The course introduces scientific methodology, presents Newtonian mechanics and the main electrical and magnetic phenomena and the corresponding laws. The student acquires knowledge of the basic models of classical physics and in particular with the concepts of physical quantity and, with simple examples, of the concept of field, as well as with the role played by the principles of conservation. The student is able to apply the concepts learned to the resolution of simple problems through an adequate analytical approach.
Curriculum
teacher profile teaching materials
- Physical quantities, units of measurement, uncertainties.
- Elements of vector calculus.
Kinematics of a material point
- Kinematic quantities in rectilinear motion.
- Uniformly accelerated rectilinear motion.
- Simple harmonic motion.
- Kinematics in the plane and space.
- Parabolic motion.
- Circular motion.
- Relative motion.
Dynamics of the Particle
- Principles of dynamics and Newton's laws.
- Momentum and impulse.
- Equilibrium and constraint reactions.
- Gravitational force.
- Weight and motion under gravity.
- Forces of dry friction.
- Elastic force and mass-spring system.
- Tension in wires.
- Viscous force.
- Non-inertial reference systems and fictitious forces.
Work and Energy
- Work and power.
- Work of weight force, elastic force, and sliding friction.
- Work-energy theorem.
- Conservative forces. Potential energy.
- Central forces.
- Gravitational and electrostatic potential energy.
- Conservation of mechanical energy.
- Conditions for the stability of equilibrium.
Mechanics of Systems of Particles
- Systems of particles. Internal and external forces.
- Newton's second law for systems of particles.
- Center of mass and its motion.
- Conservation of momentum.
- Collision phenomena.
- Elastic and inelastic collisions.
Mechanics of Rigid Bodies
- Rotational motion and rotational variables.
- Torque and angular momentum.
- Newton's second law for rotational motion.
- Moment of inertia.
- Conservation of angular momentum.
- Rotational kinetic energy and work.
- Rolling motion.
- Equilibrium equations for a rigid body.
Fluid Mechanics
- Pressure.
- Fluid statics.
- Pascal's principle.
- Archimedes' principle.
- Continuity equation.
- Bernoulli's equation.
Thermodynamics
- Temperature and thermometric scales.
- Heat, heat capacity, and specific heat.
- Heat transfer mechanisms.
- Mechanical work.
- Thermodynamic systems and states.
- Thermodynamic equilibrium.
- First law of thermodynamics.
- Thermodynamic processes (adiabatic, reversible, irreversible).
- Ideal gas law.
- Cyclic processes and Carnot cycle.
- Second law of thermodynamics.
Electrostatics
- Electric charge and electrical structure of matter.
- Coulomb's law.
- Concept of field; scalar and vector fields; flow lines.
- Electrostatic field.
- Motion of a charge in an electrostatic field.
- Electric field of notable distributions.
- Electrostatic field flux and Gauss's law.
- Electric work, electrostatic potential energy, and electrostatic potential.
- Equipotential surfaces.
- Conductors in electrostatic equilibrium.
- Capacitors, capacitance, dielectrics.
Electric Currents
- Electric current.
- Electrical resistance, Ohm's law.
- Power and Joule effect.
- Kirchhoff's laws.
- Charging and discharging of a capacitor.
Magnetostatics
- Overview of magnetic interactions.
- Magnetic induction field B; Lorentz force.
- Biot-Savart law.
- Magnetic force on a current-carrying conductor.
- Mechanical moment on a rectangular loop.
- Motion of a charged particle in a magnetic field.
- Magnetic field generated by currents.
- Ampère's law.
- Brief overview of the magnetic properties of matter.
Electromagnetic Induction
- Faraday's law. Lenz's law.
- Self-induction. Charging and discharging of an inductor.
- Magnetic energy.
- Mutual induction.
- Alternating currents.
- Maxwell's equations in integral form.
- Electromagnetic waves.
- Electromagnetic spectrum.
- Refractive index, Snell's law.
