- Docente: Angelo Carbone
- Credits: 6
- SSD: FIS/01
- Language: Italian
- Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
- Campus: Bologna
- Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Automation Engineering (cod. 6671)
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course, students have basic knowledge of electromagnetism both in vacuum and in matter, useful for applications to be studied in forthcoming teaching programs. Furthermore, students possess main concepts of vector field analysis. In particular, students are able to -Understand the physical meaning of fundamental law of electromagnetism. -Apply general concepts to particular cases in order to solve simple problems.
Course contents
Electrostatics
- Electric charge, Coulomb’s law, and the principle of superposition.
- The electrostatic field in vacuum, its divergence and curl (differential formulation). Gauss’s theorem and Stokes’s theorem (integral formulation).
- Electrostatic potential, Poisson’s and Laplace’s equations.
- The electric dipole.
- Electric capacitance and capacitors.
- Work and electrostatic energy.
- Examples of electric field calculations with and without Gauss’s theorem.
- Dielectrics. The field of a polarized dielectric. Polarization charges.
- Electric susceptibility, permittivity, and dielectric constant.
- Linear dielectrics.
- Electrostatic energy in dielectric systems.
Steady Electric Current
- Moving charges and electric current.
- Current density vector.
- Charge conservation and the general continuity equation.
- Ohmic conductors and Kirchhoff’s laws.
- Electromotive force (EMF).
- RC circuits.
Stationary and Non-Stationary Magnetic Field
- Biot-Savart law and the magnetic field B in vacuum.
- Ampère’s law in integral and differential form.
- Examples of magnetic field calculations using Biot-Savart’s law and Ampère’s law.
- The B field in matter.
- Generators of electromotive force and induced EMF.
- Faraday’s law and Lenz’s law.
- Time-varying current circuits.
Maxwell's Equations and Electromagnetic Waves
- Displacement current and the symmetries of electromagnetism equations.
- Maxwell’s equations as solutions of electromagnetic waves.
- Poynting’s theorem.
Readings/Bibliography
Any university-level textbook on Electromagnetism is suitable for the course. It is strongly recommended to study the topics using a textbook, in addition to the lecture notes and the material available on the institutional website virtuale.unibo.it [https://virtuale.unibo.it/course/view.php?id=19146 ], where all exercises proposed during the lectures are provided.
For students who did not attend the course, it is recommended to use the syllabus and the material available on virtuale.unibo.it [https://virtuale.unibo.it/course/view.php?id=19146 ] to prepare for the exam.
Below are some recommended textbooks:
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S. Focardi, I. Massa, and A. Uguzzoni: Fisica Generale - Elettromagnetismo, Casa Editrice Ambrosiana;
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C. Mencuccini, A. Silvestrini: Fisica II, Liguori Editore (chapters I–VII and IX);
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P. Mazzoldi, M. Nigro, C. Voci: Elementi di Fisica - Elettromagnetismo e Onde, EdiSES Publishing (chapters 1–10);
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Giancoli: Physics 2, Casa Editrice Ambrosiana (chapters 21–31);
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Resnick, Halliday, Krane: Physics 2, Casa Editrice Ambrosiana.
Teaching methods
The course takes place during the second term and is a continuation of the General Physics T-1 course. It is therefore recommended to have a good knowledge of General Physics T-1, as well as Calculus I and Calculus II.
The General Physics T-2 course consists of in-class lectures delivered using a “virtual blackboard,” i.e., a tablet. Everything covered during the lectures is made available to students. In addition to theoretical aspects, exercises are also proposed to help students prepare for the final assessment.
Attendance is strongly recommended as it facilitates the learning process of concepts and notions. However, it does not directly affect the final grade.
Assessment methods
The final assessment consists of a two-hour written exam followed by an oral exam lasting approximately 20 minutes.
During the written exam, students are required to solve open-ended exercises (with numerical or symbolic answers) on topics covered in the course. During the exam, consulting books or notes, using electronic devices or mobile phones is NOT ALLOWED. The use of a calculator is permitted. If the written exam is deemed sufficient (equal to or greater than 18/30), the result remains valid for TWO CONSECUTIVE EXAM SESSIONS.
To access the oral exam, students must have obtained a grade of at least 18/30 in the written exam. The oral exam starts with a review of the written test and continues with a discussion of course topics. The oral exam must be taken WITHIN THE EXAM SESSION FOLLOWING THE WRITTEN TEST.
The final grade is the weighted average of the written and oral exam results. If they wish, students may reject the proposed grade and decide to retake the exam (either just the oral or both the written and oral exams).
The exam schedule is published well in advance on AlmaEsami [https://almaesami.unibo.it/almaesami/welcome.htm ].
Students wishing to take the exam must register on the exam list (both for the written and oral exams) available online at AlmaEsami [https://almaesami.unibo.it/almaesami/welcome.htm ].
Please remember to always bring a valid ID document.
Teaching tools
Students have access to everything the instructor covers during lectures on the “virtual blackboard,” available on Virtuale [virtuale.unibo.it], as well as the solutions to numerous exercises. All past exam papers with their corresponding solutions are also available on Virtuale [virtuale.unibo.it].
Students with Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD) or temporary/permanent disabilities are advised to contact the University Office responsible in a timely manner (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en ). The office will be responsible for proposing any necessary accommodations to the students concerned. These accommodations must be submitted to the instructor for approval at least 15 days in advance, and will be evaluated in light of the learning objectives of the course.
Office hours
See the website of Angelo Carbone