Upon completing this course the student should know and understand: how to solve and discuss linear systems of equations using the Gauss method with matrix notation; determinant properties for the computation of the determinant of a square matrix and knowing the cases where area and volume interpretations are given; the basic concepts and main results on vector spaces and on linear maps between finite-dimensional linear vector spaces.

The UC sensitizes students to the importance of developing personal skills in Science Communication and works in particular on the preparation of scientific reports, the preparation and execution of oral communications, and the preparation of scientific articles.

The objectives are:

• draw attention to the importance of effective communication;
• disseminate resources and tools for improving personal written and oral expression skills.
• know the structure of scientific documents (reports, articles, theses, ...)
• know the process of  scientific communications dissemination: paper submission, review, poster presentation and oral communication

In this course the students will:
1. Get acquainted with personal computers in the GNU/Linux operating system and their usage;
2. Learn how to write computer programs using Python and execute them in a terminal.
3. Acquire competence in the implementation of simple algorithms;
4. Acquire good code structuring and programming style;
5. Learn some basic data structures and algorithms;
6. Get acquainted with program debugging and testing.

• Learn the basics of Electromagnetism
• Derive and present the laws and methods of Electromagnetism under a phenomenological perspective
• Establish links and parallels between Electromagnetism and Mechanics, using concepts such as force and energy
• Emphasize the relevance of the concept of field in the formulation of the laws of Electromagnetism, as an entity responsible for the mediation of physical interactions
• Apply, in the context of Electromagnetism, the concepts and methods of Vector Analysis and Integral Calculus in space
• Present and describe relevant applications of Electromagnetism in Science and Technology

Introduction to thermal Physics. Basics on classical thermodynamics and statistical mechanics. Applications to simple classical and quantum systems.

• Train ideas and methods of wave mechanics, elasticity and hydrodynamics. • Understand the linear coupling between oscillators and the basic of normal modes. • Understand the concept of wave, its description and application in various areas of physics. • Perform Fourier analysis, as well as understand its importance in the study of linear waves. • Understand the result of overlapping waves and the phenomenon of interference and diffraction. • Understand the concepts of phase velocity and group velocity and the concept of dispersion. • Understand and describe the state of deformation and the stresses applied in isotropic elastic body, as well as relate the two. • Analyze simple problems of fluid dynamics and fluids in equilibrium. • Connecting to technology issues.

The students will be introduced to a set of computational methods and to its application in several fields of Physics and Engineering.

To understand the inadequacy of classical concepts in the interpretation of some experimental results and the need for a new formulation of physics. TTo introduce Relativity. o introduce wave mechanics, making applications to one-dimensional systems. To understand the atomic structure and atomic processes. To Study applications of quantum physics in astrophysics, condensed matter and/or optics.

Laboratory Practice in Physics and Electronics.

Familizarization of students with aspects of electronics and instrumentation needed to carry out experimental work, through the execution of a set of representative works in Physics and Electronics, including analysis of experimental data, calculation of errors, graphical representation  and critical evaluation of the obtained results;

Promotion of the search of information relevant to the experimental work;

Preparation and writing of reports of experimental activities;
Development of group work skills.

Upon completing this course, the student should:

- have a good insight of the fundamental concepts and principles of statistics, and in particular those from basic inference statistics.

- know the common inference statistical  methods and how to apply them to concrete situations;

It is also expected that the student acquires familiarity with the programing language and software environment R, in the framework of problems solving.

• Understand the concept of information, the process that led to its quantification and coding in the form of a signal

• Understand what is meant by system and the universality of its characteristics;

• Know the methodologies and the physical/mathematical techniques to study the properties of signals and important systems in physics and engineering.

• Understand the central characteristics of linear and time invariant systems (SLIT);

• Master the behavior of SLIT systems actuated by continuous or discrete signals, including the actual situation in which signals are degraded by noise;

• Understand the fundamental principles of systems control and the techniques and procedures used for your study;

• Understand the wide domain of application of the principles, methodologies and techniques studied;

• Acquire skills to work effectively in applications involving systems, as well as proceed to further studies in this area;

• To internalize the level of complexity that a system may have considering two examples: the Earth System and the Biological Cell System.

To get familiar with the ideas and methods of statistical physics. To introduce the fundamental results of classical and quantum statistical physics of systems in equilibrium. To discuss some applications of statistical physics to classical and quantum systems.

Additionally, given a set of topics covered in this curricular unit, such as the determination of the speed of light and the Planck constant, it is also intended to drive the students into major open questions in the context of current physical theories.

To obtain an articulated vision of Classic Optics and Photonics, and their relations with Modern Optics, allowing the student to have the fundamental knowledge, and the respective literacy, to handle the interchange between knowledge and applications.

Understand the methods of Geometrical Optics and its limitations, and apply those methods in the analysis of optical systems. 

Master the fundamental aspects of Physical Optics (polarization, interference and diffraction of optical waves) and understand a diversified range of applications in instrumentation and optical measurement techniques and signal processing. 

Obtain a generic view of certain topics of Modern Optics.

• Learn methods and algorithms used in numerical simulation in physics/physical engineering.
• Analyze a set of problems in different areas of physics/physical engineering in view of their numerical solution.
• Build models fo the  problems.
• Describe and apply some basic numerical techniques.
• Contact with simulation methods.

The objective of this curricular unit is to provide students with the possibility of working as a team, pe rforming tasks similar to those they will encounter after completing the course.

Students will develop a small project that will integrate several of the multidisciplinar skills they have acquired.