PHYSICS
- Overview
- Assessment methods
- Learning objectives
- Contents
- Bibliography
- Delivery method
- Teaching methods
- Contacts/Info
- basic concepts of mathematics (algebra, trigonometry, bases of differential and integral computation)
- basic concepts of statistics and data analysis (data collection, distributions and statistical properties, random variables, data analysis with PC programs)
- capability of interpreting a function plot
The evaluation is performed in two different ways:
- during the course, students will be given three assignments to work on in an autonomous way. The assignments will concern the topics discussed during the lessons (for instance the analysis of a set of data then described in a short report, performance of experiments with every day instruments such as the cell phone followed by a short report). If the assignments are evaluated positively, the student will sit for a colloquium without participating to the written examination
- if the assignments have not been performed or are not positively evaluated, the student will sit for a written examination consisting in 5 exercises and 3 open questions and for an oral one on what done in the written examination and on the course topics
- development of the capability to observe phenomena, locating them in the correct physics context and identifying their characterizing features from the physical point of view
- development of the capability to solve simple physical problems
- development of programming and analysis skills
- performance of simple experimental activities involving also data analysis and error analysis
- development of the capability of working in a group
- development of the capability of writing short scientific reports
The course topics will be organized in the following macro-chapters:
- review of basic concepts on measurement units, vectors and their composition, errors of an experimental measurement; introduction of the center of gravity
- motions and forces: uniform and accelerated motions, rectilinear and circular motions; Newton's laws; momentum; rotating motion; angular momentum; conservation of moment and of angular momentum; friction; harmonic motions and damped motions
- energy: energy types; energy transformation and work concept
- fluids: fundamental quantities (pressure and density); Pascal's principle; continuity equation; Archimedes' law; Bernoulli's law
- thermodynamics: temperature; specific heat and thermal capacity; heat exchange; the laws of thermodynamics; entropy; hints on gas kinetic theory
- electricity and magnetism: the electric charge; Coulomb's law: the electric field and potential; Gauss' law; conductors and insulators; capacitance and capacitors; the electric current; Ohm's and Kirchhoff's laws; the electrical circuits; the magnetic field; Lorentz's force; the electromagnetic induction; Maxwell's laws
- waves: fundamental quantities (wavelength, period, frequency); superposition principle; resonance; acoustic waves; Doppler effect; electromagnetic spectrum; light; reflection and refraction; lens and microscopes; interference and diffraction
- hints on the interaction of radiation and matter and on the experimental methodologies of interest in the biologic field (diffraction with X rays and electrons, electron microscopy, mass spectroscopy)
The following texts are used during the course:
- Halliday, Resnick, Walker: Fundamentals of Physics.
ISBN-13: 978-1118886328, ISBN-10: 1118230647
- D. J. Rumsey: Statistics For Dummies, 2nd Edition, ISBN: 978-1-119-29352-1
Students are given lessons slides, articles and notes when needed.
The course is organized in:
- lessons (40h) organized in tracks starting from stimulus questions. Every track will involve several physics topics and small experiments, when possible, performed in the classroom with poor quality materials
- exercise lessons (12h) dedicated to solving problems and analysing experimental data. The data taking will exploit every day instruments (for instance the cell phone)
On appointment via email to the teacher: michela.prest@uninsubria.it