Fisica

The course aims to provide fundamental knowledge of mechanics, fluid mechanics, and thermodynamics, and to develop basic problem solving skills related to the topics covered. By the end of the course, students are expected to be able to solve problems and discuss the topics covered.

Lectures and practical exercises

Basic knowledge of mathematical analysis, geometry, and trigonometry

mandatory

INTRODUCTION
Physical phenomena – Physical quantities – Units of measurement – Dimensional equation – Scientific notation.

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VECTORS
General concepts – Representation of physical quantities using vectors – Vector operations: sum, difference, scalar multiplication, dot product, cross product – Components of a vector – Derivative of a vector – Integration.

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KINEMATICS
Velocity – Acceleration – Position-time law – Uniform linear motion – Uniformly accelerated linear motion – Motion in a plane – Parabolic motion – Uniform circular motion.

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DYNAMICS OF A MATERIAL POINT
Principle of inertia – Inertial mass – Newton's laws – Force laws: gravitational force, weight, frictional force, elastic forces, viscous resistance forces – Constraint reactions – Tension in strings – Motion along an inclined plane – Circular motions: centripetal forces – Momentum – Impulse – Inertial reference frames – Non-inertial reference frames: fictitious forces.

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CONSERVATION OF ENERGY
Work – Kinetic energy – Work-energy theorem – Conservative forces – Potential energy – Calculation of potential energy – Potential energy and force: energy diagrams and stability of equilibrium – Central forces – Conservation of mechanical energy – Non-conservative forces.

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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.

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DYNAMICS OF SYSTEMS OF MATERIAL POINTS
Systems of points – Internal and external forces – Center of mass of a system of points – Theorem of center of mass motion – Conservation of linear momentum – Angular momentum – Torque – Angular momentum theorem – Conservation of angular momentum – Collisions between material points: elastic, inelastic, and completely inelastic.

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DYNAMICS OF RIGID BODIES AND ELEMENTS OF STATICS
Rigid body – Motion of a rigid body – Equation of motion of a rotating body – Rigid rotations about a fixed axis in an inertial reference frame – Moment of inertia about a fixed axis – Huygens-Steiner theorem – Work and kinetic energy in rotational motion – Rototranslational motion – Pure rolling motion – Conservation laws in rigid body motion – Statics.

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FLUID MECHANICS
States of matter – Definition of fluid – Gases and liquids – Ideal and real fluids – Density – Pressure – Fluid statics – Pascal's principle – Stevin's law – Archimedes' principle – Torricelli's experiment – Fluid dynamics – Flow rate – Continuity equation – Bernoulli's theorem and applications.

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THERMOMETRY AND CALORIMETRY
Thermal equilibrium – Concept of temperature – Measurement of temperature – Kelvin temperature scale – Calorimetric definition of heat – Heat capacity – Specific heats and latent heats – Calorie – Heat sources – Mechanical equivalent of heat.

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THERMODYNAMIC SYSTEMS
Thermodynamic systems and states – Macroscopic and microscopic perspectives – Thermodynamic coordinates – Thermodynamic equilibrium – Simple thermodynamic systems – PVT systems – Equation of state for ideal gases – Basics of the kinetic theory of gases – Thermodynamic transformations – Quasi-static transformation – Reversible and irreversible transformations – Reversible quasi-static transformation.

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HEAT, WORK, AND THE FIRST LAW 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 – Internal energy of an ideal gas – Specific heats of ideal gases: Mayer's relation.

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SECOND LAW OF THERMODYNAMICS
Conversion of work into heat and vice versa – Heat engines – Carnot cycle – Kelvin-Planck statement of the second law of thermodynamics – Refrigerators – Clausius statement of the second law of thermodynamics – Equivalence of the two statements – Carnot theorem – Absolute thermodynamic temperature.

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ENTROPY
Clausius theorem – Entropy – Entropy of an ideal gas – Entropy and reversibility – Entropy and irreversibility – Principle of entropy increase – Entropy change calculations.

Mazzoldi, Nigro, Voci – Elements of Physics: Mechanics, Thermodynamics (EdiSES)

D. Halliday, R. Resnick – Fundamentals of Physics (Vol. 1) – C.E.A., Milan

Serway – Physics for Science and Engineering – EdiSES

written test and oral discussion

Planar motions – Newton's laws – Relative motions – Conservation of mechanical energy