Physics

General introduction about the course and its topics.
Relative and absolute errors, units of measurement (u.o.m.) and scientific notation. Significant digits, Dimensional control (dimensional equations).
- One-dimension kinematics. Mean velocity (vectorial) and mean speed, instant velocity (with reference to the concept of first derivative) and law of uniform rectilinear motion (u.r.m.).
- Mean and instant acceleration (with references to the concept of second derivative). Uniformly accelerated motion (u.a.m) and its laws.
- Two and three dimension kinematics: vectors and references to vector algebra (sum and difference of vectors, decomposition of a vector and unit vector units, both in plane and Cartesian space, product of a vector by a scalar, scalar product and vector product of two vectors). The fall of the bodies and the motion of the bullets. The motion of projectiles as a composition of u.r.m. and u.a.m. Characteristic quantities of projectile motion: range, flight time, maximum altitude. Parabolic trajectory.
- The uniform circular motion (u.c.m.). Tangential velocity, angular velocity, vector velocity and centripetal acceleration.
- Uniform circular motion in Cartesian coordinates. The harmonic motion, its periodicity of other characteristic quantities. The u.c.m. as composition of two harmonic motions.
- Dynamics. Newton's principle, mass and inertia. Mass operational definition. Forces: operational definition of force: Newton's equation F = ma and the second law of dynamics.
- Examples of forces: gravitational force, weight force and the gravity acceleration g. Third law of dynamics. Support reactions, ropes and tensions.
- Methodology for the solution of dynamics problems (forces or free body diagram, vector equation -> scalar equations...).
- Friction forces. Friction as a reaction. Microscopic origin of friction. Static and dynamic friction. Friction of a body moving in a medium.
- Power and the its relationship with force and velocity.
- The kinetic energy theorem (work-energy relationship).
- Conservative forces: potential energy and conservation of mechanical energy, with particular reference to gravitational (weight) force and elastic force (and Hooke's law). Generalized energy conservation in the presence of non-conservative forces.
- Only if compatible with the following course's development: linear momentum and its conservation law. Equilibrium of masses moving both linearly and circularly. Principles of rotational dynamics: angular momentum, moment of a force, moment of inertia. Leverages of diverse kind.
- Mechanics of Fluids. Introduction to fluid statics: density and pressure. Stevin's law, Pascal's principle (example: hydraulic jack). Archimedes' principle and buoyancy, apparent weight.
- Dynamics of fluids. The ideal fluids. The flow rate and conservation of mass: continuity equation in laminar regime for incompressible fluids. The conservation of mechanical energy in fluids in laminar (and irrotational) regime: Bernoulli's law in absence of friction. Various examples. Venturi's and Torricelli's laws.
- Applications of Bernoulli's Theorem: liquid leakage from a small hole, Venturi tube.
- Heat and temperature. Thermal phenomena. Temperature and thermometers: the linear and volume thermal expansion, the Celsius scale and the ideal gas scale (Kelvin scale). Heat as energy transferred as a consequence of temperature difference: fundamental equation of calorimetry, heat capacity and specific heat. Molar specific heat. Phase changes, thermal arrest and latent heat.
- Heat transfer mechanisms: heat conduction and Fourier's law, convection and thermal radiation (and Stefan-Boltzmann's and Wien's laws). The electromagnetic spectrum and the greenhouse effect.
- Perfect (ideal) and real gases: macroscopic and microscopic points of view, critical temperature. Avogadro's, Boyle's, Charles' and Gay-Lussac's laws. State equation for an ideal gas. Kinetic theory of gases applied to ideal gases: Joule-Clausius law, and relationship between temperature and molecular speed (root mean square velocity). Total kinetic energy (internal energy) for monoatomic ideal gases.
- Thermodynamics. Thermodynamic systems and thermodynamic transformations. Quasi-static transformations, friction and reversibility. Work of pressure forces in a thermodynamic system, and in isochoric, isobaric, isothermal and adiabatic transformations. Conservation of energy and first law of thermodynamics. Internal energy as a state function.
- Thermal and refrigerating machines: diagrams of heat and work. Performance and efficiency. Statement of the second law of thermodynamics according to Kelvin and according to Clausius. Consequences of the second principle on the efficiency of thermal machines. Maximum efficiency (Carnot's thermal machine).
- Electrostatics. Electrical charge, Coulomb's force. Comparison between electrostatic force and gravitational force. Electrical field and its field lines.
- Work of the electrostatic force. Electrical potential energy and electrical potential. Capacitors and capacity. Acceleration of charges in an electrical field. Electrical current: the electrical resistance of the material and Ohm's first law. Microscopic mechanisms related to electrons currents in materials. The microscopic origin of electrical resistance. Ohm's second law. The power dissipated in a conductor: Joule effect. Resistors in series and in parallel.