Waves and Photons. Electrons and material waves. Quantum mechanics. Heisenberg uncertainty relation. Schrödinger equation. Pauli principle and the Periodical system. Tunnelling microscope. Hydrogen atom. Electronic spin. Atomic structure. Magnetic resonance with applications. X-rays and elemental analysis. Laser radiation. Conductors, semi-conductors and isolators, p-n transitions. The fotodiode and LED. Nuclear structure and binding energy. Nuclear decay. Nuclear energy. Fission and fusion. Elementary particles and the forces between them. The latest Nobel Price.
SK180N Introductory Modern Physics 9.0 credits
This e-course covers: relativity, early quantum mechanics, atomic, molecular, laser, solid state, nuclear, particle, astrophysics, cosmology, a recent Nobel Prize in Physics.
HT25: reg-info will be emailed to admitted students by August 25. No email? Check spam folder then contact teacher. Course is 100% online, no physical meetings, done in own tempo. Admission solely via www.antagning.se Late LADOK registration is done via kursexp@physics.kth.se
Literature
The course closely follows the textbook "University Physics" by Young and Freedman, available as e-text. Lecture outlines, chapter summaries, practice problems and solutions are available within the on-line examination system. The study material and exams are in English; course administration, teacher communication - in English or Swedish.
Examination and grading
The contents and grading are subdivided into 3 Parts (TEN 1,2,3). Each Part gives 3hp and is examined via 3 tests/chapters. The entire course credit of 9hp consist of the sum of the points from the three Parts. All details are in the on-line examination system after enrollment. Study and examination entirely online, no physical presence required at any time during the course.
Enrollment and registration
Course application is exclusively via www.antagning.se - no applications can be accepted by KTH directly. Those admitted by antagning.se (or placed in reserve) will be email-notified by KTH on how to self-register a study account and enroll in the course.
Admissions Office at KTH
Email: info@kth.se
Tel: 08-790 94 40 (check mån 13-14, tis-tors 10.00-11.00)
Other questions
Email: vk at kth.se (english/svenska)
Information per course offering
Choose semester and course offering to see current information and more about the course, such as course syllabus, study period, and application information.
Information for Autumn 2025 Vecka 35-44 single courses students
- Course location
AlbaNova
- Duration
- 25 Aug 2025 - 12 Jan 2026
- Periods
Autumn 2025: P2 (4.5 hp), P1 (4.5 hp)
- Pace of study
33%
- Application code
10003
- Form of study
Distance Daytime
- Language of instruction
English
- Course memo
- Number of places
Max: 20
- Target group
- No information inserted
- Planned modular schedule
- [object Object]
- Schedule
- Schedule is not published
- Part of programme
- No information inserted
Please note that Students not located in Sweden may have problems attending a course at KTH.
You could meet obstacles if you're required to pay fees or if you do not have a Swedish Mobile BankID.
Contact
Course syllabus as PDF
Please note: all information from the Course syllabus is available on this page in an accessible format.
Course syllabus SK180N (Autumn 2018–)Headings with content from the Course syllabus SK180N (Autumn 2018–) are denoted with an asterisk ( )
Content and learning outcomes
Course contents
Intended learning outcomes
The course will provide basic knowledge about the rules and laws that governs micro cosmos, i.e. about electrons, atoms, nuclei, and their interaction with electromagnetic radiation. The course will also show how these rules and laws can be used within technology and medicine.
The student will after the course know how to:
- solve problems about the hydrogen atom concerning energies and wavelengths between obtained between energy levels
- explain and perform calculations on the Photoelectric effect and the Compton effect
- discuss quantum mechanical problems dealing with the Heisenberg uncertainty principle
- perform calculations on frequency conditions, mode structure of a laser and the laser medium
- perform simpler calculations with the Schrödinger equation
- do estimates of the Fermi function regarding energies in solids and explain the band model
- explain the phenomenon of nuclear decay and to perform calculations on half lifes
- explain and perform calculations on the Einstein’s energy relations and how to calculate fusion and fission energy production
- discuss the build-up of the elementary particles.
Literature and preparations
Specific prerequisites
Basic qualification as well as Mathematics D/ Mathematics 3c and Physics B/ Physics 2 with the lowest grade passed.
Recommended prerequisites
Mathematical knowledge corresponding to basic courses in algebra and analysis (derivates, integrals and differential equations)
Literature
You can find information about course literature either in the course memo for the course offering or in the course room in Canvas.
Examination and completion
Grading scale
A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
Examination
- TEN3 - Examination, 3.0 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
- TEN2 - Examination, 3.0 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
- TEN1 - Examination, 3.0 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.
The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.
If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.
Exams on the internet
Other requirements for final grade
Three written examinations.
Examiner
Ethical approach
- All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
- In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
- In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.
Further information
Course room in Canvas
Registered students find further information about the implementation of the course in the course room in Canvas. A link to the course room can be found under the tab Studies in the Personal menu at the start of the course.
Offered by
Main field of study
Physics, Technology
Education cycle
First cycle
Supplementary information
The course is a distance online course and is applied via antagning.se for both program students and external students who want to take the course.