PHYSICS I
Academic year and teacher
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- Versione italiana
- Academic year
- 2015/2016
- Teacher
- PAOLO NATOLI
- Credits
- 6
- Didactic period
- Secondo Semestre
- SSD
- FIS/01
Training objectives
- This course is a primer to basic physics. Its main goal is to teach the fundamentals of mechanics and thermodynamics.
One course objective is to provide cultural tools to assist the student in the future study of physical systems. Another objective is to help the student to set up in a rigorous manner simple physical problems, and to solve them when appropriate. Such problems will be connected with the motion of bodies and the energetics of gaseous systems Prerequisites
- Working knowledge of algebraic and trigonometric manipulations is a prerequisite. The student should be also familiar with the fundamentals of calculus, especially for functions of a single variable (basic knowledge of multi variable calculus may help).
Course programme
- Scalars and vectors. Systems of measurement units. Dimensional analysis. (2 hours)
Particle mechanics. Kinematics: displacement, velocity, acceleration; rectilinear and curvilinear motions; analysis of relevant trajectories. Relative motions. (4 hours)
Dynamics: mass and force, inertial frame of reference, the laws of dynamics. (6 hours)
Work, power, kinetic energy, conservative forces. Mechanical energy. (4 hours)
Mechanics of a system of particles: center of mass, impulse, linear momentum, collisions, angular momentum, rigid body. (10 hours)
Gravitation. (6 hours)
Temperature. The temperature scales. Ideal and real gases. Heat. Specific heat and thermal capacity. (4 hours)
The first principle of thermodynamics. Reversible and irreversible processes. (6 hours)
The second principle of thermodynamics. Entropy. (6 hours)
NB: the time slots assigned to each topic are an estimate only. Didactic methods
- Lectures on all topics will be given.
A teaching assistance and/or the main lecturer will also provide, at least once a week, worked solutions of problems and will suggest possible homework, to be discussed in class at a later time. Learning assessment procedures
- Students will need to pass a final exam in order to verify the knowledge they will have acquired throughout the course.
The exam will consist in a written tests and a colloquium, to be held in a subsequent date.
The written examination will consist of proposed problems, similar to the ones discussed in class. The student may also be required to choose between different possible solutions or answers (approximate number: five). The latter questions may also concern the course program and will be used to verify the knowledge acquired. The written exam will last about 90 minutes.
The student will need to pass the written examination before the colloquium can take place, obtaining a mark greater than 15/30.
The oral exam will focus on the course program. In addition, the student may be required to solve on the spot simple problems. The teacher will consider the vote obtained in the written exam and the performance in the oral exam to formulate a final mark. Reference texts
- Main textbook: P. Mazzoldi, M. Nigro, C. Voci "Elementi di fisica. Meccanica, termodinamica", EDISES Napoli, II edizione
Also suggested: D. Halliday, R. Resnick, J. Walker "Fondamenti di Fisica" Ambrosiana, Milano;
Additional teaching material will be uploaded on the web site.
