Unit PHYSICS I
- Course
- Civil engineering
- Study-unit Code
- A001109
- Curriculum
- In all curricula
- Teacher
- Caterina Petrillo
- Teachers
-
- Caterina Petrillo
- Hours
- 72 ore - Caterina Petrillo
- CFU
- 9
- Course Regulation
- Coorte 2019
- Offered
- 2019/20
- Learning activities
- Base
- Area
- Fisica e chimica
- Academic discipline
- FIS/01
- Type of study-unit
- Obbligatorio (Required)
- Type of learning activities
- Attività formativa monodisciplinare
- Language of instruction
- Italian
- Contents
- Dimensions, errors and statistical analysis. Simple physical models, approximations and validity limits. Classical mechanics and dynamics. Statics. Force fields. Energy and work. Harmonic oscillator. Gravitation. Conservation principles.
- Reference texts
- Elementi di Fisica, Mazzoldi, Nigro, Voci
- Educational objectives
- At the end of the course - module Physics I - the student should have acquired (descriptor Dublin 1) the main basic knowledge of the mechanics of the point, of particle systems and rigid body, and have assimilated the fundamentals of universal gravitation. The student must have a thorough knowledge of the principles of conservation in physics, the force fields and their specific properties and the elementary models for the treatment of complex mechanical systems.
The main skills acquired (ability to apply their knowledge, descriptor Dublin 2, and to adopt the appropriate approach under independent judgment, Dublin descriptor 3) will consist of the ability to model physical phenomena, together with the skills to solve exercises and problems and the ability to individually develop simple demonstrations based on the extension and application of the knowledge acquired. - Prerequisites
- To successfully address the study of the first module Physics I and to more easily understand the topics covered, a solid knowledge of basic mathematics ( equations of various degrees , inequalities , systems of equations), trigonometry , elementary geometry and analytical geometry (study of functions, etc.) is mandatory. It is also required the knowledge of vectors and vector operations. For a deeper understanding of the initial topics of kinematics covered in the course, the knowledge of the basic techniques of differentiation and integration is useful. This knowledge becomes mandatory with progressing of the course even though the parallel treatment of these topics in the course Analysis I should help the student. Knowledge of all the mathematical techniques listed and the ability to apply them effectively to solve problems are prerequisites essential to follow the course with profit.
- Teaching methods
- The course is organized in face-to-face lectures. There are 72 hours of lectures for the module Physics I. Each lesson is typically a 30-minute explanation and 15 minutes of training with solution of problems and questions and discussion of applications. At the end of each cycle of thematically consistent lessons there are scheduled classroom exercises conducted by the teacher and consisting in solving problems. The hours dedicated to tutorials and practical training are in addition to those dedicated to lectures. The students are also offered to participate to three written tests with open answers for evaluation and self-assessment.
- Other information
- Attendance to lessons and classroom exercises, although not compulsory, is strongly advised
- Learning verification modality
- The assessment of the level of student knowledge and ability achieved by the student is carried out consistently throughout the course. In fact, students are given 3 "in progress" written tests at the end of major specific blocks of lectures thematically consistent. The purpose is in progress verification of the level of knowledge achieved by the student on the subjects of the specific block, offering, at the same time, the student a tool for self-assessment with respect to her/his level of understanding and her/his ability to solve problems. The student can apply to all 3 written tests, regardless of the result achieved in each, or any number she/he wishes to. Each in progress test, although limited as to the specific content of the thematic block, simulates the structure of the first written exam and contains 3 problems with open answer questions to be solved in no more than 30 minutes each. Students who have obtained a positive assessment (> 18/30) in 2 out of 3 in progress tests may, if they wish, be exempted from carrying out the first final written exam (P1).
The learning assessment of Module Physics I (exam) involves passing two mandatory written tests, the first (P1) which requires solving 3 problems with open answer questions to be carried out in a total of 1.5 hours, and the second ( P2) consisting in the written description of three themes on topics regarding the entire course and also including simple theoretical demonstrations. The duration of the second written test is a total of 1.5 hours. The student is admitted to the second written test (P2) only after passing the first one (P1). The tests P1 and P2 can be carried out sequentially in the same exam session. The student who, as a result of the in-progress evaluation has been exempted from the final written test P1, can apply to it again, or can access directly to the written test P2.
The tests P1 and P2 are designed to ensure: i) the ability to understand the problems proposed during the course, ii) the ability to correctly apply the theoretical knowledge (descriptor Dublin 2), iii) the ability to independently express judgment and appropriate comments on possible alternative models (descriptor Dublin 3), iv) the ability to communicate effectively in writing (descriptor Dublin 4).
The grade (expressed out of thirty) is a weighted average of the marks obtained in P1 and P2, with weights in the ratio 3/2, and it represents the overall result achieved by the student on Module Physics I. - Extended program
- Units, dimensions, measurements, errors and statistical analysis. Dimensional Analysis - Motion: reference systems, approximations. Motion in one dimension: displacement, velocity, acceleration. Motion with constant velocity. Motion with constant acceleration. Free-fall under gravity. Vectors and their components. Adding and multiplying vectors. Motion in two and three dimensions: position, displacement, average velocity, velocity, average acceleration, acceleration. Projectile motion. Uniform circular motion. Forces: motion and equilibrium. Mass. Newton's first, second and third law. Some specific forces: weight, normal component of the reaction, friction, elastic forces. Dynamics of the circular motion. Linear momentum. Work. Calculation of the work in elementary cases. Fields. Conservative fields. Potential energy. Calculation of the potential energy in elementary cases. Spring potential energy. Kinetic energy. Work-energy theorem. Non-conservative fields. The harmonic oscillators. Systems of particles. Center of mass. Newton's second law for a system of particles. Linear momentum of a system of particles. Conservation of linear momentum. Collisions: elastic and inelastic. Torque. Angular momentum. Conservation of angular momentum. Dynamics of the rigid bodies. Rotations, rigid translations and rolling. Inertial momentum. Huygens-Steiner theorem. Equilibrium of rigid bodies. Static laws. Gravitation: Kepler's laws, Newton's law of gravitation, examples. Gauss' theorem.