“Fondamenti di fisica - Meccanica, Onde, Termodinamica, Elettromagnetismo, Ottica”
Ottava edizione, Zanichelli
Programme
Introduction- Physical quantities, units of measurement, uncertainties.
- Elements of vector calculus.
Kinematics of a material point
- Kinematic quantities in rectilinear motion.
- Uniformly accelerated rectilinear motion.
- Simple harmonic motion.
- Kinematics in the plane and space.
- Parabolic motion.
- Circular motion.
- Relative motion.
Dynamics of the Particle
- Principles of dynamics and Newton's laws.
- Momentum and impulse.
- Equilibrium and constraint reactions.
- Gravitational force.
- Weight and motion under gravity.
- Forces of dry friction.
- Elastic force and mass-spring system.
- Tension in wires.
- Viscous force.
- Non-inertial reference systems and fictitious forces.
Work and Energy
- Work and power.
- Work of weight force, elastic force, and sliding friction.
- Work-energy theorem.
- Conservative forces. Potential energy.
- Central forces.
- Gravitational and electrostatic potential energy.
- Conservation of mechanical energy.
- Conditions for the stability of equilibrium.
Mechanics of Systems of Particles
- Systems of particles. Internal and external forces.
- Newton's second law for systems of particles.
- Center of mass and its motion.
- Conservation of momentum.
- Collision phenomena.
- Elastic and inelastic collisions.
Mechanics of Rigid Bodies
- Rotational motion and rotational variables.
- Torque and angular momentum.
- Newton's second law for rotational motion.
- Moment of inertia.
- Conservation of angular momentum.
- Rotational kinetic energy and work.
- Rolling motion.
- Equilibrium equations for a rigid body.
Fluid Mechanics
- Pressure.
- Fluid statics.
- Pascal's principle.
- Archimedes' principle.
- Continuity equation.
- Bernoulli's equation.
Thermodynamics
- Temperature and thermometric scales.
- Heat, heat capacity, and specific heat.
- Heat transfer mechanisms.
- Mechanical work.
- Thermodynamic systems and states.
- Thermodynamic equilibrium.
- First law of thermodynamics.
- Thermodynamic processes (adiabatic, reversible, irreversible).
- Ideal gas law.
- Cyclic processes and Carnot cycle.
- Second law of thermodynamics.
Electrostatics
- Electric charge and electrical structure of matter.
- Coulomb's law.
- Concept of field; scalar and vector fields; flow lines.
- Electrostatic field.
- Motion of a charge in an electrostatic field.
- Electric field of notable distributions.
- Electrostatic field flux and Gauss's law.
- Electric work, electrostatic potential energy, and electrostatic potential.
- Equipotential surfaces.
- Conductors in electrostatic equilibrium.
- Capacitors, capacitance, dielectrics.
Electric Currents
- Electric current.
- Electrical resistance, Ohm's law.
- Power and Joule effect.
- Kirchhoff's laws.
- Charging and discharging of a capacitor.
Magnetostatics
- Overview of magnetic interactions.
- Magnetic induction field B; Lorentz force.
- Biot-Savart law.
- Magnetic force on a current-carrying conductor.
- Mechanical moment on a rectangular loop.
- Motion of a charged particle in a magnetic field.
- Magnetic field generated by currents.
- Ampère's law.
- Brief overview of the magnetic properties of matter.
Electromagnetic Induction
- Faraday's law. Lenz's law.
- Self-induction. Charging and discharging of an inductor.
- Magnetic energy.
- Mutual induction.
- Alternating currents.
- Maxwell's equations in integral form.
- Electromagnetic waves.
- Electromagnetic spectrum.
- Refractive index, Snell's law.
