Physics

A.Y. 2024/2025
6
Max ECTS
60
Overall hours
SSD
FIS/07
Language
Italian
Learning objectives
The course aims at providing the students with the fundamental of Physics, in order to have a quantitative understanding of biological phenomena and to understand the working principles of laboratory instrumentation.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, the student is expected to know the fundamental principles of classical Physics and to be able to apply them to the solution of simple problems.
Single course

This course can be attended as a single course.

Course syllabus and organization

Linea AK

Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
Physical quantities and units of measurement - Kinematics in one and more dimensions: average and instantaneous velocity and acceleration - Reference systems, force, mass, action and reaction: Newton's laws - Work and energy - Momentum and center of mass; collisions and conservation laws - Oscillatory and wave motion -
Fluidostatics and fluid dynamics.
Temperature and kinetic theory of gases - Thermodynamic transformations, heat, work and internal energy; first principle of thermodynamics - Second principle of thermodynamics; entropy and irreversibility.
Electric charge and Coulomb's law - Electric field and potential - Capacity, electric current and Ohm's law - Magnetic field and electromagnetic induction - Electromagnetic waves and light - Geometric optics and wave optics.
Prerequisites for admission
Knowledge of basics mathematics (functions, derivatives, integrals and trigonometry) is required.
Teaching methods
Attendance is mandatory.
Mode of delivery: Teaching involves classroom lectures. The lectures are accompanied by a portion of exercises, during which quantitative problems are solved using the theoretical models formulated during the lectures. (36 hours of lectures and 24 hours of exercises).
Teaching Resources
The main reference is the notes taken individually during lectures and exercises. Moreover, students can complement the lecture notes with an introductory book to Physics of their choice at the undergraduate level. Some good examples (also available in the English language) are:
- R.A. Serway and J.W Jewett, "Principles of Physics", Cengage Learning
- D. Halliday, R. Resnick e J. Walker, "Fundamental of Physics", Wiley
- D. Giancoli, "Physics: principles with applications", Pearson/Prentice Hall
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of a written test, followed by an oral test.
To be admitted to the oral test, it is essential to have passed the written test.
The written test lasts two hours and consists of four exercises of difficulty comparable to the problems proposed during the lectures.
No books, notes or forms will be allowed during the written test. The use of a calculator is permitted.
The written test is valid for one year.
Students attending teaching may replace the written test with two ongoing tests during the mid-course break and at the end of the course. A passing grade in both ongoing tests is required to enter the oral test. The ongoing tests are conducted in the same way as the written test.
The oral test lasts approximately 10-15 minutes and consists of a discussion of a topic chosen from those taught in the course, followed by questions on the rest of the program. The ability to describe the phenomenology of the physical processes and to correctly reproduce the relevant descriptive models are evaluated. Both critical reasoning in applying physical laws to real problems and language property are also assessed.
FIS/07 - APPLIED PHYSICS - University credits: 6
Practicals: 24 hours
Lessons: 36 hours
Professor: Carpineti Marina

Linea LZ

Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
The lessons will be in presence
Course syllabus
Introduction: physical quantities, dimensional analysis, approximations.
Kinematics: motion in one dimension, average and instantaneous velocity, acceleration.
Morion in two and three dimensions. Vectors. Uniform circular motion.
Dynamics: The reference system. The Newton's laws. Apparent forces. Some types of force: gravitational, weight, electrostatic, van der Waals, normal, friction, contact, tension, elastic, centripetal. The mechanical work.
Kinetic and potential energy. Energy conservation. Non-conservative forces.
Armonic oscillator.
Fluids: Stevino's law, Archimedes' principle, sedimentation of molecules, the centrifuge. Fluid dynamics: equilibrium and Bernoulli equation.
Thermodynamics: Isolated and closed systems. The principles of thermodynamics. Temperature's scales. Calorimetry and phase transitions. The ideal gas.
Microstates and macrostates. Boltzmann distribution, entropy and irreversibility.
Electromagnetism: electric charge and Coulomb law. Electric field and electric potential. Electric dipoles. Electrophoresis. Dielectrics and conductors. Ohm's law. Mass spectrometer.
Magnetic field. Motion o charges in an electromagnetic field. Magnetic field induced by charges in motion.
Electromagnetic waves. Polarization of light, dichroism. Reflection, refraction, absorption, interference, diffraction, X-ray crystallography.
Geometric optics: plane and spherical mirror. Lenses, the human eye, magnification lens and microscope.
Prerequisites for admission
Knowledge of basics mathematics (functions, derivatives, integrals and trigonometry) is required.
Teaching methods
Class lectures (36 hours) and exercises (24 hours).
Attendance strongly recommended.
Teaching Resources
Notes and material that can be downloaded from the Ariel site.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Written exam with exercises and short theoretical questions.
FIS/07 - APPLIED PHYSICS - University credits: 6
Practicals: 24 hours
Lessons: 36 hours
Professor: Achilli Simona