Learning objectives
The course has been designed to provide an introductory basis for other major degree fields including Chemistry, Biology, Physiology, Biochemistry, etc., as well as the physical phenomenology on which they are based or which they make frequent use of. The course will also provide the conceptual basis for understanding a number of major technologies that with increasing frequency are used by doctors and technologists such as: microscopes, transducers for ultrasound equipment, laser systems, radiology equipment and NMR, radiation detectors, etc.
Course unit content
Introduction: physical magnitudes and their measurement; dimensions, units of measure.
Kinematics in one dimension: velocity and acceleration; motion with constant acceleration.
Kinematics in two dimensions: scalars and vectors; projectile motion.
Dynamics: Newton's three laws; weight and normal force; friction; inclined plane.
Circular motion: kinetics and dynamics of uniform circular motion; centrifugation; artificial satellites.Work and energy: work; kinetic energy and work-energy principle; potential energy; conservative forces; energy transformations and energy conservation.
Momentum: Momentum and its conservation; elastic and inelastic collisions; centre of mass and barycentre; translational motion.
Rotation: angular quantities; kinematics of a uniformly accelerated rotation; rolling motion; twisting moment; rotational dynamics; rotational kinetic energy; conservation of the angular moment.
Fluids: density and specific weight; pressure in fluids; Pascal's principle; Archimedes' principle; Bernoulli's principle; viscosity and Poiseuille's law; surface tension and capillarity.
Vibrations and waves: simple harmonic motion; energy of simple harmonic motion; pendulum; damped harmonic motion; forced vibrations and resonance; wave motions; energy carried by waves; reflection and interference; refraction and diffraction.
Sound: characteristics of sound; acoustic impedance; loudness; noise and colour of sound; interference and beats; Doppler effect; resonance.
Temperature and heat: temperature and thermometers; zero principle of thermodynamics; perfect gas law; Avogadro's number; diffusion; internal energy of ideal gas; calorimetry; heat transmission.
Thermodynamics: first principle of thermodynamics; second principle of thermodynamics; thermal machines; entropy.
Electromagnetism: atoms and molecules; electric field and conductors; electric potential and electric field; electrical capacity; electric currents; electrical resistance; electric power; magnetic poles; magnetic field; electromotive force; currents in magnetic field.
Bibliography
Fisica di D.C.Giancoli, Casa Editrice Ambrosiana
Fondamenti di Fisica di D.Halliday et al., Casa Editrice Ambrosiana
