PHYSICS A - L

1 - Introduction: state of a physical system and physically significant quantities - the measurement of physical quantities and measurement errors - measurement unit - dimensional equations - scalar and vectors - elements of vector algebra - graphical representation of physical laws.

2 - Mechanics: description of the motion of a body - reference systems - the principle of inertia - second law of dynamics - the third law of motion - conservation of momentum - elements of special relativity - force fields - work of a force - kinetic energy - conservative fields - potential - conservation of mechanical energy - moment of forces - conservation of angular momentum - gravitational and electrostatic field - Gauss' theorem and its applications.

3 - Fluid mechanics: fluid properties - fluid statics: laws of Pascal, Stevin and Archimedes - ideal fluids and Bernoulli's theorem - laminar flow of a viscous fluid: Poiseuille's law - blood circulation and heart work - turbulent flow - sedimentation - surface phenomena: Laplace law and capillarity.

4 - Thermodynamics: temperature and calorimetry - specific heat of substances - elements of kinetic theory of gases - state of a thermodynamic system - experience of Joule - equivalence between heat and work - internal energy and the first law of thermodynamics - generality of the thermodynamic processes - processes reversible and irreversible - entropy and second law of thermodynamics - osmosis.

5 - Electromagnetic phenomena: electric charge - electrostatic field - capacitors - dielectric - bias of the dielectric - electricity - electrical currents in conductors and in electrolytes – law of Faraday - potential of action and conduction of impulses in the nervous system - magnetic induction - law of Ampere - magnetic field in matter - induced electromotive force - Lenz's law - Maxwell equations - electromagnetic waves.

6 - Wave phenomena: wave equation - longitudinal and transverse waves - plane and spherical waves - monochromatic waves - Fourier analysis - Doppler effect - principle of Huygens - the sound and its characteristics – physics of the ear - ultrasound.

7 - Elements of optics: reflection and refraction - Snell's law - approximation of geometrical optics - spherical diopter - thin lenses - building of geometric images - microscope - physical optics - coherent sources - interference - diffraction - diffraction grating - resolving power an optical instrument - polarization.

8 - Elements of modern physics: wave-particle duality - photoelectric effect - Compton effect - diffraction of electrons - Heisenberg uncertainty relations - De Broglie waves - Schroedinger wave equation - size and structure of atoms - orbitals and energy levels of atomic electrons - absorption and emission of light by atoms - laser effect - atomic spectra - x-ray - semiconductors.

9 - Radiation physics: structure of the atomic nucleus - radioactivity and the law of radioactive decay - datings - dosimetry and biological effects of radiation - radiation protection issues.

1 - J.W.Jewett, R.A. Serway: Principi di Fisica, vol I, 4° edizione, EdiSES, Napoli
2 - E.Ragozzino: Principi di Fisica, EdiSES, Napoli
3 - J.R.Gordon, R.V.Mcgrew, R.A.Serway, J.W.Jewett: Guida allo studio e alla soluzione dei problemi da Principi di Fisica, III Edizione, EdiSES, Napoli
4 - R.C. Davidson: Metodi matematici per un corso introduttivo di Fisica, EdiSES, Napoli

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