Programme

This course aims at presenting the general aspects of physics with a special focus on the principles highlighted by observable physical phenomena and experiments. Topics of the course are presented starting from direct observation of natural phenomena. From these observations we formulate questions about the laws of Nature and we discuss the understanding of these phenomena in Physics. Topics of the course are mainly material for general physics courses (mechanics, electrostatics, nature of oscillatory phenomena and the light, basics of thermodynamics). Furthermore, during the course some more advanced topics in modern physics will be presented, for instance the theory of relativity, quantum mechanics, antimatter, the problem of the dark matter of the Universe.

Course material and more info at
http://webusers.fis.uniroma3.it/franceschini/iff.html

Core Documentation

Marion - Physics and the Physical Universe - Wiley
Born - Einstein's theory of relativity - Dover
Weinberg - To Explain the World: The Discovery of Modern Science - Harper
March - Physics for poets - McGraw-Hill

Type of delivery of the course

Lectures in classroom supplemented by weekly homework and problems solved during classes along the whole lecture period.

Type of evaluation

Written test: solution of genercal physics problems Oral: questions on topics presented during classes