Core Documentation
David Halliday Robert Resnick Jearl Walker“Fondamenti di fisica - Meccanica, Onde, Termodinamica, Elettromagnetismo, Ottica”
Ottava edizione, Zanichelli
Reference Bibliography
For further studies the following is suggested: - R. P. Feynman, "The Feynman Lectures on Physics", volumes 1 and 2 (freely available at http://feynmanlectures.info/)Attendance
Attendance is optional but highly recommended.Type of evaluation
The exam consists of a written test, which includes closed-ended questions, open-ended problems and open-ended theory questions, and of an oral interview. teacher profile teaching materials
- Physical quantities, units of measurement, uncertainties.
- Elements of vector calculus.
Kinematics of a material point
- Kinematic quantities in rectilinear motion.
- Uniformly accelerated rectilinear motion.
- Simple harmonic motion.
- Kinematics in the plane and space.
- Parabolic motion.
- Circular motion.
- Relative motion.
Dynamics of the Particle
- Principles of dynamics and Newton's laws.
- Momentum and impulse.
- Equilibrium and constraint reactions.
- Gravitational force.
- Weight and motion under gravity.
- Forces of dry friction.
- Elastic force and mass-spring system.
- Tension in wires.
- Viscous force.
- Non-inertial reference systems and fictitious forces.
Work and Energy
- Work and power.
- Work of weight force, elastic force, and sliding friction.
- Work-energy theorem.
- Conservative forces. Potential energy.
- Central forces.
- Gravitational and electrostatic potential energy.
- Conservation of mechanical energy.
- Conditions for the stability of equilibrium.
Mechanics of Systems of Particles
- Systems of particles. Internal and external forces.
- Newton's second law for systems of particles.
- Center of mass and its motion.
- Conservation of momentum.
- Collision phenomena.
- Elastic and inelastic collisions.
Mechanics of Rigid Bodies
- Rotational motion and rotational variables.
- Torque and angular momentum.
- Newton's second law for rotational motion.
- Moment of inertia.
- Conservation of angular momentum.
- Rotational kinetic energy and work.
- Rolling motion.
- Equilibrium equations for a rigid body.
Fluid Mechanics
- Pressure.
- Fluid statics.
- Pascal's principle.
- Archimedes' principle.
- Continuity equation.
- Bernoulli's equation.
Thermodynamics
- Temperature and thermometric scales.
- Heat, heat capacity, and specific heat.
- Heat transfer mechanisms.
- Mechanical work.
- Thermodynamic systems and states.
- Thermodynamic equilibrium.
- First law of thermodynamics.
- Thermodynamic processes (adiabatic, reversible, irreversible).
- Ideal gas law.
- Cyclic processes and Carnot cycle.
- Second law of thermodynamics.
Electrostatics
- Electric charge and electrical structure of matter.
- Coulomb's law.
- Concept of field; scalar and vector fields; flow lines.
- Electrostatic field.
- Motion of a charge in an electrostatic field.
- Electric field of notable distributions.
- Electrostatic field flux and Gauss's law.
- Electric work, electrostatic potential energy, and electrostatic potential.
- Equipotential surfaces.
- Conductors in electrostatic equilibrium.
- Capacitors, capacitance, dielectrics.
Electric Currents
- Electric current.
- Electrical resistance, Ohm's law.
- Power and Joule effect.
- Kirchhoff's laws.
- Charging and discharging of a capacitor.
Magnetostatics
- Overview of magnetic interactions.
- Magnetic induction field B; Lorentz force.
- Biot-Savart law.
- Magnetic force on a current-carrying conductor.
- Mechanical moment on a rectangular loop.
- Motion of a charged particle in a magnetic field.
- Magnetic field generated by currents.
- Ampère's law.
- Brief overview of the magnetic properties of matter.
Electromagnetic Induction
- Faraday's law. Lenz's law.
- Self-induction. Charging and discharging of an inductor.
- Magnetic energy.
- Mutual induction.
- Alternating currents.
- Maxwell's equations in integral form.
- Electromagnetic waves.
- Electromagnetic spectrum.
- Refractive index, Snell's law.
“Fondamenti di fisica - Meccanica, Onde, Termodinamica, Elettromagnetismo, Ottica”
Ottava edizione, Zanichelli
Programme
Introduction- Physical quantities, units of measurement, uncertainties.
