PHYSICS
Academic year and teacher
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- Versione italiana
- Academic year
- 2017/2018
- Teacher
- ISABELLA GARZIA
- Credits
- 9
- Didactic period
- Secondo Semestre
- SSD
- FIS/01
Training objectives
- In the course of general physics we propose to introduce students to the “concrete” point of view of the physics approachs.
After a brief introduction and summary of the main concepts needed to fully understand the arguments treated in the lessons, the course consists of two sections: the first one related to the thermodynamics and the second one to the electromagnetism.
The students will gain knoledge on:
- Recognize that a measurement in physics is affected by uncertainties, so even in the calculation of the exercises, care is required also in the digit significance numbers.
- To understand the meaning of energy, and especially its conservation.
- Catch the laws which govern thermodynamics, and also understanding in this matter the physical quantities that are preserved
.
- Addressing electromagnetism, including the usefulness and necessity of the vector calculus, with a more elastic look at the capabilities of its use in situations of symmetry, in order to simplify the calculations, as well as to understand the meaning of the results obtained.
- Understand the basic physical laws of electromagnetism and the mathematical structure that governs them.
Main skills that will demonstrate the degree learning:
- Solve problems of thermodynamics, especially on a p-V diagram, understanding the principles of conservation, which govern the mathematical models, we build on observation.
- Solve problems in physics with basic mathematical tools, distinguishing appropriately simplify mathematics and understanding of the problem.
- Learn how to read a formula, especially honing dimensional analysis, understand its content and the its possible developments. Prerequisites
- The following knowledge are required:
- Trigonometric and analytical functions, analysis of functions .
- Differential and integral calculus . - Partial derivatives and developments in Taylor polynomials .
- Vector Calculus and its representations: Cartesian , cylindrical and spherical polar .
The purpose is to practice with mathematical tools, in order to understand the meaning of a physical law. Course programme
- Introductory part (2 h)
The physical law and the importance of the scientific method.
It will be mentioned the problems on the definition of potential energy, connected to the theorem of kinetic energy, which will bring to the principle of conservation of mechanical energy.
More attention will be dedicated to the concept of energy and its conservation principle.
Thermodynamics (30 hours of lectures)
From mechanics to thermodynamics from the principle of conservation of energy to the first law of thermodynamics. Thermal laws and thermometry. Thermodynamic processes and laws. It will focus primarily on the model of ideal gases, which allows the introduction of a clear and consistent theoretical concepts of quantities, such as internal energy, heat, work and entropy.
We will try to elaborate the mathematical foundations of thermodynamics, in order to understand their basic concepts.
Electromagnetism (40 hours of lectures)
Electrostatics.
The electric charge and the Coulomb force, topics that require understanding and the ability of the vector calculus.
Electric field and potential. Gauss theorem: topics that require flexibility in organizing mathematical means in situations of symmetry, in order to solve more easily some situation, and then to understand the meaning.
Capacity, capacitors: they are to be the simplest systems available, also useful for the understanding of basic topics, which can be extended to more complex configurations.
The electric field in the matter: on this subject will be provided only hints.
Conductors, electric current and Ohm's law.
Magnetostatics.
This part will be carried out in a linear fashion, based primarily on the similarity with the concepts or better with the mathematical tools, called and developed in the part of the electrostatics.
Magnetic induction.
Ampére's law.
Electromotive force and magnetic induction.
Continuous and alternating currents. Circuits.
Maxwell's equations, they can only be introduces as conclusive picture of the laws discussed in the course. Didactic methods
- The course will be 72 hours of lectures in the classroom, in which there will be addressed theoretical arguments and some basic exercises.
Other educational activities, related to the performance of other exercises as a support for students, will depend on the number of hours available as part of the assigned days throughout the semester teaching.
The course also provides educational support seminars of 20 hours carried out by another teacher.
It will require conducting some exercises at home, the teacher for these businesses will be open to discussion, on request of the students and during the hours dedicated for the exercises. Learning assessment procedures
- The assessment will be done through a final written test and a successive oral test.
To access the oral exam, the student has to overcome the written exam with a score greater than 18.
For the final oral test it is required to present arguments, requested by teachers in committee, in a linear and clear way.
In order to help the students, some questions, like the same requested at the oral examination, will be reported during the lectures.
The final grade will be based primarily on oral examination, taking into account also the written test. Reference texts
- For thermodynamics there will be suggested the relative chapters of
P. Mazzoldi, M. Nigro, C. Voci
Elementi di Fisica: Meccanica Termodinamica (Edises, Napoli, 2012)
For the electromagnetism there will be used the relative chapters of:
Elementi Fisica: Elettromagnetismo Onde (Edises, Napoli, 2012)
Lectures are mainly prepared following these books.
A single book:
David Halliday- Robert Resnick, Jearl Walker - FONDAMENTI di FISICA – Casa Editrice Ambrosiana
All the books are also available in the University libraries.
At the end of each module will be provided a complete list of the arguments discussed which can be used to prepare the oral exam.
