PHYSICS

The course aims to provide students with:

• The language and methodology of the physical sciences  
• A solid understanding of the fundamental laws of Mechanics, Fluid Dynamics, and Thermodynamics  
• The ability to analyze common physical scenarios, including the evaluation or calculation of the physical quantities involved  

Learning Outcomes (in accordance with the Dublin Descriptors):

Knowledge and understanding:  

• Ability to apply both inductive and deductive reasoning  
• Ability to model natural phenomena using scalar and vector physical quantities  
• Ability to formulate problems using appropriate relationships among physical quantities (algebraic, integral, or differential) and to solve them using analytical or numerical methods  

Applying knowledge and understanding:  

• Ability to apply acquired knowledge to describe physical phenomena rigorously using the scientific method  

Making judgements:  

• Development of critical thinking skills  
•  Ability to self-assess and self-correct  

Communication skills:

•  Ability to present scientific topics orally with clarity, appropriate language, and terminological accuracy, explaining both motivations and results  
• Ability to describe scientific topics in written form with precision, using correct terminology and clearly outlining motivations and results

The course is structured, maily, in lectures and exercises/applications on the blackboard with the involvement of the students. Moreover, slides will be used to deepen some specific topics and multimedia files (video and / or audio) will be used to facilitate the understanding of some topics. 

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. 

 Information for students with disabilities and / or SLD: to guarantee equal opportunities and in compliance with the laws in force, interested students can ask for a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and / or dispensatory measures, based on the didactic objectives and specific needs.

It is also possible to contact the referent teacher CInAP (Center for Active and Participated Integration - Services for Disabilities and / or SLD) of the Department.

The following prerequisites are required:

• Proficiency in algebraic computation  
• Familiarity with differential calculus  
• Knowledge of trigonometry  
• Understanding of fundamental geometric laws  
• Familiarity with the study of mathematical functions  

It is strongly recommended that students undertake the study of Physics I only after completing a course in Analisi I.

1. INTRODUCTION

Quantities in physics - International system - Dimensions and dimensional calculation - Measurement uncertainties - Approximation - Scientific notation.

2. VECTORS

Representation of physical quantities by means of vectors - Operations with vectors: sum, difference, product of a vector by a scalar, scalar product, vector product - Commutative property - Associative property - Components of a vector - Derivative of a vector - Integration .

3. KINEMATICS

Position and displacement vector - Velocity and accelerations vectors - One dimensional motion with constant velocity - One dimensional motion with constant acceleration - Freely falling objects - Projectile motion - Uniform Circular motion - Centripetal acceleration.

4. DYNAMICS OF THE MATERIAL POINT

Principle of inertia - Inertial mass - Force: Newton's 2nd law - Principle of action and reaction - Inertial reference systems - Galilean invariance principle - Galilean transformation - Law of composition of velocities - Laws of force: gravitational force, weight force, force of friction, elastic forces, viscous forces of resistance of the medium - Constraint reactions - Tension of the wires - Motion along an inclined plane - Circular motions: Centripetal forces - Momentum of motion - Impulse - Friction - Motion along an inclined plane with friction - Dynamics of uniform circular motion: central forces - The centripetal force - The conical pendulum - Inertial reference systems - Galilean invariance principle - Galilean Transformation - Law of composition of velocities - Non-inertial reference systems: fictitious forces.

5. CONSERVATION OF ENERGY

Work - Power- Kinetic Energy and the wrok-kinetic energy theorem - Conservative forces - Potential energy - Calculation of potential energy - Potential energy and force: energy and stability diagrams of equilibrium - Central forces - Conservation of mechanical energy - Non-conservative forces.

6. OSCILLATIONS

Simple harmonic oscillator: equation of motion and solution - Mass-spring system - Simple pendulum - Kinetic and potential energy in simple harmonic motions - Damped harmonic oscillator - Forced harmonic oscillator.

7. DYNAMICS OF SYSTEMS OF MATERIAL POINTS

System of particles - Center-of-mass and its coordinates - Linear momentum and its conservation - Impulse and momentum - Conservation of momentum - Collisions between material points: elastic, inelastic and completely inelastic.

8. DYNAMICS OF THE RIGID BODY AND NOTES OF STATIC

Rigid body - Motion of a rigid body - Equation of motion of a rotating body - Rigid rotations around a fixed axis in an inertial reference system - Moment of inertia with respect to a fixed axis - Huygens-Steiner theorem - Work and kinetic energy in rotary motion -  Mechanical moment - Angular momentum - Moment theorem angular - Conservation of angular momentum. Center of mass System -  Konig's theorems - Compound pendulum - Angular momentum - Roto-translational motion - Pure rolling motion - Conservation laws in the motion of a rigid body - Balance and elasticity - Statics.