- Elements of vector calculus.
Kinematics of a material point
- Kinematic quantities in rectilinear motion.
- Uniformly accelerated rectilinear motion.
- Simple harmonic motion.
- Kinematics in the plane and space.
- Parabolic motion.
- Circular motion.
- Relative motion.
Dynamics of the Particle
- Principles of dynamics and Newton's laws.
- Momentum and impulse.
- Equilibrium and constraint reactions.
- Gravitational force.
- Weight and motion under gravity.
- Forces of dry friction.
- Elastic force and mass-spring system.
- Tension in wires.
- Viscous force.
- Non-inertial reference systems and fictitious forces.
Work and Energy
- Work and power.
- Work of weight force, elastic force, and sliding friction.
- Work-energy theorem.
- Conservative forces. Potential energy.
- Central forces.
- Gravitational and electrostatic potential energy.
- Conservation of mechanical energy.
- Conditions for the stability of equilibrium.
Mechanics of Systems of Particles
- Systems of particles. Internal and external forces.
- Newton's second law for systems of particles.
- Center of mass and its motion.
- Conservation of momentum.
- Collision phenomena.
- Elastic and inelastic collisions.
Mechanics of Rigid Bodies
- Rotational motion and rotational variables.
- Torque and angular momentum.
- Newton's second law for rotational motion.
- Moment of inertia.
- Conservation of angular momentum.
- Rotational kinetic energy and work.
- Rolling motion.
- Equilibrium equations for a rigid body.
Fluid Mechanics
- Pressure.
- Fluid statics.
- Pascal's principle.
- Archimedes' principle.
- Continuity equation.
- Bernoulli's equation.
Thermodynamics
- Temperature and thermometric scales.
- Heat, heat capacity, and specific heat.
- Heat transfer mechanisms.
- Mechanical work.
- Thermodynamic systems and states.
- Thermodynamic equilibrium.
- First law of thermodynamics.
- Thermodynamic processes (adiabatic, reversible, irreversible).
- Ideal gas law.
- Cyclic processes and Carnot cycle.
- Second law of thermodynamics.
Electrostatics
- Electric charge and electrical structure of matter.
- Coulomb's law.
- Concept of field; scalar and vector fields; flow lines.
- Electrostatic field.
- Motion of a charge in an electrostatic field.
- Electric field of notable distributions.
- Electrostatic field flux and Gauss's law.
- Electric work, electrostatic potential energy, and electrostatic potential.
- Equipotential surfaces.
- Conductors in electrostatic equilibrium.
- Capacitors, capacitance, dielectrics.
Electric Currents
- Electric current.
- Electrical resistance, Ohm's law.
- Power and Joule effect.
- Kirchhoff's laws.
- Charging and discharging of a capacitor.
Magnetostatics
- Overview of magnetic interactions.
- Magnetic induction field B; Lorentz force.
- Biot-Savart law.
- Magnetic force on a current-carrying conductor.
- Mechanical moment on a rectangular loop.
- Motion of a charged particle in a magnetic field.
- Magnetic field generated by currents.
- Ampère's law.
- Brief overview of the magnetic properties of matter.
Electromagnetic Induction
- Faraday's law. Lenz's law.
- Self-induction. Charging and discharging of an inductor.
- Magnetic energy.
- Mutual induction.
- Alternating currents.
- Maxwell's equations in integral form.
- Electromagnetic waves.
- Electromagnetic spectrum.
- Refractive index, Snell's law.
Core Documentation
David Halliday Robert Resnick Jearl Walker“Fondamenti di fisica - Meccanica, Onde, Termodinamica, Elettromagnetismo, Ottica”
Ottava edizione, Zanichelli
Reference Bibliography
For further studies the following is suggested: - R. P. Feynman, "The Feynman Lectures on Physics", volumes 1 and 2 (freely available at http://feynmanlectures.info/)Attendance
Attendance is optional but highly recommended.Type of evaluation
The exam consists of a written test, which includes closed-ended questions, open-ended problems and open-ended theory questions, and of an oral interview. teacher profile teaching materials
- Physical quantities, units of measurement, uncertainties.
