Pokhara University

Faculty of Science and Technology

Course No.: xxx xxx Full Marks: 100

Course Title: Applied Physics (3-1-2) Pass Marks: 45
Nature of the Course: Theory and Practical Time per Period: 1 hour
Year: First Total Periods: 45
Level: Bachelor Program: BE

1. Course Description
This course covers the fundamental topics of physics and basic principles that are required to
study other engineering courses. It develops the ability to identify, formulate and solve
engineering physics problems. Moreover, it enables to formulate, conduct, analyze and interpret
experiments in engineering physics through tutorials, laboratory work and self-learning
activities.

2. General Objectives
The general objectives of this course are:
- To equip the students with the fundamental concept and laws of oscillation,
electromagnetism and thermodynamics.
- To acquaint the students with waves, laser, optical fiber, quantum mechanics and
enlighten the importance of capacitor and dielectrics.

3. Methods of Instruction
Lecture, discussion, tutorials, Laboratory work and assignments

4. Contents in Detail

Specific Objectives Contents

Understand mechanical Unit I: Mechanical Oscillation (6 hrs)
oscillations, solve problems related 1.1 Free oscillation, Damped oscillation and Forced
to different types of oscillation, oscillation (Physical meaning and equations).
familiar with the scope in various 1.2 Compound pendulum, Minimum and maximum time
engineering fields. period in compound pendulum, Interchangeability of
point of suspension and point of oscillation in
compound pendulum, Torsion pendulum,
Determination of modulus of rigidity of material using
torsion pendulum.
Solve and analyze the problems Unit II: Wave Motion (4 hrs)
related to waves Introduction of wave, wave velocity and particle
velocity, types of waves and their applications, Speed
of wave in stretched string, energy, power and
intensity of plane progressive wave, standing wave
and resonance, sonometer.
Solve the problems related to Unit III: Acoustics (4 hrs.)
reverberation in different units of 3.1 Classification of sound waves, Acoustics of building,
building. Solve the problems Reverberation of sound, absorption coefficient, Noise
related to ultra sound. pollution and its control, Sound insulation, Sabine
equation.
3.2 Introduction, production and applications of
ultrasonic wave. Ultrasonic method in non-
destructive testing.
understand the use of lasers in Unit IV: Photonics (6 hrs.)
engineering sciences and solve 4.1 Laser: Introduction of laser, Principles of generation
problems related to laser and fiber of laser light (induced absorption, spontaneous
optics. Apply the concept of optical emission, stimulated emission, population inversion,
fibers in communication system pumping, metastable state), He–Ne laser,
and sensors. Semiconductor laser, Applications of laser.
4.2 Fiber optics: Introduction, Types of optical fiber,
Principle of propagation of light wave through optical
fiber (Acceptance angle), Numerical aperture,
Applications of optical fiber in communications,
Optical fiber sensors.
Evaluate the capacity of capacitors Unit V: Capacitor and Dielectric (6 hrs.)
to store energy with and without 5.1 Capacitor: Introduction, Types of capacitors,
dielectrics. Charging and discharging of capacitor.
Solve problems related to 5.2 Dielectric: Introduction, Dielectric constant, electric
electrostatics. flux density, Polarization, Polarization in free space,
Gauss law in dielectric, Electronic and Ionic
polarization (Clausius-Mossotti equation).
Deal with interaction between Unit VI: Electromagnetism (6 hrs.)
electric field and magnetic field on 6.1 EM Oscillation: LC oscillation, Damped LCR
matter. oscillation, Forced electromagnetic oscillation,
Analyze the relationship between resonance and quality factor
electric field, magnetic field and 6.2 EM waves: Maxwell equations in integral form,
speed of wave. Conversion of Maxwell’s equations in differential
form, Continuity equation, Relation between electric
field, magnetic field and speed of light, wave
equations in free space, verification of light wave as
an electromagnetic wave, Wave equation in dielectric
medium
Apply principles of quantum Unit VII: Quantum Mechanics (5 hrs.)
mechanics to investigate the Inadequacy of classical mechanics, Importance of
observables on known wave quantum mechanics, Matter wave (de-Broglie
functions. Solve the problems equation), Wave function and its significance, Energy
related to particle wave using and momentum operator, Time independent and time
Schrodinger’s wave equations. dependent Schrodinger wave equations, Application of
 Schrodinger wave equation for the electron in metal,
Normalized wave function describing the motion of an
electron inside in an infinite potential well.
Acquainted with the laws of Unit VIII: Fundamentals of Thermodynamics and
thermodynamics and applications. Heat Transfer (8 hrs.)
Solve the problems related to 8.1 Concepts and definition: applications of
thermodynamics and heat transfer. thermodynamics, properties and state of substance,
thermodynamics properties and types, processes
(definition, characteristics and examples): reversible
and irreversible process.
8.2 Laws of thermodynamics: first law of
thermodynamics, first law for closed system, internal
and stored energy, joules law, enthalpy, specific heat,
application of first law for closed system, Related
problems on closed system, second law of
thermodynamics, heat engine (four components of
refrigerator and heat pump, COP of refrigerator and
heat pumps), Kelvin-Planck and Clausius statement
of second law.
8.3 Heat transfer: modes of heat transfer (conduction,
convection and radiation), statement and assumption
of Fourier’s law of thermal conductivity, one
dimensional steady state heat conduction through
plane wall, basic laws of radiation (Emissive power
and emissivity, Stefan-Boltzmann’s law), Concept of
black bodies.