9.  FLUIDS MECHANICS

States of matter  - Definition of fluid - Gases and liquids - Real fluids and fluids - Density - Pressure - fluids statics - Pascal's principle - Stevino's law - Archimedes' thrust - Torricelli's experience - Fluid dynamics - Flow rate - Continuity equation - Bernoulli's theorem - viscosity - Stokes' law.

10. THERMOMETRY AND CALORIMETRY

Thermal equilibrium - Concept of temperature - Measurement of temperature - Kelvin temperature - Calorimetric definition of heat - Thermal capacity - Specific heat and latent heat - Calories - Heat sources - Mechanical equivalent of heat - Thermal Expansion

11. THERMODYNAMIC SYSTEMS

Thermodynamic systems and states - Macroscopic point of view - Thermodynamic coordinates - Thermodynamic equilibrium - Simple thermodynamic systems - PVT systems - Equation of state - Equation of state of ideal gases - Kinetic interpretation of temperature - Internal energy of an ideal gas - Thermodynamic transformations - Quasistatic transformation - Reversible and irreversible transformations - Reversible quasistatic transformation.

12. HEAT, WORK AND FIRST PRINCIPLE OF THERMODYNAMICS

Work in a transformation of a PVT system - Adiabatic work - Internal energy - Thermodynamic definition of heat - First law of thermodynamics - Differential form of the first law of thermodynamics - Internal energy of an ideal gas: Joule's experiment - Specific heats of ideal gases: Mayer's formula.

13. SECOND PRINCIPLE OF THERMODYNAMICS

Conversion of work into heat and vice versa - Thermal machines - Otto cycle - Diesel cycle - Kelvin-Planks statement of the second law of thermodynamics - Refrigerating machines - Clausius statement of the second law of thermodynamics - Equivalence of the two statements - Carnot cycle - Carnot's theorem - Carnot's machine - Absolute thermodynamic temperature.

14. ENTROPY

Clausius theorem - Entropy - Entropy and reversibility - Entropy and irreversibility - The principle of increasing entropy - Entropy variation calculations - Entropy of an ideal gas - Entropy and unusable energy.

1. P. MAZZOLDI, M. NIGRO, C. VOCI – "FISICA Volume 1"  (EdiSES);

2. D. HALLIDAY, R. RESNICK, J. WALKER  " Fisica 1" Casa Ed. Ambrosiana;

3.  SERWAY, JEWETT "Principi di Fisica" (2015) Edises;

4. D. HALLIDAY, R. RESNICK, J. WALKER "Fundamental of Physics" Casa Ed. Ambrosiana.

Students are free to use any other text that may be more convenient for them.

The teaching material is mainly represented by the notes taken during the lessons and exercises, enriched by the discussions triggered by the teacher in the classroom. Furthermore, the reference texts represent a fundamental tool for the student also in order to acquire the necessary autonomy in the study of the discipline. Any slides of the helded lectures will be published on Studium.

The final examination consists of two parts: a written test and an oral exam.  

The written test is designed to assess both theoretical and practical skills, as well as the ability to solve basic problems by applying fundamental laws. It typically consists of three questions, each requiring a clearly explained solution process. Evaluation criteria for each question include: correct interpretation of the problem, proper resolution procedure, clarity and conciseness in justifying the method used, accurate processing of given data in accordance with fundamental laws, and correct use of units of measurement. The written test is considered passed if the total score is equal to or greater than 15 out of 30.  

The oral exam involves a discussion on the topics covered during the course and aims to evaluate the student’s understanding of the subject matter and ability to reason through physical laws. Assessment criteria include: level of knowledge of the requested topics, clarity of expression and command of scientific language, ability to apply knowledge to simple case studies, and ability to connect various topics covered in the course.

The final grade is determined by the results of both components: 40% from the written exam and 60% from the oral exam.

Exam registration is mandatory and must be completed exclusively online via the student portal, within the specified registration period.

Assessment may also be conducted remotely if required by specific circumstances.

- Discuss the principles of conservation of mechanical energy, linear momentum, and angular momentum;  

- Address the principles of thermodynamics with relevant applications;  

- State and apply the second law of thermodynamics;  

- Derive Bernoulli’s equation for an ideal fluid;  

- Describe the motion of the simple pendulum, the mass-spring system, and a rigid body.