PHYSICS M - Z

At the end of the course, the student will have learnt the fundamentals of scientific method, the fundamental laws of mechanics, thermodinamics e electromagnetism. He/she will be introduced to the main applications of these laws to his/her field of studies. Most important, his/her logic and problem solving skills will be stimulated.

The course is structured in lectures and exercises sessions. Should the circumstances require online or blended teaching, appropriate modifications to what is hereby stated may be introduced, in order to achieve the main objectives of the course.

INTRODUCTION: Physical quantities, units of measurement, errors of measurement, scalar and vector quantities, operations with vectors, components.

DESCRIPTION OF THE MOTION: Speed, velocity and acceleration. Uniform motion, motion with constant acceleration, motion in two dimensions.

FORCE AND MOTION: Newton's laws, gravitational force, motion of a projectile, friction, dynamics of circular motion.

ENERGY AND WORK: Work performed by a variable force, kinetic energy and kinetic energy theorem, conservative forces, potential energy, conservation of mechanical energy.

MECHANICAL WAVES AND SOUND: Harmonic motion, propagation of an impulse and a wave, acoustic waves and sound, decibels.

FLUIDS: Pressure in fluids, Stevin's law, Archimedes' principle, Bernoulli's theorem.

TEMPERATURE, HEAT AND PRINCIPLES OF THERMODYNAMICS: Thermometers and temperature scales, thermal expansion of solids and liquids, ideal gases, specific heat, and phase changes.

ELECTROMAGNETISM: Electric charge, conductors and insulators, Coulomb's law, electrostatic field, potential and the electrostatic potential energy, capacity. Electric current, resistance and Ohm's law, energy and electric power. Motion of a charged particle in a magnetic field, magnetic field produced by a current.

OPTICS: The spectrum of electromagnetic waves. Reflection, refraction and scattering of light. Lenses and image formations

1. E. Ragozzino, "Principi di Fisica", EdiSES (in italian)
2. F. Borsa e A. Lascialfari, "Principi di Fisica", EdiSES (in italian)
3. Jewet eSerway: Principi di Fisica, Vol I, V edizione, EdiSES (in italian, original english textbook available)