Quantities in Physics. Dynamics of a mass point. Work, kinetic energy, potential energy. Energy conservation. Isolated systems, Momentum and angular momentum. Kinetic theory of gas. Ideal and viscous fluids, motion of a body in a fluid. Laboratory Centrfuge. Geometric optics. Boltzman Law, Wien's Law. First and second law of themodynamics. Coulomb force, Electrostatic Field, Lorentz force, magnetic field. Ohm's law. Motion of a charged particle in electric and magnetic field, mass spectrometer
written and oral exam. In the written exams we examin the ability to understand a problem and to solve it quantitatively. The topics of the oral exams are broader. We test the understanding of basic concepts of physics and the development of a scientific/critical approach to problems.
Course program
QUANTITIES IN PHYSICS
Scalar and vectorial quantities, dimensions units, comparison with everyday experience. Operation with vectors: sum, difference, dot product (scalar), cross product (vectorial)
DYNAMICS (POINT MASS)
The three principles of mechanics, inertial reference frames.
Weight, gravitational force, elastic force. Friction. The simple pendulum and the harmonic motion.
fictitious (non-inertial) forces: centrifugal force, Coriolis force.
WORK and ENERGY
Work and theorem of kinetic energy. Conservative forces, Potential energy, Conservation of mechanical energy.
Gravitational and elastic potential energy. From energy to forces: stable and unstable equilibrium.
DYNAMICS with MORE THAN ONE BODY
Internal and external forces, conservation of momentum, center of mass
Angular momentum, kinetic energy for a rotating solid body, momentum of inertia.
Isolated systems. Kinetic theories of gas, internal energy for a mono- and a bi-atomic gas
FLUIDS (LIQUIDS)
Incompressibility, Pascal law, hydraulic jack. Hydrostatic pressure, barometric pressure. Water (and mercury) barometer, atmospheric pressure, manometer. Archimede force, buoyancy, application to centrifuges.
Moving fluids, Bernoulli law (mechanical energy conservation), non intuitive consequences (pressure vs velocity, syphon flow).
Viscous fluid, laminar and turbulent motion, Reynolds number. Objects moving in a fluid: viscous and turbulent drag, asymptotic speed in both regimes, characteristic timescales to reach the asymptotic speed, equation of motion and their solutions.
THERMODYNAMICS
Temperature and perception of heat. Thermometric properties. Temperature scales.
Specific heat and its determination. Latent heat and changes of state.
Kinetic theory of gases and ideal gas equation. Phase diagrams.
First law of thermodynamics and conservation of energy.
Thermodynamic transformations.
Second law of thermodynamics.
Efficiency of thermal machines and Carnot machines.
Entropy and reversible transformations
Heat propagation.
ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES AND GEOMETRIC OPTICS
Irradiation and emission of radiation. The Stefen-Boltzmann law
Emission of a black body. Radiated power and absorbed power
Electromagnetic energy and photons.
Frequencies and wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation
Wien's law. The spectrum of visible radiation.
The greenhouse effect
Geometric optics and its assumptions
Snell's laws: reflection and refraction
Total reflection. The prism. The diffraction of light.
ELECTROMAGNETISM
Electric field generated by stationary charges
Electrostatic force and Coulomb's law.
Differences and analogies between electrostatic and gravitational force / field
Motion of an electric charge in a uniform electric field
Electric dipole, Conductors and insulators, The dielectric constant and its interpretation.
Electric potential and potential difference, Electric current and electric resistance
Ohm's law
Magnetic field generated by a current-carrying wire, Lorentz force Motion of a charge in a uniform magnetic field
Mass spectrometer