Physics
- Overview
- Assessment methods
- Learning objectives
- Contents
- Bibliography
- Teaching methods
- Contacts/Info
None
Oral examination, aimed to assess the knowledge acquired and the understanding of the fundamental aspects discussed during the course.
Knowledge of the main laws of classical physics, according to the traditional articulation in the great chapters of Mechanics, Thermodynamics and Electromagnetism, and practical ability to solve problems. Knowledge of fluid dynamics, including viscous matter. Knowledge of the role of the physical laws in some processes of the Earth System.
Part I
Global environmental changes
Climate change and the greenhouse effect. Loss of biological diversity.
Deforestation. Desertification. Deprivation of the fresh water sources. Deprivation of the fossil energy sources. Air and water pollution. Physics of the greenhouse effect.
The impact of global environmental changes on the biosphere
Climate change, loss of biological diversity forestry.
Climate change and water resources.
Possible feedbacks amplifying and decreasing the greenhouse effect.
Part II
Mechanics
Kinematics of uniform rectilinear motion.
Kinematics of non-uniform rectilinear motion.
Kinematics in two and three dimensions.
Dynamics and Newton’s laws. Types of forces.
Kinetic energy, potential energy and work.
Conservation of energy. Gravitation .
Oscillating systems.
Fluid-dynamics
Law of Pascal and Archimede. Dynamics of fluids. Bernoulli’s theorem. Viscous flow. Stokes’s law and its corrections.
Brownian motion of particles suspended in a fluid (aerosol particles).
Thermodynamics
Heat and temperature Thermodynamics laws. Entropy and the thermodynamics potentials. Thermodynamics of atmospheric aerosols.
Elements of electromagnetism
Electric charge and electric field. Gauss’s law. Electrical potential. Electric current. Ohm’s and Joule’s laws. Magnetic field. Ampere’s law. Electromagnetic induction.
Suggested text: D. Halliday, R. Resnick, J. Walker, "Fondamenti di fisica", Sixth Edition, Publishing House Ambrosiana (January 2006).Lecture notes dealing with all the arguments of the course, together with solved problems, by M. Martellini and M. Zani available at http://www.dfm.uninsubria.it/martellini/
Mainly classical lectures, pratical exercises (about 30%). In presence for Como, videoconference for Varese.
By appointment agreed by e-mail