Basic Physics in Technology (5cr)

Objectives (course unit)

In this course, you will learn the basics of the physics behind technology, the subject area being mechanics, thermophysics and electricity

As a student, you will
• know the basic objects and phenomena related to mechanics, thermophysics and electricity
• know how to connect objects and phenomena related to mechanics, thermophysics and electricity to technical and everyday practical applications
• know the quantities, their units, and the basic laws of physics between the quantities related to the basic elements and phenomena
• have a basic understanding about phenomena related to mechanics, thermophysics and electricity
• can describe the basic principles of solving problems related to mechanics, thermophysics and electricity on a qualitative level and justify the choices you make
• recognize the quantities related to the problems and their preservation or change
• know how to choose the laws needed to solve problems
• know the limitations of the laws used
• know how to solve quantitative problems by use of the physical laws
• know how to state the solutions of quantitative problems with appropriate accuracy of presentation
• can justify the choices you make orally or in writing
• know how to evaluate the reasonableness, correctness and reliability of the calculated solutions you have made
• can carry out a simple measurement related to mechanics, thermophysics and electricity and interpret the results you get
• can make and interpret graphical presentations

Content (course unit)

Mechanics
• Force, gravity, friction, interaction, effect of force on motion, Newton's laws
• Work, energy, conservation of energy, power, efficiency
• Basic movement models,

Thermal physics
• Temperature, temperature change and thermal expansion
• Thermal energy, basic concepts of thermodynamics of substances, changes of state, calorimetry
• Basic models of heat transfer
• Heat output of the flowing substance


Electricity
• ´Electric current, voltage, resistance, power, Ohm's law, electrical energy

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2) (course unit)

Student:
• knows objects and phenomena related to the topic
• partially knows how to relate objects and phenomena related to the topic to technology and everyday applications
• knows the quantities related to the objects and phenomena of the subject area, the related units and the laws between the quantities only in familiar, exemplary situations.
• has a basic idea of the phenomena related to the subject area of insufficient qualitative level
• Recognizes the basic phenomena of physics appearing in problems related to the topic, the whole is partly unstructured and incomplete.
• can describe on a qualitative level some of the basic principles of solving problems related to the topic and makes his solutions as copies of previously studied examples.
• recognize, with support or based on a previous example, the quantities related to the problems and their preservation or change
• the selection of the laws needed to solve the problems is based on support or ready-made example models. Self-directed selection of models is uncertain and partly random.
• knows how to solve computational problems in situations that are, for example, familiar
• can sometimes state the solutions of computational problems with suitable accuracy of presentation
• the student has challenges justifying the choices he has made orally or in writing
• there are challenges in assessing the correctness and reliability of computational solutions.
• Works in the measurement related to the topic as part of a group

Assessment criteria, good (3-4) (course unit)

• knows the objects and phenomena related to the topic
• knows how to connect objects and phenomena related to the topic to technology and everyday applications
• knows the quantities related to the objects and phenomena of the topic, their units and the basic laws of physics between the quantities
• have a basic idea of the right qualitative level about the phenomena related to the topic
• can identify the basic phenomena of physics that are relevant to the solution of the problems in the problems related to the topic
• can describe on a qualitative level the basic principles of solving problems related to the subject area and justify the choices they have made related to solving problems
• identify the quantities related to problems and their preservation or change
• knows how to choose the laws needed to solve problems
• Knows the limitations of the laws he uses
• knows how to solve computational problems by making good use of the laws of his choice
• knows how to state the solutions of computational problems with appropriate accuracy of presentation
• can justify the choices he made orally or in writing
• knows how to evaluate the reasonableness, correctness and reliability of the calculated solutions he has made
• can carry out a simple measurement related to the topic and interpret the results obtained through the quantities and basic laws they have adopted

Assessment criteria, excellent (5) (course unit)

• knows the objects and phenomena related to the subject area and their connection to other subject areas
• knows how to comprehensively relate objects and phenomena related to the topic to technology and everyday applications
• thoroughly knows the quantities related to the objects and phenomena of the topic, their units and the basic laws of physics between the quantities and knows their limitations
• has a basic idea of the right qualitative level about the phenomena related to the topic and knows how to express it to others
• can identify the basic phenomena of physics that are relevant to the solution of the problems in the problems related to the topic
• can describe on a qualitative level the basic principles of solving problems related to the subject area and justify the choices they have made related to solving problems
• identify the quantities related to the problems in a broad area, and their preservation or change
• knows how to choose the laws needed to solve problems
• Knows the limitations of the laws he uses
• knows how to solve computational problems by making good use of the laws of his choice
• knows how to state the solutions of computational problems with appropriate accuracy of presentation
• can justify the choices he made orally or in writing
• can reasonably assess the reasonableness, correctness and reliability of the calculated solutions he has made
• can implement and, if necessary, plan a simple measurement related to the topic and interpret the results obtained through the quantities and basic laws they have adopted.

Location and time

Viikottainen lähiopetus lukujärjestyksen mukaan alkaen viikosta 36.

Exam schedules

Välikokeita kurssin aikana, näiden aikataulutus Moodlessa.
Loppukoe kurssin lopuksi: 4.12.2025

Uusintamahdollisuudet kurssin loputtua: 12.1.2026 ja 2.2.2026

Assessment methods and criteria

Kurssin arviointi perustuu pääosin loppukokeeseen (75% kokonaispisteistä; 30p).
Loput kurssipisteet (25%; 10p) on saatavilla kurssin aikana suoritettavista lyhyistä välikokeista.
Kurssin läpipääsemiseksi on myös tehtävä vähintään 50% kurssin kotitehtävistä (15 kpl)

Kurssiarvosanat perustuvat seuraavanlaiseen kokonaispisteytykseen:
Arvosana 1: 10p
Arvosana 2: 16p
Arvosana 3: 22p
Arvosana 4: 28p
Arvosana 5: 34p

Assessment scale

0-5

Teaching methods

- Luento-opetus
- Verkkomateriaali
- Laskuharjoitukset
- Mittaustehtävät
- Stack-tehtävät
- Loppukoe

Learning materials

Opettajan materiaalit.
Tekniikan Kaavasto, Tammertekniikka.
MAOL Taulukot
Momentti 1 Insinöörifysiikka, Otava.
Momentti 2 Insinöörifysiikka, Otava.

Student workload

Viikottainen luento-opetus (12 x 3h)
Välikokeita kurssin aikana
Omatoimista opiskelua (kotitehtäviä, teoriaa)
Kotitehtävät

5 opintopistettä vastaa noin 135h työpanosta.

Content scheduling

Mekaniikka, 6 viikkoa
- Liike-oppi 1 viikko
- Voimat ja vuorovaikutukset 3 viikkoa
- Energia ja työ 2 viikkoa

Lämpöoppi, 4 viikkoa
- Lämpöenergia, lämpötilan muutokset 2 viikkoa
- Lämpölaajeneminen, lämmön siirtyminen, lämpöteho 2 viikkoa

Sähköoppi, 2 viikkoa
- Yksinkertaiset virtapiirit, Ohmin laki 1 viikko
- Sähköenergia, 1 viikko

Completion alternatives

Ei ole.

Practical training and working life cooperation

Ei ole.

International connections

Ei ole.

Further information

Tekoälyperustaisten työkalujen (esim. Copilot, ChatGPT) käyttö kokeissa on ehdottomasti kielletty ja johtaa hylkäykseen.
Tekoälytyökaluja saa toki hyödyntää kotitehtävissä ja oppimisen tukena.