Unit PHYSICS
- Course
- Agricultural and environmental sciences
- Study-unit Code
- 80003406
- Curriculum
- In all curricula
- Teacher
- Attilio Santocchia
- Teachers
-
- Attilio Santocchia
- Giacomo Clementi (Codocenza)
- Hours
- 18 ore - Attilio Santocchia
- 36 ore (Codocenza) - Giacomo Clementi
- CFU
- 6
- Course Regulation
- Coorte 2021
- Offered
- 2021/22
- Learning activities
- Base
- Area
- Matematiche, fisiche, informatiche e statistiche
- Academic discipline
- FIS/07
- Type of study-unit
- Obbligatorio (Required)
- Type of learning activities
- Attività formativa monodisciplinare
- Language of instruction
- Italian
- Contents
- The course is organized in two modules.
Part I: Physical quantities and units of measurements. Elements of mechanics: kinematics and dynamics of the material point, work and energy.
Part II: Statics and dynamics of fluids. Elements of calorimetry and thermodynamics. - Reference texts
- The following textbooks are advised, alternatively:
- Young, Freedman, Ford, Principi di Fisica, Vol. 1, PEARSON;
- Jewett, Serway, Principi di Fisica, Vol. 1, EdiSES. - Educational objectives
- The student is expected to acquire the basic knowledge about the physical laws that are fundamental for the comprehension of natural, productive and technological processes: physical quantities and units, vector calculations, kinematics and dynamics of the material point, work and energy, statics and dynamics of fluids, calorimetry, thermodynamics. The student is also expected to apply such knowledge in the solution of simple problems and practical applications.
- Prerequisites
- Basic notions of algebra (power, roots, solution of first and second order equations), geometry (angles, properties of triangles, Cartesian systems, area and volume of common plane and solid figures), analysis (elementary functions like polynomial, trigonometric, exponential and logarithmic functions, derivatives and graphical interpretation, integrals of simple functions).
- Teaching methods
- The course consists of 27 lectures of two hours each. The didactical approach is the frontal lecture, with demonstrations carried out on the blackboards and the use of slides when needed. Each lecture is organized with a part of theoretical explanation and a part of exercises, with a guided solution of the problems proposed. At the end of the two modules, two lessons will be entirely dedicated to exercises. Two written tests “in progress” are proposed throughout the semester.
- Other information
- Attending the lectures and exercise classes is not mandatory, but advised.
- Learning verification modality
- The evaluation is carried out by a written test. The test (2 hours duration) is composed by a set of multiple choice questions (short exercises and theory questions) and two problems. The test is divided in two parts, each of which is dedicated to a single module of the program. It is possible to take the exam in two steps, by delivering a single part of the written exam (in half of the time).
During the semester, two “in progress” tests focused on the two parts of the programs will be calendarized. These have a structure that is analogous to the one of the final test. Passing one of these tests is equivalent to passing the corresponding part of the written exam.
One part of the written exam/an “in progress” test is passed if the evaluation is equal or above 15/30 points. The validity of (a part of) the written exam is one academic year. The exam can be registered if the average evaluation of the two parts of the program is equal or above 18/30 points.
During the written exam, the only use of a calculator and the paper (questionnaire, blank sheets, formular) delivered by the teacher is allowed. No cell phones, notes, books are allowed.
An optional oral exam can be taken. This will be a discussion on topics covering the entire program (both theory and exercises). - Extended program
- Units, dimensions, measurements, orders of magnitude, estimates, dimensional Analysis.
Motion: reference systems, approximations. Motion in one dimension: position, displacement, average velocity, velocity, acceleration. Motion with constant velocity. Motion with constant acceleration. Free-fall under gravity. Vectors and their components, elementary vector operations. 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, tension, friction, elastic forces. Work. Calculation of the work in elementary cases. Kinetic energy. Work-energy theorem. Conservative forces and potential energy. Calculation of the potential energy in elementary cases. Spring potential energy. Conservation of energy. Non-conservative forces and dissipation.
Properties of fluids: density, pressure. Statics of fluids: Stevino’s law, Pascal’s principle, Archimede’s principle. Dynamics of ideal fluids: flow, flow lines, laminar motion, continuity equation, Bernoulli’s equation.
Temperature: thermal equilibrium and zero law of thermodynamics. Celsius and Kelvin scales. Thermal expansion (linear, surface, volume expansion). Heat. Thermal capacity and specific heat. Latent heat and phase transition. Heat transfer mechanisms. Thermodynamic systems and their properties. Thermodynamic transformations. Equations of state. Perfect gas and their equation of state. Kinetic theory of the perfect gas. Work in thermodynamics. First law of thermodynamics. Internal energy and temperature. Thermodynamic transformations of the perfect gas and first law. Thermodynamic cycles. Thermal machines and refrigerators, ideal machines and efficiency. Second law of thermodynamics (Kelvin’s and Clausius’s formulations, equivalency). Entropy.