CFU: 6
Prerequisites
None.
Preliminary Courses
None.
Learning Goals
Students will learn fundamental concepts of classical Mechanics and first concepts of Thermodynamics, with an emphasis on methodological and phenomenological aspects. Moreover, they will get operative competence in simple problem solving.
Expected Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
Students will be able to:
- Understand fundamental principles of Physics and their application in problem solving. In particular, they will gain ability to:
- state principles;
- indicate relations among principles;
- compare explanations of the same phenomenon or situation by using different principles.
- Know fundamental laws explaining physical phenomena. In particular, they will gain ability to:
- traslate the law in mathematical language;
- evaluate limits of the law;
- extend the law to similar and unknown situations.
- Know physical quantities in operational manner by using the correct units of measurements. In particular, they will gain ability to:
- define fundamental quantities;
- know relations among fundamental quantities;
- obtain derived quantities as a function of fundamental ones.
- Know the field of investigation of Physics. In particular, they will gain ability to:
- understand the physical meaning of mathematical entities used for describing phenomena;
- outline the validity range (macroscopic/microscopic) of laws used for describing phenomena;
- describe the methods of investigation used in Physics.
Applying knowledge and understanding
Students will be able to:
- analyze and examine proposed physical situations, formulating explanatory theories using mathematical models, analogies or physical laws;
- formalize problems and apply relevant physical concepts, mathematical methods and other tools acquired during the course, by carrying out calculations, estimates, qualitative reasonings;
- interpret and/or elaborate proposed and/or obtained data, even experimental ones, confirming their coherence to the given model and representing them, if necessary, by graphical/symbolic language;
- argue and describe resolutive strategies to be adopted in given physical situations, by reporting results obtained and judging their coherence with the proposed problem.
Levels for all descriptors: L1 – naive or insufficient; L2 – shallow or fragmentary; L3 – incomplete; L4 – complete or generally complete.
Course Content - Syllabus
The Scientific method. Physical quantities and their operational definition, unit of measurements, dimensional analysis. Kinematics of the point mass in one dimension. Vectors and Kinematics of the point mass in more than one dimension. Parabolic and circular motion. Inertial reference frames, definition of force and mass. Principles of Dynamics. Fundamental forces and force laws. Contact forces, constraints, empyrical force laws (spring force, frictional and viscous forces). Case examples: inclined plane, harmonic oscillator, simple pendulum. Pulse and momentum. Work and kinetic energy. Conservative forces and potential energy. Conservation of the mechanical energy and momentum. Collisions in one dimension. Angular momentum and moment of a force. Relative motion, not inertial reference frames and fictitious forces. Elements on planetary motion in the solar system. Dynamics of a system of particles: cardinal equations, center of mass, conservation laws, Koenig theorem for the kinetic energy. Elements of the Dynamics of rigid bodies, rotations around fixed axes. Elements of Statics and Dynamics of fluids. Temperature and heat, first law of Thermodynamics. Ideal gas.
Readings/Bibliography
Textbook (e.g. Mazzoldi-Nigro-Voci, Halliday-Resnick, Serwey-Jevett), exercises or assessment homework questionnaires.
Teaching Methods
Lectures and classroom exercises.
Examination/Evaluation criteria
Exam type
Written and oral. Questions of the written exam refer to: multiple choice answers, open answers, numerical exercises.