- Elements of vector calculus.
Kinematics of a material point
- Kinematic quantities in rectilinear motion.
- Uniformly accelerated rectilinear motion.
- Simple harmonic motion.
- Kinematics in the plane and space.
- Parabolic motion.
- Circular motion.
- Relative motion.
Dynamics of the Particle
- Principles of dynamics and Newton's laws.
- Momentum and impulse.
- Equilibrium and constraint reactions.
- Gravitational force.
- Weight and motion under gravity.
- Forces of dry friction.
- Elastic force and mass-spring system.
- Tension in wires.
- Viscous force.
- Non-inertial reference systems and fictitious forces.
Work and Energy
- Work and power.
- Work of weight force, elastic force, and sliding friction.
- Work-energy theorem.
- Conservative forces. Potential energy.
- Central forces.
- Gravitational and electrostatic potential energy.
- Conservation of mechanical energy.
- Conditions for the stability of equilibrium.
Mechanics of Systems of Particles
- Systems of particles. Internal and external forces.
- Newton's second law for systems of particles.
- Center of mass and its motion.
- Conservation of momentum.
- Collision phenomena.
- Elastic and inelastic collisions.
Mechanics of Rigid Bodies
- Rotational motion and rotational variables.
- Torque and angular momentum.
- Newton's second law for rotational motion.
- Moment of inertia.
- Conservation of angular momentum.
- Rotational kinetic energy and work.
- Rolling motion.
- Equilibrium equations for a rigid body.
Fluid Mechanics
- Pressure.
- Fluid statics.
- Pascal's principle.
- Archimedes' principle.
- Continuity equation.
- Bernoulli's equation.
Thermodynamics
- Temperature and thermometric scales.
- Heat, heat capacity, and specific heat.
- Heat transfer mechanisms.
- Mechanical work.
- Thermodynamic systems and states.
- Thermodynamic equilibrium.
- First law of thermodynamics.
- Thermodynamic processes (adiabatic, reversible, irreversible).
- Ideal gas law.
- Cyclic processes and Carnot cycle.
- Second law of thermodynamics.
Electrostatics
- Electric charge and electrical structure of matter.
- Coulomb's law.
- Concept of field; scalar and vector fields; flow lines.
- Electrostatic field.
- Motion of a charge in an electrostatic field.
- Electric field of notable distributions.
- Electrostatic field flux and Gauss's law.
- Electric work, electrostatic potential energy, and electrostatic potential.
- Equipotential surfaces.
- Conductors in electrostatic equilibrium.
- Capacitors, capacitance, dielectrics.
Electric Currents
- Electric current.
- Electrical resistance, Ohm's law.
- Power and Joule effect.
- Kirchhoff's laws.
- Charging and discharging of a capacitor.
Magnetostatics
- Overview of magnetic interactions.
- Magnetic induction field B; Lorentz force.
- Biot-Savart law.
- Magnetic force on a current-carrying conductor.
- Mechanical moment on a rectangular loop.
- Motion of a charged particle in a magnetic field.
- Magnetic field generated by currents.
- Ampère's law.
- Brief overview of the magnetic properties of matter.
Electromagnetic Induction
- Faraday's law. Lenz's law.
- Self-induction. Charging and discharging of an inductor.
- Magnetic energy.
- Mutual induction.
- Alternating currents.
- Maxwell's equations in integral form.
- Electromagnetic waves.
- Electromagnetic spectrum.
- Refractive index, Snell's law.
“Fondamenti di fisica - Meccanica, Onde, Termodinamica, Elettromagnetismo, Ottica”
Ottava edizione, Zanichelli
Programme
Introduction- Physical quantities, units of measurement, uncertainties.
