Single-Course Dansk 5 ECTS

Natural Science (Polytechnical Foundation – B.Eng.)

Overall Course Objectives

The course Natural Science introduces students to the fundamental principles underlying modern engineering, with a particular focus on energy, modeling, and the understanding of physical systems. Through an integrated approach combining mechanics, thermodynamics, electromagnetism, and elements of chemistry and biotechnology, students develop a coherent understanding of how energy is produced, converted, transported, and stored in technical systems.

Students work with core concepts such as forces, motion, work, energy, and power, and use Newton’s laws and energy conservation as a foundation for analyzing physical systems. The course also introduces electrical and magnetic phenomena, as well as thermodynamic processes, including heat pumps, heat engines, and energy storage in chemical bonds. These fundamental principles are linked to modern technologies such as wind power, batteries, fuel cells, and Power-to-X.

A key objective of the course is to develop students’ ability to approach scientific problems quantitatively and critically. Students learn to apply SI units, dimensional analysis, and Fermi estimation to assess orders of magnitude and model real-world systems. In addition, Python and generative artificial intelligence are used as tools for data analysis, computation, and problem solving.

The course emphasizes both conceptual understanding and practical skills, enabling students to analyze and evaluate energy-related challenges within an engineering context.

See course description in Danish

Describe the function of energy production and storage systems such as hydropower, wind power, nuclear power, bioreactors, batteries, fuel cells, and Power-to-X.
Analyze energy flows and energy storage in technical systems and explain how energy is converted between mechanical, electrical, thermal, and chemical forms.
Apply SI base units and dimensions, and perform Fermi calculations to estimate orders of magnitude in scientific and engineering problems.
Apply core concepts in mechanics such as position, velocity, acceleration, forces, work, energy, and power.
Apply and analyze physical systems using Newton’s laws, the work–energy principle, and conservation of energy.
Explain magnetic fields and magnetic forces acting on charged particles.
Explain and analyze the conversion between electrical and mechanical energy in technical systems.
Apply the ideal gas law and explain and use the first and second laws of thermodynamics, including energy storage in chemical bonds.
Explain simple thermodynamic processes and the operation of heat pumps, heat engines, and refrigeration systems.
Explain energy relationships in chemical and biochemical reactions.
Use Python to analyze and solve physical problems, including the use of generative artificial intelligence.

Introduction to basic concepts in natural science centered around energy, i.e., mechanical, thermodynamic, electromagnetic, and chemical energy.

Classroom lectures and tutorials.