FY552: Soft-condensed matter physics
Study Board for Natural Sciences
Teaching language: Danish or English depending on the teacher, but English if international students are enrolled
EKA: N500057102
Assessment: Second examiner: External
Grading: 7-point grading scale
Offered in: Odense
Offered in: Autumn
Level: Bachelor
STADS ID (UVA): N500057101
ECTS value: 5
Date of Approval: 07-03-2025
Duration: 1 semester
Version: Approved - active
Internal Course Code
Entry requirements
The course cannot be followed by students who have passed FY543: Physics of Condensed matter course (10 ECTS)
Academic preconditions
Students taking the course are expected to:
- Have basic knowledge of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics
- Be able to develop, analyze and use mathematical models based on physical laws.
The course builds on knowledge acquired in:
FT500: Mechanics and thermodynamics (5 ECTS)
FY550: Statistical Physics (5 ECTS)
FT501: Calculus (10 ECTS)
FY546: Advanced Mechanics and Relativity Theory (10 ECTS)
FY554: Numerical physics (5 ECTS)
Course introduction
The course provides an introduction to the physics of soft condensed matter e.g. polymers, colloids, surfactants and liquid crystals. The course gives an introduction to their phenomenology, as well as theoretical concepts and experimental methods used for soft materials.
This course provides a basis for further studies in material science, nano-technology, bio-physics and computational physics. For instance, FY828: Advanced statistical physics (10 ECTS) and FY829: Research activities in experimental physics (5 ECTS) as well as bachelor and master thesis projects.
Expected learning outcome
The learning objectives of the course are that the student demonstrates the ability to:
- Describe the phenomenology of soft materialers in particular polymers, colloids, surfactants and liquid crystals
- describe the relation between emergent macroscopic material properties and molecular/mesoscopic structures
- describe statistical mechanical models of soft condensed materials
- apply statistical mechanical theories to predict material properties
- describe experimental techniques used for the characterization of soft-condensed materials
Content
The following main topics are contained in the course:s
- Characteristic material properties of soft-condensed materials
- Statistical mechanical models for polymers.
- Continuum elasticity theory, stress and strain tensors
- Surface tension, wetting and surface active molecules
- Thermodynamics and self-assembly of surfactants and micelles
- Interactions between colloidal particles and stability of colloidal solutions
- Statistical mechanical models of liquid crystals
- Characterization of soft-condensed materials via scattering techniques
- Characterization of soft-condensed materials via rheological techniques
Literature
Examination regulations
Exam element a)
Timing
January
Tests
Oral examination
EKA
N500057102
Assessment
Second examiner: External
Grading
7-point grading scale
Identification
Student Identification Card - Name
Language
Normally, the same as teaching language
Examination aids
To be announced during the course
ECTS value
5
Indicative number of lessons
Teaching Method
Planned lessons:
Total number of planned lessons: 42
Hereof:
Common lessons in classroom/auditorium 42
The teaching consists of lectures as well as discussion with the students on the course curriculum. During the teaching the students will be solving exercises.
Other planned teaching activities:
- Reading the book and course notes
- Solving problems
- Preparing for lectures
- Preparing for exams
The students will continue working with exercises and prepare questions for discussion in the teaching hours.
Teacher responsible
Additional teachers
Timetable
Administrative Unit
Team at Registration
Offered in
Recommended course of study
Transition rules
Transitional arrangements describe how a course replaces another course when changes are made to the course of study.
If a transitional arrangement has been made for a course, it will be stated in the list.
See transitional arrangements for all courses at the Faculty of Science.