- Elements of vector calculus.
Kinematics of a material point
- Kinematic quantities in rectilinear motion.
- Uniformly accelerated rectilinear motion.
- Simple harmonic motion.
- Kinematics in the plane and space.
- Parabolic motion.
- Circular motion.
- Relative motion.
Dynamics of the Particle
- Principles of dynamics and Newton's laws.
- Momentum and impulse.
- Equilibrium and constraint reactions.
- Gravitational force.
- Weight and motion under gravity.
- Forces of dry friction.
- Elastic force and mass-spring system.
- Tension in wires.
- Viscous force.
- Non-inertial reference systems and fictitious forces.
Work and Energy
- Work and power.
- Work of weight force, elastic force, and sliding friction.
- Work-energy theorem.
- Conservative forces. Potential energy.
- Central forces.
- Gravitational and electrostatic potential energy.
- Conservation of mechanical energy.
- Conditions for the stability of equilibrium.
Mechanics of Systems of Particles
- Systems of particles. Internal and external forces.
- Newton's second law for systems of particles.
- Center of mass and its motion.
- Conservation of momentum.
- Collision phenomena.
- Elastic and inelastic collisions.
Mechanics of Rigid Bodies
- Rotational motion and rotational variables.
- Torque and angular momentum.
- Newton's second law for rotational motion.
- Moment of inertia.
- Conservation of angular momentum.
- Rotational kinetic energy and work.
- Rolling motion.
- Equilibrium equations for a rigid body.
Fluid Mechanics
- Pressure.
- Fluid statics.
- Pascal's principle.
- Archimedes' principle.
- Continuity equation.
- Bernoulli's equation.
Thermodynamics
- Temperature and thermometric scales.
- Heat, heat capacity, and specific heat.
- Heat transfer mechanisms.
- Mechanical work.
- Thermodynamic systems and states.
- Thermodynamic equilibrium.
- First law of thermodynamics.
- Thermodynamic processes (adiabatic, reversible, irreversible).
- Ideal gas law.
- Cyclic processes and Carnot cycle.
- Second law of thermodynamics.
Electrostatics
- Electric charge and electrical structure of matter.
- Coulomb's law.
- Concept of field; scalar and vector fields; flow lines.
- Electrostatic field.
- Motion of a charge in an electrostatic field.
- Electric field of notable distributions.
- Electrostatic field flux and Gauss's law.
- Electric work, electrostatic potential energy, and electrostatic potential.
- Equipotential surfaces.
- Conductors in electrostatic equilibrium.
- Capacitors, capacitance, dielectrics.
Electric Currents
- Electric current.
- Electrical resistance, Ohm's law.
- Power and Joule effect.
- Kirchhoff's laws.
- Charging and discharging of a capacitor.
Magnetostatics
- Overview of magnetic interactions.
- Magnetic induction field B; Lorentz force.
- Biot-Savart law.
- Magnetic force on a current-carrying conductor.
- Mechanical moment on a rectangular loop.
- Motion of a charged particle in a magnetic field.
- Magnetic field generated by currents.
- Ampère's law.
- Brief overview of the magnetic properties of matter.
Electromagnetic Induction
- Faraday's law. Lenz's law.
- Self-induction. Charging and discharging of an inductor.
- Magnetic energy.
- Mutual induction.
- Alternating currents.
- Maxwell's equations in integral form.
- Electromagnetic waves.
- Electromagnetic spectrum.
- Refractive index, Snell's law.
Core Documentation
David Halliday Robert Resnick Jearl Walker“Fondamenti di fisica - Meccanica, Onde, Termodinamica, Elettromagnetismo, Ottica”
Ottava edizione, Zanichelli
Reference Bibliography
For further studies the following is suggested: - R. P. Feynman, "The Feynman Lectures on Physics", volumes 1 and 2 (freely available at http://feynmanlectures.info/)Attendance
Attendance is optional but highly recommended.Type of evaluation
The exam consists of a written test, which includes closed-ended questions, open-ended problems and open-ended theory questions, and of an oral interview. teacher profile teaching materials
- Physical quantities, units of measurement, uncertainties.
