16726 - General Physics A

Learning outcomes

This course aims to give the students the knowledge of the basic concepts of the scientific - experimental method. In particular the student will learn the main physics concepts deriving from the Principles of Classical Mechanics, such as the conservation principles. The students have to reach knowledge of the scientific methods and of the natural laws so that they can solve problems in a quantitative form.

Course contents

- Elements of vector calculus.

- Kinematics
Kinematics of a point particle, reference frames. Position, velocity and acceleration as vectors. Various kinds of motion in one dimension; circular motions. Armonic motion. Kinematics of mechanical systems. The fundamental formula of the rigid body kinematics. Angular speed. Relative motion of frames and transformations of position, velocity and accelelation.

- Dynamics
Forces and bond reactions. Static measurement of forces. Elements of statics (cardinal equations, center of gravity) and of friction between physical bodies.
First and second principle of dynamics. Inertial mass. Momentum and angular momentum.
Newton's law of gravity. The fundamental problem of dynamics. Armonic motion; forced and dumped armonic oscillator. Isolated systems.
Third principle of dynamics. Application to systems of point particles. Conservation of momentum and angular momentum. Collision problems.
Cardinal equations of dynamics. Properties of the center of mass. Moment of inertia. Huygens-Steiner theorem.

- Work and Energy
Work of a single force and of a system of forces. Work - energy theorem. Koenig theorem. Properties of kinetic energy. Work done by the weight force. Positional an conservative forces. Conditions for a field force to be conservative. Potential and potential energy. Conservation of mechanical energy.
The different kinds of equilibrium.

Readings/Bibliography

A. BERTIN, M. POLI, A. VITALE
FONDAMENTI DI MECCANICA
ESCULAPIOEDITORE,(PROGETTO LEONARDO) BOLOGNA
A. BERTIN. S. DE CASTRO N. SEMPRINI CESARI,A. VITALE A. ZOCCOLI PROBLEMI D'ESAME DI FISICA GENERALE
ESCULAPIO EDITORE (PROGETTO LEONARDO) BOLOGNA

Teaching methods

Class lectures supported by PC slides, short film prolections and Java applets. Exercises and problems sessions.

Assessment methods

Written examination to be passed before the final oral examination.
The oral examination must be passed within 6 months from the passed written one. If needed, more trials may be done within this period.  The examinations produce a partial mark that will be combined with the one obtained in the General Physics B part, to produce the final mark of the General Physics Course.

Teaching tools

Knowledge of basic elements of trigonometry, elementary geometry and mathematical analysis (limits, derivatives, integrals on functions of one or more variables) is required. Part of the lessons is devoted to exercises. Tutorial activity is foreseen.

Links to further information

http://www.bo.infn.it/herab/people/piccinini/FG_LA.html

Office hours

See the website of Maurizio Piccinini