PENG9200 Scientific Research Methods and Data Analysis in Engineering Science Emneplan

This course is made of two parts. Both parts give students fundamental scientific knowledge and skills that provide the scientific foundation for working with the two technological courses. The themes are important for enabling computer scientists to participate in discussions about technology and science. In addition, the work in this course will provide training in mathematical software and enable students to run calcuations.

One internal examiner. External examiners are used regularly.

None.

The student is expected to have the following outcomes on completion of the course:

Knowledge:

On successful completion of the course, the student:

• has advanced knowledge of the research process.
• has advanced knowledge of data collection techniques relative to his/her field of study within engineering sciences
• can critically assess the usefulness of using qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methodologies in the engineering sciences.
• has a high-level command of qualitative and quantitative methods of analysis relative to his/her field of study.

Skills:

On successful completion of the course, the student can:

• construct a problem statement or research question and evaluate its soundness.
• create technically and scientifically sound research proposals.
• select a methodology to address a research problem.

General competence:

On successful completion of the course, the student can:

• distinguish and formulate research problems.
• develop and critically assess the components of a research proposal.
• critically reflect on the nature of research, scientific practice and knowledge

After completing the course, the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student is capable of:

• explaining Newton’s three laws of motion and how they determine the movement of objects
• explaining the concept of work as a line integral of power and energy conservation
• explaining the concepts of conservative and non-conservative force and placing them in the context of the first law of thermodynamics
• explaining the oscillation equation and its solutions for simple cases, and describing oscillations
• stating the wave equation and its analytical solutions for simple cases, and describing wave movement
• explaining Fourier’s law for heat conduction and its connection to the heat conduction equation and the second law of thermodynamics
• explaining basic electromagnetic units, concepts and phenomena
• solving the most common ordinary and partial differential equations that occur in physics, analytically and/or numerically, with the help of well-known algorithms
• explaining and solving important chemical equations in stoichiometry
• explaining basic principles and notions within chemical kinetics and chemical equilibrium
• explaining basic electrochemical principles

Skills

The student is capable of:

• calculating particle trajectories in physics, both analytically and numerically
• solving the oscillation equation for simple cases, analytically and numerically, and visualising the solutions
• solving the one-dimensional wave equation numerically, and visualising the solutions
• solving the one-dimensional temperature equation numerically, and visualising the solutions
• using mathematical and numerical methods to describe and analyse physical phenomena, including presenting quantitative solutions to problems in mechanics, electromagnetism, thermal physics, the physics of solids, and fluid dynamics
• explaining limitations in the calculations mentioned above
• carrying out simple chemical calculations in stoichiometry
• carrying out simple chemical calculations in electrochemistry such as calculations of cell potential, current, consumption and production of chemicals in electrolysis
• carrying out simple calculations of reactants and products present in gaseous equilibrium, precipitation reactions and acid-base equilibrium

General competence

The student:

• is capable of understanding and communicating physical and chemical principles and methods, issues and solutions, both orally and in writing
• is capable of communicating with other professionals with a natural science background on physical and chemical matters
• has insight into the importance of natural sciences for engineering developments

Lectures and exercises. The exercises are based on the students’ own work, supervised by the lecturer.

Students have to write an individual report.

The following coursework is compulsory and must be approved before the student can sit the exam:

• 1 individual written assignment in the physics part, based on the use of software

Individual written exam, 3 hours. Physics part counts 70 %, chemistry part 30 %.

The exam result can be appealed.

Aids enclosed with the exam question paper, and a handheld calculator that cannot be used for wireless communication or to perform symbolic calculations. If the calculator’s internal memory can store data, the memory must be deleted before the exam. Random checks may be carried out.