- Elements of vector calculus.
Kinematics of a material point
- Kinematic quantities in rectilinear motion.
- Uniformly accelerated rectilinear motion.
- Simple harmonic motion.
- Kinematics in the plane and space.
- Parabolic motion.
- Circular motion.
- Relative motion.
Dynamics of the Particle
- Principles of dynamics and Newton's laws.
- Momentum and impulse.
- Equilibrium and constraint reactions.
- Gravitational force.
- Weight and motion under gravity.
- Forces of dry friction.
- Elastic force and mass-spring system.
- Tension in wires.
- Viscous force.
- Non-inertial reference systems and fictitious forces.
Work and Energy
- Work and power.
- Work of weight force, elastic force, and sliding friction.
- Work-energy theorem.
- Conservative forces. Potential energy.
- Central forces.
- Gravitational and electrostatic potential energy.
- Conservation of mechanical energy.
- Conditions for the stability of equilibrium.
Mechanics of Systems of Particles
- Systems of particles. Internal and external forces.
- Newton's second law for systems of particles.
- Center of mass and its motion.
- Conservation of momentum.
- Collision phenomena.
- Elastic and inelastic collisions.
Mechanics of Rigid Bodies
- Rotational motion and rotational variables.
- Torque and angular momentum.
- Newton's second law for rotational motion.
- Moment of inertia.
- Conservation of angular momentum.
- Rotational kinetic energy and work.
- Rolling motion.
- Equilibrium equations for a rigid body.
Fluid Mechanics
- Pressure.
- Fluid statics.
- Pascal's principle.
- Archimedes' principle.
- Continuity equation.
- Bernoulli's equation.
Thermodynamics
- Temperature and thermometric scales.
- Heat, heat capacity, and specific heat.
- Heat transfer mechanisms.
- Mechanical work.
- Thermodynamic systems and states.
- Thermodynamic equilibrium.
- First law of thermodynamics.
- Thermodynamic processes (adiabatic, reversible, irreversible).
- Ideal gas law.
- Cyclic processes and Carnot cycle.
- Second law of thermodynamics.
Electrostatics
- Electric charge and electrical structure of matter.
- Coulomb's law.
- Concept of field; scalar and vector fields; flow lines.
- Electrostatic field.
- Motion of a charge in an electrostatic field.
- Electric field of notable distributions.
- Electrostatic field flux and Gauss's law.
- Electric work, electrostatic potential energy, and electrostatic potential.
- Equipotential surfaces.
- Conductors in electrostatic equilibrium.
- Capacitors, capacitance, dielectrics.
Electric Currents
- Electric current.
- Electrical resistance, Ohm's law.
- Power and Joule effect.
- Kirchhoff's laws.
- Charging and discharging of a capacitor.
Magnetostatics
- Overview of magnetic interactions.
- Magnetic induction field B; Lorentz force.
- Biot-Savart law.
- Magnetic force on a current-carrying conductor.
- Mechanical moment on a rectangular loop.
- Motion of a charged particle in a magnetic field.
- Magnetic field generated by currents.
- Ampère's law.
- Brief overview of the magnetic properties of matter.
Electromagnetic Induction
- Faraday's law. Lenz's law.
- Self-induction. Charging and discharging of an inductor.
- Magnetic energy.
- Mutual induction.
- Alternating currents.
- Maxwell's equations in integral form.
- Electromagnetic waves.
- Electromagnetic spectrum.
- Refractive index, Snell's law.
“Fondamenti di fisica - Meccanica, Onde, Termodinamica, Elettromagnetismo, Ottica”
Ottava edizione, Zanichelli
Programme
Introduction- Physical quantities, units of measurement, uncertainties.
- Elements of vector calculus.
Kinematics of a material point
- Kinematic quantities in rectilinear motion.
