PHYSICS A - L

Academic Year 2021/2022 - 1° Year
Teaching Staff: Alessandro Carmelo LANZAFAME
Credit Value: 6
Scientific field: FIS/07 - Applied physics
Taught classes: 42 hours
Term / Semester:

Learning Objectives

Basic principles and concepts about particle, particles system, rigid body and fluids kinematic and dynamic. Basic principles and concepts about elastic and non-elastic waves. Basic principles and concepts about thermodynamics. Basic principles and concepts about electrostatic, magnetism, electromagnetism and electromagnetic waves. Basic principles and concepts about optics.


Course Structure

Classroom-taught lectures and exercises.

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.

Exams may take place online, depending on circumstances.

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 teaching objectives and specifications needs. It is also possible to contact the CInAP contact person (Center for Active and Participatory Integration - Services for Disabilities and / or SLD) of the Department, prof.ssa Teresa Musumeci.


Detailed Course Content

Physical quantities: Scalars and vectors. Measure units. Approximate quantities. Vector calculus. Significant digits.

Kinematics: Position, velocity and acceleration. Uniform rectilinear motion and uniformly accelerated motion. Uniform circular motion. Harmonic motion.

Dynamics: Laws of dynamics. The force of gravity. The friction force. Mass, weight and density. The viscous friction force. The centrifugal force.

Static: Forces. The moment of a force. Equilibrium conditions for translation and rotation. The center of gravity.

Work, energy and power: Forces and force fields. Work and energy. Kinetic energy. Potential energy and conservative forces. Conservation of mechanical energy. Power.

Fluid statics and dynamics: Fluid equlibrium. Pressure measurement. Surface tension. Capillarity phenomena. Dynamics of perfect fluids.

Gas: Perfect gas laws. Real gas laws.

Thermodynamics: Thermodynamic transformations. Work in thermodynamics. Heat and temperature. Internal energy. First law of thermodynamics. Temperature measurement. Specific heat capacity. Phase changes. Latent heats. Second law of thermodynamics.

Mechanical waves: Wave model. Wave propagation. Wave interference. Stationary waves. Sound.

Optics: Nature of light. Reflection. Refraction. Thin lenses. Interference. Diffraction. The human eye as an optical system.

Electromagnetism: The electric charge. The Coulomb law. Electric field. Field lines. Electric field flow. Electric potential energy and electric potential. Conductors and insulators. Capacitors. The electric direct current. Electrical resistance and Ohm law. Electromotive force and DC circuits. Electrophoresis. Magnetic field. The Lorentz force. Motion of a charged particle in a uniform magnetic field.


Textbook Information

1. F. Borsa e A. Lascialfari, "Principi di Fisica", EdiSES