PHYSICS
Basic knowledge of calculus.
Aims and outcomes
1. The main aim of the course is to ensure that the students learn the fundamental laws of classical Physics.
2. More generally, the course is aimed at helping the students to understand and learn the scientific method.
3. In particular, it is required that the students learn how to independently analyze, address and solve the Physics problems that will be proposed within the course.
Program
Basic tools
The concept of measurement in Physics. Vector calculus. Scalar product and vector product.
1-D particle Kinematics
Speed, velocity and acceleration. Motion along a straight line. Motion in 2 and 3 dimensions. Projectile motion and circular motions. Relative kinematics.
1-D particle Dynamics
The principle of inertia. Newton’s laws. Friction forces. Harmonic motions. Small oscillations. Fictitious forces.
Conservation laws
Work and energy. Conservative forces. Impulse and linear momentum. Angular momentum and torque. Center of mass for a system of particles. Newton’s laws for a system of particles. Elastic and inelastic collisions.
Mechanics of rigid body
Moment of inertia. Rotation of a rigid body. General motion of a rigid body. Statics of rigid bodies.
Gravitation
Universal gravitation law. Kepler’s laws.
Fluid mechanics
Pressure. Fluid statics. Fluid dynamics.
Electrostatics
The electrical charge. The electric field. Flow determined by a vector field. Gauss's theorem. Applications of Gauss’s theorem. The electrostatic potential. Stokes' theorem. The electrostatic field in conductors. Capacitance. Capacitors. Capacitors and dielectrics.
Electrodynamics
The electric current. Conservation of the electric charge. Ohm's laws. The Joule effect. The electromotive force. Kirchhoff's laws. RC circuits.
Magnetostatics
The magnetic field. Magnetic action on the electric current. The Biot-Savart law. Magnetic induction flux. Ampère's theorem. Applications of Ampère's theorem.
Electromagnetic induction
Faraday's law. The induced electric field. General law of electromagnetic induction. Lenz's law and conservation of energy. RL circuits. Induced magnetic fields. LC circuits. RLC circuits.
Teaching activities
The course consists of two parts. The first one (40 hours), concerning Mechanics and Fluids, is taught by Dr. Alessia Allevi, whereas the second one (40 hours), concerning Electromagnetism, is taught by Dr. Romualdo Santoro.
The lectures, in which the theoretical concepts of the course will be taught, will be supported by some lessons (32 hours) devoted to exercises.
Texts and materials
D. Halliday, R. Resnick, J. Walker, Fundamentals of Physics, Wiley.
The text is available in 1 volume.
Exams
The exam will be held during the breaks between the semesters, namely at the end of the first semester and at the end of the second one. The exam will be a written test and it will consist of exercises and theoretical questions. At the end of the first semester students can take the partial test concerning the first part of the course (Classical Mechanics and Fluids). At the end of the second semester, students who have passed the first partial test can take the last part of the exam, concerning electromagnetism.
Students who failed one partial test can repeat the exam or they can choose to take one single test, concerning both the two parts of the course.
The final mark is the average between those of the two tests.
There will be no oral examinations.