78814 - Environmental Physics

Learning outcomes

The student learns the theoretical bases for the use of the instruments necessary for the control and detection of physical phenomena in the monitoring of the living and working environment.

Course contents

Microclimate

The main microclimatic parameters. Temperature, thermometric scales, thermal expansion, heat transmission, specific and absolute humidity, relative humidity. Properties of fluids, natural and artificial ventilation, wet and dry deposition, application of the box model to indoor environments. Climate warming and adaptation measurements. 

Sound waves and noise pollution

Definition of wave, source, medium, and propagation speed. Classification of waves. Physical quantities of a harmonic wave. Energy and energy density of a harmonic wave. Properties of sound waves: definitions and characteristics. Equivalent sound level. Units of measurement: bel, decibel, and phon. Auditory perception of the human ear. Effects of noise exposure. Italian legislation on environmental acoustics: limit values and acoustic zoning. Noise abatement plans. Acoustic descriptors. Occupational noise exposure: limit and action values, risk assessment, and measurement methods. Hearing personal protective equipment (PPE). Technical and organizational prevention and protection measures. Impulsive noise.

Non ionizing radiation

Electromagnetic waves: definition and main parameters. Characterization of the electromagnetic spectrum as a function of frequency and wavelength. Interaction with biological matter: description of thermal effects and resonance mechanisms (energy transfer). Notes on regulatory references.

Ionizing radiation

Definitions of the main physical quantities associated with dosimetry. Radioactive decay. Radiation shielding according to their type. Characterization of the type of radiation (electromagnetic and corpuscular waves). Natural and artificial ionizing radiation sources (radioactive material, x-ray tubes, accelerators). Radon gas in indoor environments. Exposition to radon indoor.

Readings/Bibliography

The slides will be available after each lecture on the course website. The lecturer will highlight recommended reading (for example, a chapter or article) for each lecture.

Teaching methods

Lectures integrated with seminars and/or webinars conducted by experts. Viewing of short videos available online.

Assessment methods

The exam is administered on a computer and consists of a quiz with multiple-choice questions and calculation exercises.
The exam is conducted, corrected, and graded using the Esami on Line platform (https://eol.unibo.it ).
The questions in the written exam cover the full content of the course.
In line with the learning objectives, the exam is designed to assess both knowledge acquisition and skill development (the latter especially through numerical exercises).
Each correct answer is awarded 1 point. Each blank or entirely incorrect answer is awarded 0 points. Partial points may be awarded for incomplete or partially correct answers.
The maximum score, obtained by answering all questions completely and correctly, is 32 (equal to “30 e lode”).

Students who need compensatory tools for reasons related to disabilities or specific learning disorders (SLD) can directly contact the Service for Students with Disabilities (disabilita@unibo.it) and the Service for Students with learning disabilities (dsa@unibo.it) to agree on the adoption of the most appropriate measures.

Teaching tools

Video projector.

 

Office hours

See the website of Serena Righi