The Experimental Physics II course is part of the physics-related educational activities of the Bachelor’s Degree Programme in Geological Sciences and represents the natural continuation and completion of the Experimental Physics I course.
The course aims to provide students with a basic understanding of the main phenomena of general physics, highlighting their connections with geological sciences and with other scientific disciplines, including chemistry and biology.
More specifically, the course aims to:
1. provide a basic understanding of the physical principles and phenomena associated with electrostatics, electricity and magnetism, including electromagnetic waves, together with introductory elements of fluid mechanics and optics;
2. develop the ability to analyse, contextualise and solve elementary problems in general physics, using physical quantities, units of measurement and fundamental mathematical relationships appropriately;
3. promote a critical approach to scientific problems and develop problem-solving skills through the use of simple physical models and the evaluation of the assumptions and approximations involved;
4. provide the basic scientific, mathematical and conceptual tools required to understand phenomena and processes relevant to the physical, chemical, biological, natural and geological sciences.
Upon successful completion of the course, students will have acquired an adequate understanding of the fundamental physical principles covered and of their main applications. They will also be able to formulate and solve problems related to the course material, critically interpret the results obtained, and apply basic physical concepts to the understanding of phenomena relevant to geological and natural sciences.
teacher profile teaching materials
Electrostatics
• Electric charges and Coulomb’s law.
• Electric field.
• Electric dipole.
• Electric flux.
• Gauss’s law and its main applications.
• Electric field generated by planar charge distributions.
• Electric field between the plates of a capacitor.
• Electrostatic potential energy and electric potential.
• Relationship between work and potential energy.
• Potential energy of systems of point charges.
• Calculation of electric fields, electric potential, and work for linear charge distributions and capacitors.
Electric Current and Circuits
• Electric current and voltage sources.
• Energy considerations in electric circuits.
• Ohm’s first and second laws.
• Electrical resistivity and its dependence on temperature.
• Introduction to superconductivity.
• Microscopic interpretation of electric current.
• Electric circuits.
• Resistors connected in series and in parallel.
• Kirchhoff’s laws.
• Capacitors connected in series and in parallel.
• Energy stored in a capacitor.
• Capacitance with and without dielectric materials.
• RC circuits.
Magnetism and Electromagnetism
• Introduction to magnetic phenomena and electromagnetism.
• Magnetic field.
• Lorentz force.
• Circular motion of a charged particle in a magnetic field.
• Motion of charged particles in electric and magnetic fields.
• Mass spectrometer.
• Biot–Savart law.
• Magnetic field generated by a current-carrying wire.
• Magnetic field inside a solenoid.
• Ampère force between two current-carrying wires.
• Operating principles of electric motors and loudspeakers.
Electromagnetic Induction and Electromagnetic Waves
• Electromagnetic induction.
• Faraday’s law of induction.
• Magnetic flux.
• Lenz’s law.
• Applications of electromagnetic induction.
• Maxwell’s equations.
• Electromagnetic waves.
• Electromagnetic wave equation.
• Speed of light.
• Frequency and wavelength.
• Doppler effect.
• Energy carried by electromagnetic waves.
• Electromagnetic spectrum.
• Polarisation.
• Malus’s law.
Geometrical Optics
• Reflection and refraction of light.
• Plane and spherical mirrors.
• Thin lenses.
• Geometrical construction of images.
• Applications, examples, and problem-solving exercises.
Fluid Physics
• Pressure in fluids.
• Archimedes’ principle.
• Continuity equation.
• Bernoulli’s equation.
• Applications, examples, and problem-solving exercises.
Recommended Textbooks
Hugh D. Young, Roger A. Freedman, and A. Lewis Ford:
• Principles of Physics with MasteringPhysics, Volume 1: Mechanics, Waves and Thermodynamics.
• Principles of Physics with MasteringPhysics, Volume 2: Electromagnetism and Optics.
