Starting from basic concepts of classical physics, the course introduces logic and conceptual methodologies to correctely approach scientific arguments which the students will face during their academic studies and work experience. 

The learning objects thus apply to the procedures of abstraction, formalization for a quantitative approach, experimental method application.

1. Units of measurement 1.1 Physical quantities 1.2 Systems of measurement units 1.3 Conversion between measurement units 1.4 Dimensional analysis

2. Scalars and vectors 2.1 Geometric and analytical definitions 2.2 Projection of a vector on an assigned direction 2.3 Addition and subtraction of vectors 2.4 Scalar and vector product

MECHANICS 3. Kinematics 3.1 Movement law 3.2 Average speed and instantaneous speed 3.3 Average and instantaneous acceleration 3.4 Uniform rectilinear motion 3.5 Uniformly accelerated motion 3.6 Free fall motion 3.7 Two-dimensional motion 3.8 Motion of a projectile 3.9 Uniform circular motion, centripetal acceleration

4. Laws of dynamics 4.1 First law of dynamics: rest state and uniform rectilinear motion 4.2 Second law of dynamics: force as the cause of variations in motion 4.3 Link between force and acceleration, concept of mass 4.4 The principle of action and reaction

5. Examples of Forces 5.1 Law of universal gravitation 5.2 Force of gravity near the earth's surface 5.3 Relation between mass and weight, acceleration of gravity 5.4 Normal force 5.5 Elastic force: Hooke's law 5.6 Friction and air resistance

6. Applications of the laws of mechanics 6.1 Inclined plane

7. Work and kinetic energy 7.1 Work as a scalar product between force and displacement 7.2 Kinetic energy 7.3 Kinetic energy theorem

8. Potential energy and energy conservation 8.1 Conservative and non-conservative forces 8.2 Potential energy 8.3 Gravitational potential energy 8.4 Elastic potential energy 8.5 Conservation of mechanical energy

9. Dynamics of rigid bodies 9.1 Definition of rigid bodies 9.2 Translation motion and center of mass 9.3 Rotational motion and moment of a force 9.4 Equilibrium of rigid bodies 9.5 Kinetic energy of translation and rotation 9.6 Moment of inertia 9.7 Angular momentum

Fluids

10 Fluids 10.1 States of matter aggregation 10.2 Density and Pressure 10.3 Stevin's law 10.4 Pascal's principle: hydraulic lever 10.5 Archimedes' principle. 10.6 Perfect fluid 10.7 Continuity equation 10.8 Bernoulli theorem 10.9 Viscosity 10.10 Hagen-Poiseuille theorem

THERMODYNAMICS

11. Macroscopic point of view 11.1 Thermodynamic systems 11.2 State variables 11.3 Thermal equilibrium 11.4 Zero principle of thermodynamics 11.5 Definition of temperature 11.6 Temperature scales 11.7 Concept of "absolute zero" 11.8 Thermal expansion 11.9 Perfect gases 11.10 Equation of state of ideal gases

12. Microscopic point of view 12.1 Kinetic theory of perfect gases 12.2 Kinetic interpretation of temperature and pressure 12.3 Internal energy 12.4 Theorem of energy distribution

13. I principle of thermodynamics 13.1 Definition of heat 13.2 Phase transitions 13.3 I principle of thermodynamics: balance of heat, work and internal energy 13.4 Thermodynamic transformations: isotherms, adiabatic, isochore, isobar. Free expansion 13.5 Definition of enthalpy

14 The principle of thermodynamics: order and disorder 14.1 Reversible and irreversible transformations 14.2 The principle in the statements of Kelvin-Plank and Clausius 14.3 Efficiency of heat engines: Carnot cycle 14.4 Definition of entropy 14.5 Spontaneous direction of transformations: Gibbs free energy

ELECTROSTATICS

15. Electric charge 15.1 Definition of electric charge 15.2 Conductors and insulators 15.3 Coulomb force

16. Electrostatic field 16.1 Definition of electrostatic field 16.2 Field lines 16.3 Uniform field 16.4 Field of a point charge 16.5 Gauss's law

17. Electrostatic potential 17.1 Electric potential energy 17.2 Potential difference 17.3 Potential in a constant electrostatic field 17.4 Potential associated with a point charge 17.5 Capacitors and capacitances

18. Electric current and elementary circuits 18.1 Electric current 18.2 Resistors and Ohm's law 18.3 Voltage generator and elementary circuits

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Knowledge and understanding: the student will know the main laws of Physics, particularly in the fields of point mass mechanics, of the mechanics of the rigid body and of the fluids. The student will possess basic knowledge of electrostatic and magnetism, and of electrodynamics.
Applying knowledge and understanding: the student will be in position to apply the laws of Physics to real problems, and to solve them both in a qualitative and quantitative way.
Making judgements: the students will be able to assess the plausibility of a result, both on the basis of correct units, and by means of analogical reasoning and scientific sense.
Communication skills: the student will acquire a correct scientific language, which includes the appropriate use of the units..
 

