PHYSICS II
Academic year and teacher
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- Versione italiana
- Academic year
- 2015/2016
- Teacher
- GUIDO ZAVATTINI
- Credits
- 12
- Didactic period
- Annualità Singola
- SSD
- FIS/01
Training objectives
- The aim of the course is to teach the basics of classical electromagnetism, both in vacuum and in isotropic and homogeneous media, in such a way that the student can understand simple problems and use the basic laws to solve them. This subject is at the basis of other courses taught for the degree in Physics. The course includes both theoretical and exercise classes.
Prerequisites
- Notions in mathematics neccessary for the course are: cartesian, polar and cylindrical coordinate systems; trigonometry; vector algebra; integral and differential calculus of one variable functions.
Furthermore many of the notions taught during the course of Fisica Generale I are also necessary. Course programme
- Electrostatics: Experimental results; the electric charge; Coulomb's law and definition of the electric field; the principle of superposition; the electrostatic potential; the electric dipole; flux of a vector field; Gauss's law; the equations for electrostatics.
Electrostatics and conductors: Capacity and associated energy; capacitors in series and parallel.
The electric field in matter: Experimental aspects; molecular polarization; polar and non polar dielectrics; polarization density vector; surface and volumetric polarization charge density; electric displacement field vector; divergence of the electric displacement vector; electric susceptibility and dielectric constant; electric potential in dielectric media; continuity conditions of the electric and electric displacement vectors at the interface of two isotropic and homogeneous dielectrics; force on a dielectric in a capacitor; dielectric strength.
Electric current: Electromotive force; current density and current intensity; principle of conservation of electric charge; Ohm's law; Joule's law; resistences in series and parallel. Kirkhhoff's laws.
Magnetostatics: The sources of the magnetic field and experimental facts; the law of Biot-Savart; I and II laws of Laplace; definition of the Ampere; magnetic dipole of a current loop; line integrals on closed loops and Ampere's Law; integral and differential forms for the equations of magnetostatics;
Magnetic field in matter: Orbital and spin magnetic moments in atoms; diamagnetism and paramagnetism; magnetization intensity; surface and volumetric magnetization currents; Ampère's law in matter; magnetic field intensity vector; magnetic permeability and susceptibility; continuity of the magnetic field and intensity at the interface of isotropic and homogeneous materials; ferromagnetism; hysteresis; magnetic circuits and Hopkinson's law; force acting on materials in a magnetic field;
Electromagnetic induction: The Lorentz force; Faraday's law of induction and Lenz's law; Foucault currents; rotor of the electric field; inductance and associated energy; the RL circuit; mutual inductance.
Maxwell's Equations and waves: The displacement current and Maxwell's equations in vacuum in integral and differential form; associated wave equation; speed of light in vacuum; plane waves; Poyting's vector; energy and momentum of an electromagnetic wave; radiation pressure; radiation from an oscillating electric dipole. Linear and circular polarisation.
Reflection and refraction in homogenous and isotropic media. Snell's Law. Total internal reflection. Fresnel's equations. Brewster's angle. Geometrical optics; Fermat's principle; spherical mirror; spherical diopter; thin lens equation.
Interference; Huygens' principle; Diffraction; resolving power. Young's double slit experiment. Didactic methods
- The course is subdivided in 50% theoretical lessons and 50% exercise classes. The theoretical lessons will provide students with basic knowledge of physics, the exercitations will give students capability of problem solving.
Learning assessment procedures
- The level of preparation is verified at the end of the course by means of a written and oral exam. The written exam focuses on the capability to solve problems and the oral exam on the theory.
Reference texts
- Autori: Rosati, Lovitch. Titolo: Fisica Generale vol II. Editrice Ambrosiana.
Autori: Mazzoldi, Nigro, Voci. Titolo: Fisica. Volume 2. Casa editrice: EdiSES. ISBN: 978-8879591379
Autori: Focardi, Massa, Uguzzoni. Titolo: Fisica Generale: Elettromagnetismo. Casa editrice Ambrosiana. ISBN: 978-8808086198
Autori: Mencuccini, Silvestrini. Titolo: Fisica II. Elettromagnetismo-Ottica. Editore: Liguori. ISBN: 978-8820716332
