Admission Requirements
Prior knowledge of Statistical Physics 1.
Description
This course provides an introduction to Soft Matter Physics through the prism of fluid phenomena. From sand dunes to living cells, Soft Matter Physics rationalizes the complex behaviours of matter from the micro-scale to the macro-scale. With a focus on fundamental fluid phenomena such as viscous flows and capillarity, the course will introduce a variety of Soft Matter systems and the quantitative tools used to describe them. Throughout the course, we will peek at current research which build on these fundamental concepts.
In this course, you will learn to question and explain properties of a variety of common yet complex materials: from simple to complex fluids, from microscopic details to macroscopic behaviours.
Specific topics are:
Navier-Stokes equation
Simple fluids hydrodynamics
Viscosity and viscous flows
Capillary phenomena
Along the course, you will also explore recent advances in Soft Matter Physics, notably in the fields of microfluidics and active matter.
Course Objectives
On completing this course, you will know how to:
derive the dynamics equations for fluids, describe fluid flows at various scales, study bulk and interfacial fluid phenomena
perform dimensional analysis to make quantitative predictions, discuss scaling
Transferable Skills
You can put chains of arguments into writing
You plan your time in such a way that the study load is distributed evenly over the various study activities required for this course: studying the textbook, preparing problem sessions, completing exercises and assignments
Timetable
See timetable in Brightspace
You will find the timetables for all courses and degree programmes of Leiden University in the tool MyTimetable (login). Any teaching activities that you have sucessfully registered for in MyStudyMap will automatically be displayed in MyTimeTable. Any timetables that you add manually, will be saved and automatically displayed the next time you sign in.
MyTimetable allows you to integrate your timetable with your calendar apps such as Outlook, Google Calendar, Apple Calendar and other calendar apps on your smartphone. Any timetable changes will be automatically synced with your calendar. If you wish, you can also receive an email notification of the change. You can turn notifications on in ‘Settings’ (after login).
For more information, watch the video or go the the 'help-page' in MyTimetable. Please note: Joint Degree students Leiden/Delft have to merge their two different timetables into one. This video explains how to do this.
Mode of Instruction
See Brightspace
Lectures, tutorials (exercise classes) and homework assignments. The lectures, exercises and exam are in English.
Assessment Method
Written exam (closed book) with open questions.
Reading list
Textbook (highly recommended): Physical Hydrodynamics – Etienne Guyon, Jean-Pierre Hulin, Luc Petit & Catalin D. Mitescu (Oxford University Press, edition 2015), ISBN 978-0-19-870245-0 (pbk.).
Registration
As a student, you are responsible for registering on time, i.e. 14 days before the start of the course. This can be done via Mystudymap. You do this twice a year: once for the courses you want to take in semester 1 and once for the courses you want to take in semester 2. Please note: late registration is not possible.
Registration for courses in the first semester is possible from July; registration for courses in the second semester is possible from December. For more information, see this page
In addition, it is mandatory for all students to register for exams. This can be done up to and including 10 calendar days prior to the exam or up to five calendar days in case of a retake exam. You cannot participate in the exam or retake without a valid registration in My Studymap.
Contact
Lecturer: Dr. Alexandre Morin
Remarks
none