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

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Teaching

Lectures.

Attendance

For the full achievement of the didactic objectives of the course, attendance at lectures is strongly recommended, although not mandatory. Students are considered “attending” upon attaining at least 50 percent of the total number of hours in the course.

Course books

Fundamentals of Physics, D. Halliday, R. Resnick, J. Walker, Wiley

Assessment

A first partial exam will be organized about three-quarters of the way through the course. In order to take this partial exam, students must have already attended at least 50% of the hours of the entire course (i.e. 20 hours). This partial exam will focus on the syllabus taken up to that point. and will be graded in thirtieths (sufficiency with a grade >= 18/30).

Those who pass the partial exam may take a second partial exam in the final appeals. This partial exam will focus on the program taken after the first partial .and will be graded in thirtieths (sufficiency with grade >= 18/30).

The total grade will be given by the weighted average of the two grades obtained (weights equal to 3/4 and 1/4).

Students who do not take the first partial will have to take the entire exam in the final appeals

Both the partial exams and the final exam are structured as follows:

Written and oral test. The written test consists of a multiple-choice test and open-ended questions and is considered passed when a grade of 18/30 is achieved. The oral test will focus on discussion of the written test and exposition of topics covered in the course.

EVALUATION CRITERIA AND PARAMETERS

For each item, four levels of assessment are given, corresponding to: insufficient (grade < 18); sufficient (17 < vote < 24); good (23 < vote < 28); excellent (27 < vote < 31)

Knowledge and understanding:

He does not know or roughly describes the topics covered

Describes with some inaccuracy the topics covered

Describes the topics in detail

Precisely and completely describes the topics covered

Applied knowledge and understanding

He doesn't know how to apply the principles and laws of physics to solving simple problems

Can apply the principles and laws of physics to solve simple problems

Can apply the principles and laws of physics to solve more complex problems

Can apply the principles and laws of physics and relate them to real problems for solving more complex problems

Making judgments:

He is unable to assess the correctness of the procedure used and the plausibility of the results.

Able to sufficiently evaluate the correctness of the procedure used and the plausibility of the results.

Able to evaluate the correctness of the procedure used and the plausibility of the results.

Able to evaluate the correctness of the procedure used and the plausibility of results and know how to contextualize the results.

Communication skills:

It is expressed in a non-specific common language

Demonstrates limited ability to express; use some specific terms

Demonstrates good ability to express and use some specific terms

Demonstrates full command of specific language

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Attendance

For the full achievement of the didactic objectives of the course, attendance at lectures is strongly recommended, although not mandatory. Students are considered “attending” upon attaining at least 50 percent of the total number of hours in the course.

Course books

Fundamentals of Physics, D. Halliday, R. Resnick, J. Walker, Wiley

Assessment

Written and oral test. The written test consists of a multiple choice test and open questions and is considered passed when a vote of 18/30 is achieved. The oral test will focus on the discussion of the written test and on the presentation of the topics covered in the course.

EVALUATION CRITERIA AND PARAMETERS

For each item, four levels of assessment are given, corresponding to: insufficient (grade < 18); sufficient (17 < vote < 24); good (23 < vote < 28); excellent (27 < vote < 31)

Knowledge and understanding:

He does not know or roughly describes the topics covered

Describes with some inaccuracy the topics covered

Describes the topics in detail

Precisely and completely describes the topics covered

Applied knowledge and understanding

He doesn't know how to apply the principles and laws of physics to solving simple problems

Can apply the principles and laws of physics to solve simple problems

Can apply the principles and laws of physics to solve more complex problems

Can apply the principles and laws of physics and relate them to real problems for solving more complex problems

Making judgments:

He is unable to assess the correctness of the procedure used and the plausibility of the results.

Able to sufficiently evaluate the correctness of the procedure used and the plausibility of the results.

Able to evaluate the correctness of the procedure used and the plausibility of the results.

Able to evaluate the correctness of the procedure used and the plausibility of results and know how to contextualize the results.

Communication skills:

It is expressed in a non-specific common language

Demonstrates limited ability to express; use some specific terms

Demonstrates good ability to express and use some specific terms

Demonstrates full command of specific language

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

The students need to master basics concepts of mathematics learnt in the high school like algebra, geometry, trigonometry