The main objective of the Physics I course is to provide the students with a solid scientific base, aimed to mature understanding and quantitative description of the fundamental laws of nature, concerning mechanics, electrostatics and thermodynamics.

- Knowledge and understanding (acquisition of theoretical and experimental skills in mechanics, fundamentals of electrostatics and thermodynamics and critical understanding of their laws; start understanding the scientific method, the nature and modalities of research in Physics). - Practical application of the acquired knowledge (ability to identify the essential elements of a phenomenon, in terms of magnitude order and required level of approximation; ability to apply laws and theorems to practical situations through problem solving).

The students are assumed to know the topics covered by the course of Mathematical Analysis I, in particular the use of differential and integral calculus. Further prerequisites are notions of trigonometry and a basic knowledge of vector calculus.

INTRODUCTION The experimental method and the physical quantities. The measurement process. Dimensions of physical observables and units of measurement. Uncertainty (statistical and systematic errors) and uncertainty propagation. Particle KINEMATICS. Review of vector calculus. Reference frames. Position, displacement, velocity, and acceleration in 1, 2 and 3 dimensions. Uniform motion. Motion with constant and variable acceleration. Polar and cylindrical coordinates. Tangent and normal components of acceleration, radius of curvature. Circular motion. Velocity and acceleration composition laws. Particle DYNAMICS Mass and force. Inertial reference frames. Newton’s Laws. Gravitational force. Coulomb’s force. Elastic force. Constraints. Static and kinetic friction. Viscous resistance. Non inertial reference frames: fictitious forces. Work and kinetic energy: definition of work, work-energy theorem. Potential Energy and energy conservation: conservative force fields and potential energy. Mechanical-energy conservation. Examples and applications. Harmonic oscillator: harmonic motion, damped and driven harmonic motion. Resonance. Linear momentum and angular momentum: impulse-momentum theorem. Moment of a force (torque) and angular momentum. Angular momentum theorem. Newton’s Law of Gravitation and Coulomb’s Law. Kepler’s laws. Law of universal gravitation, inertial and gravitational mass. Coulomb’s law and charge. Superposition principle of forces. Gravitational and electrostatic fields. Field lines and flux. Gravitational and electrostatic potential: Gauss’ theorem, charge distributions with spherical symmetry and other examples. DYNAMICS and STATICS of many-particle systems and COLLISIONS. Continuous and discrete systems. Internal and external forces. Equation of motion of the center of mass. Total momentum of many-particle systems. Center of mass and linear momentum conservation. Angular momentum of many-body systems: Angular momentum theorem and conservation. Angular momentum and kinetic energy in the center-of-mass frame. Collisions: momentum and kinetic energy in collision processes. Elastic and inelastic collisions. DYNAMICS of a rigid body. Definition of rigid body. Translation and rotation about a fixed axis of a rigid body. Moment of inertia. Parallel-axis theorem. Rigid-body kinetic energy. Pure rolling motion. Rolling motion with slipping. Conservation laws in the rigid-body motion. Mechanical equilibrium of a rigid body. Examples and applications. MECHANICS OF FLUIDS. Pressure. Statics of fluids: hydrostatic pressure (Stevin’s law). Pascal’s law and Archimedes principle. Dynamics of ideal fluids: flux lines and flux tube. Equation of continuity. Bernoulli’s theorem. Examples and applications. Viscosity. THERMODYNAMICS: calorimetry, First Law of Thermodynamics and ideal gases. Basic concepts in thermometry and heat transfer. Thermodynamic equilibrium and variables of state. Reversible and irreversible thermodynamic transformations. Adiabatic, isothermal, isobaric and isochoric transformations. First Law of Thermodynamics, internal energy. Calorimetry. Ideal (or perfect) gases. Kinetic theory of gases, work and internal energy. Applications of the first law to ideal gases. THERMODYNAMICS: Second Law of Thermodynamics and Entropy. Second Law of Thermodynamics: Kelvin and Clausius statements. Heat engines and refrigerators. Thermal efficiency. Carnot’s cycle and other cycles. Carnot’s theorem. Thermodynamic temperature. Clausius’ theorem. Entropy.

Lessons, exercise classes and laboratory sessions will be given.

Modalita di esame:

Exam:

...

Gli studenti e le studentesse con disabilita o con Disturbi Specifici di Apprendimento (DSA), oltre alla segnalazione tramite procedura informatizzata, sono invitati a comunicare anche direttamente al/la docente titolare dell'insegnamento, con un preavviso non inferiore ad una settimana dall'avvio della sessione d'esame, gli strumenti compensativi concordati con l'Unita Special Needs, al fine di permettere al/la docente la declinazione piu idonea in riferimento alla specifica tipologia di esame.