- Uniformly accelerated rectilinear motion.
- Simple harmonic motion.
- Kinematics in the plane and space.
- Parabolic motion.
- Circular motion.
- Relative motion.
Dynamics of the Particle
- Principles of dynamics and Newton's laws.
- Momentum and impulse.
- Equilibrium and constraint reactions.
- Gravitational force.
- Weight and motion under gravity.
- Forces of dry friction.
- Elastic force and mass-spring system.
- Tension in wires.
- Viscous force.
- Non-inertial reference systems and fictitious forces.
Work and Energy
- Work and power.
- Work of weight force, elastic force, and sliding friction.
- Work-energy theorem.
- Conservative forces. Potential energy.
- Central forces.
- Gravitational and electrostatic potential energy.
- Conservation of mechanical energy.
- Conditions for the stability of equilibrium.
Mechanics of Systems of Particles
- Systems of particles. Internal and external forces.
- Newton's second law for systems of particles.
- Center of mass and its motion.
- Conservation of momentum.
- Collision phenomena.
- Elastic and inelastic collisions.
Mechanics of Rigid Bodies
- Rotational motion and rotational variables.
- Torque and angular momentum.
- Newton's second law for rotational motion.
- Moment of inertia.
- Conservation of angular momentum.
- Rotational kinetic energy and work.
- Rolling motion.
- Equilibrium equations for a rigid body.
Fluid Mechanics
- Pressure.
- Fluid statics.
- Pascal's principle.
- Archimedes' principle.
- Continuity equation.
- Bernoulli's equation.
Thermodynamics
- Temperature and thermometric scales.
- Heat, heat capacity, and specific heat.
- Heat transfer mechanisms.
- Mechanical work.
- Thermodynamic systems and states.
- Thermodynamic equilibrium.
- First law of thermodynamics.
- Thermodynamic processes (adiabatic, reversible, irreversible).
- Ideal gas law.
- Cyclic processes and Carnot cycle.
- Second law of thermodynamics.
Electrostatics
- Electric charge and electrical structure of matter.
- Coulomb's law.
- Concept of field; scalar and vector fields; flow lines.
- Electrostatic field.
- Motion of a charge in an electrostatic field.
- Electric field of notable distributions.
- Electrostatic field flux and Gauss's law.
- Electric work, electrostatic potential energy, and electrostatic potential.
- Equipotential surfaces.
- Conductors in electrostatic equilibrium.
- Capacitors, capacitance, dielectrics.
Electric Currents
- Electric current.
- Electrical resistance, Ohm's law.
- Power and Joule effect.
- Kirchhoff's laws.
- Charging and discharging of a capacitor.
Magnetostatics
- Overview of magnetic interactions.
- Magnetic induction field B; Lorentz force.
- Biot-Savart law.
- Magnetic force on a current-carrying conductor.
- Mechanical moment on a rectangular loop.
- Motion of a charged particle in a magnetic field.
- Magnetic field generated by currents.
- Ampère's law.
- Brief overview of the magnetic properties of matter.
Electromagnetic Induction
- Faraday's law. Lenz's law.
- Self-induction. Charging and discharging of an inductor.
- Magnetic energy.
- Mutual induction.
- Alternating currents.
- Maxwell's equations in integral form.
- Electromagnetic waves.
- Electromagnetic spectrum.
- Refractive index, Snell's law.
Core Documentation
David Halliday Robert Resnick Jearl Walker“Fondamenti di fisica - Meccanica, Onde, Termodinamica, Elettromagnetismo, Ottica”
Ottava edizione, Zanichelli
Reference Bibliography
For further studies the following is suggested: - R. P. Feynman, "The Feynman Lectures on Physics", volumes 1 and 2 (freely available at http://feynmanlectures.info/)Attendance
Attendance is optional but highly recommended.Type of evaluation
The exam consists of a written test, which includes closed-ended questions, open-ended problems and open-ended theory questions, and of an oral interview.