capacitors)
DC circuits (current and resistors, Ohm’s law, electric power, Kirchhoff’s laws, resistor connections, resistive sensors, current and voltage measurements)
Electromagnetic induction
Photometry: basic quantities and units

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

The student recognizes the quantities and units related to optics and electricity. The student knows the connection of voltage and potential to an electric field. The student is aware of the differences between an electric conductor and insulator. The student is able to calculate simple circuit problems. The student is able to explain the operating principles of direct-current motor and generator.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

The student understands the different behaviour of an electric conductor and insulator in an electric field, as well as the meaning of permittivity in describing the electric characteristics of a substance. The student understands the similarities between electric and gravitational fields. The student recognizes the differences between electric and magnetic fields in terms of a charged particle.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

The student is able to calculate problems related to the electric and magnetic field by using vectors. The student is able to form and solve equations of complex circuits.