-Principle of Physics with MasteringPhysics, Volume 1: Mechanics, Waves and Thermodynamics
Authors: Hugh D. Young - Roger A. Freedman - A. Lewis Ford
- Principle of Physics with MasteringPhysics, Volume 2: Electromagnetism and Optics
Authors: Hugh D. Young - Roger A. Freedman - A. Lewis Ford
Programme
The course will focus primarily on electromagnetism, starting from electric and magnetic phenomena and progressing to Maxwell’s equations and electromagnetic waves. The fundamental principles of geometrical optics and fluid physics will also be covered.Electrostatics
• Electric charges and Coulomb’s law.
• Electric field.
• Electric dipole.
• Electric flux.
• Gauss’s law and its main applications.
• Electric field generated by planar charge distributions.
• Electric field between the plates of a capacitor.
• Electrostatic potential energy and electric potential.
• Relationship between work and potential energy.
• Potential energy of systems of point charges.
• Calculation of electric fields, electric potential, and work for linear charge distributions and capacitors.
Electric Current and Circuits
• Electric current and voltage sources.
• Energy considerations in electric circuits.
• Ohm’s first and second laws.
• Electrical resistivity and its dependence on temperature.
• Introduction to superconductivity.
• Microscopic interpretation of electric current.
• Electric circuits.
• Resistors connected in series and in parallel.
• Kirchhoff’s laws.
• Capacitors connected in series and in parallel.
• Energy stored in a capacitor.
• Capacitance with and without dielectric materials.
• RC circuits.
Magnetism and Electromagnetism
• Introduction to magnetic phenomena and electromagnetism.
• Magnetic field.
• Lorentz force.
• Circular motion of a charged particle in a magnetic field.
• Motion of charged particles in electric and magnetic fields.
• Mass spectrometer.
• Biot–Savart law.
• Magnetic field generated by a current-carrying wire.
• Magnetic field inside a solenoid.
• Ampère force between two current-carrying wires.
• Operating principles of electric motors and loudspeakers.
Electromagnetic Induction and Electromagnetic Waves
• Electromagnetic induction.
• Faraday’s law of induction.
• Magnetic flux.
• Lenz’s law.
• Applications of electromagnetic induction.
• Maxwell’s equations.
• Electromagnetic waves.
• Electromagnetic wave equation.
• Speed of light.
• Frequency and wavelength.
• Doppler effect.
• Energy carried by electromagnetic waves.
• Electromagnetic spectrum.
• Polarisation.
• Malus’s law.
Geometrical Optics
• Reflection and refraction of light.
• Plane and spherical mirrors.
• Thin lenses.
• Geometrical construction of images.
• Applications, examples, and problem-solving exercises.
Fluid Physics
• Pressure in fluids.
• Archimedes’ principle.
• Continuity equation.
• Bernoulli’s equation.
• Applications, examples, and problem-solving exercises.
Recommended Textbooks
Hugh D. Young, Roger A. Freedman, and A. Lewis Ford:
• Principles of Physics with MasteringPhysics, Volume 1: Mechanics, Waves and Thermodynamics.
• Principles of Physics with MasteringPhysics, Volume 2: Electromagnetism and Optics.
Core Documentation
The suggested textbook is the following - it is composed of two volumes:-Principle of Physics with MasteringPhysics, Volume 1: Mechanics, Waves and Thermodynamics
Authors: Hugh D. Young - Roger A. Freedman - A. Lewis Ford
- Principle of Physics with MasteringPhysics, Volume 2: Electromagnetism and Optics
Authors: Hugh D. Young - Roger A. Freedman - A. Lewis Ford
Attendance
Attendance is compulsory at both lectures and problem-solving sessions.Type of evaluation
Student learning will be assessed through a series of interim tests conducted during the course, the preparation and presentation of a final project, and an oral examination. The interim tests will progressively assess students’ understanding of the topics covered and their ability to apply physical principles to problem solving. The final project will assess the student’s ability to investigate and present a topic related to the course content in a clear, concise, and scientifically accurate manner. The oral examination will assess the student’s overall knowledge of the course topics, understanding of the fundamental physical principles, ability to establish connections between different subjects, and appropriate use of scientific terminology.