5. Tutorials
1. Solving the problems related to different oscillation.
2. Solving and analyzing the problems related to waves.
3. Determination of standard reverberation time for normal human ear and solving problems
related to ultra sound.
4. Determination of angle of acceptance for working of optical fiber and finding population
of atoms in different energy states.
5. Solving the problems for different combination of capacitors and finding the charging
and discharging time constant for capacitor.
6. Solving the problems related to Gauss law of electrostatics.
7. Determination of frequency of damped and undammed LC oscillation and analyzing the
relationship between electric field, magnetic field and speed of wave.
8. Solving the problems related to particle wave using Schrodinger’s wave equations.
9. Solving the problems related to thermodynamics and heat transfer.

6. Laboratory Work (Any Eight)

1. To determine the acceleration due to gravity and radius of gyration of bar pendulum.
 2. To determine the value of modulus of rigidity of the material given and moment of inertia
of circular disc using torsion pendulum.
3. To determine the acceptance angle of an optical fiber using laser source.
4. To determine the frequency of AC mains by using sonometer apparatus.
5. To determine the wavelength of laser light by using diffraction grating
6. To determine the capacitance of given capacitor by charging and discharging through
resistor.
7. To plot a graph between current and frequency in an LRC series circuit and to find: i) the
resonance frequency ii) the quality factor.
8. To determine the dielectric constant of a given material
9. To determine the Planck’s constant and photoelectric work functions of the material.
10. To measure the pressure, specific volume and temperature.
11. To find out the efficiency of a compressor.
12. To measure the rate of heat, transfer by conduction
13. To measure the performance of a Refrigeration/ Heat pump

7. Evaluation system and Students’ Responsibilities

Evaluation System
In addition to the formal exam(s), the internal evaluation of a student may consist of quizzes,
assignments, lab reports, projects, class participation, etc. The tabular presentation of the internal
evaluation is as follows.

External Evaluation Marks Internal Evaluation Weight Marks

Semester-End examination 50 Theory 30
Attendance and Class Participation 10%
Assignments 20%
Presentations/Quizzes 10%
Term exam 60%
Practical 20
Attendance and Class Participation 10%
Lab Report/ Project Report 20%
Practical Exam/ Project Work 40%
Viva 30%
Total Internal 50
Full Marks: 50 + 50 = 100

Student Responsibilities
Each student must secure at least 45% marks in internal evaluation with 80% attendance in the
class in order to appear in the Semester End Examination. Failing to get such score will be given
NOT QUALIFIED (NQ) and the student will not be eligible to appear the Semester-End
Examinations. Students are advised to attend all the classes, formal exam, test, etc. and complete
all the assignments within the specified time period. Students are required to complete all the
requirements defined for the completion of the course.
8. Prescribed Books and References
Text Books
1. Halliday, D., Resnick, R., & Walker. J. Fundamental of Physics. John Wiley and Sons.
Inc.
2. Young, H. D. & Freedman. R. A. Sears and Zemansky's University Physics. 2009.
3. Howel, J. R. & Buckius, R. O. Fundamentals of Engineering Thermodynamics. McGraw-
Hill Publishers.

References
1. Reitz, J., Milford, F.J. & Christy, R.W. Foundations of Electromagnetic Theory, 1996.
2. David, J. Griffiths, Introduction to Electrodynamics, Prentice Hall of India Private
Limited, New Delhi, 2008
3. Van Wylen, G. J. and Sonntag, R. E., Fundamentals of Classical Thermodynamics, Wiley
Eastern Limited, New Delhi, 1989
4. Malik, H. K., Singh, A. K., Engineering Physics, Tata McGraw Hill Education Private
Ltd., 2010.
5. Arora, C. L. (2020). B. Sc. Practical Physics. S. Chand Publishing.
6. Mathur, D. S., Mechanics, S. Chand and Company Ltd., 2003.
7. Subrahmanyam, N., Lal, B., A text book of Optics, S. Chand and Company Ltd., 2005.
8. Tiwari, K. K. Electricity and Magnetism, S. Chand and Company Ltd., 2001
9. Murugeshan, R. & Sivaprasath, K., Modern Physics, S. Chand and Company Ltd., 2009.