D0119 - FISICA (B)

Learning outcomes

The Physics course aims to provide students with the fundamental principles of physics necessary for understanding natural phenomena and biological processes, with particular emphasis on applications in the biomedical field.

The course is organized into teaching units, and the specific learning objectives will be updated in the online Course Guides (Web Guides) in accordance with the relevant ministerial guidelines.

Course contents

Introduction to Methods in Physics

• Scientific notation.
• Physical quantities, dimensions, and units of measurement. The International System of Units (SI). Conversion between units of measurement and estimation of orders of magnitude. Extensive and intensive quantities. Scalar and vector quantities.
• Elementary trigonometric functions.
• Vectors: definition, components, and operations (examples: addition, subtraction, dot product, and cross product).

Mechanics

• Kinematics of a particle: definition of position and displacement as functions of time. Concept of trajectory and equation of motion. Average velocity and instantaneous velocity, average acceleration and instantaneous acceleration. Study of rectilinear and curvilinear motion, with significant examples: uniform rectilinear motion, uniformly accelerated motion, free fall, and projectile motion. Uniform circular motion and centripetal acceleration.
• Dynamics of a particle: analysis of interactions between bodies and formulation of Newton’s three laws of motion. Physical meaning of the law of inertia and conditions for static equilibrium (first law). Relationship between net force and acceleration (second law). Action and reaction between interacting bodies (third law). Application to translational equilibrium. Definition of force and main examples: weight, gravitational force, contact forces, friction (static and kinetic), tension, elastic forces, and Hooke’s law for ideal springs.
• Work and energy: concept of mechanical work as the effect of a force acting on a body. Definition of power and its relationship with the work performed over a time interval. Work–kinetic energy theorem. Work and comparison between conservative and non-conservative forces. Definition of potential energy. Examples: gravitational potential energy and elastic potential energy. Mechanical energy as the sum of kinetic and potential energy. Principle of conservation of mechanical energy in ideal systems.
• Momentum: introduction to the concepts of linear momentum and impulse. Principle of conservation of momentum in isolated systems.
• Systems of bodies: definition of the center of mass and description of its motion. Characteristics of rigid bodies. Torque and conditions for rotational equilibrium. Levers in the human body.
  

Fluid Mechanics

• States of matter: fundamental characteristics of fluids compared with solids. Definition of pressure and density and their role in the static and dynamic behavior of fluids.
• Hydrostatics: Stevin’s law for pressure variation with depth in liquids; Pascal’s principle for the transmission of pressure in incompressible fluids; Archimedes’ principle describing the buoyant force exerted by a fluid on an immersed body. Analysis of floating conditions. Instruments and methods for pressure measurement (Torricelli’s experiment, manometer).
• Fluid dynamics: concepts of flow and flow rate; distinction between steady and turbulent flow, with particular emphasis on laminar flow. Continuity equation and conservation of mass in ideal fluids. Bernoulli’s theorem and applications to blood circulation (stenosis and aneurysm).
• Real fluids and viscosity: analysis of laminar flow, parabolic velocity profile, concept of velocity gradient. Poiseuille’s law and hydraulic resistances in series and parallel.
• Surface phenomena: surface tension and its effects on small quantities of liquid. Capillary phenomena and the behavior of fluid interfaces, both planar and curved. Curvature pressure and its qualitative description through Laplace’s law.
  

Mechanical Waves

• Mechanical waves: introduction to the nature of mechanical waves as phenomena involving the propagation of energy and disturbances through a material medium. Harmonic oscillator as the basic model for wave generation. Definition of frequency, period, angular frequency, and wavelength. Wave propagation speed and the relationship among wave parameters. Wave equation for simple harmonic waves. Examples of one-dimensional waves: transverse waves on a string and longitudinal waves such as sound waves in fluids.
• Principle of superposition and interference.
• Energy transported by waves: concept of energy associated with a mechanical wave. Power transmitted by a wave in an elastic medium. Wave intensity as a measurable physical quantity related to the energy transported per unit area and per unit time. Inverse-square law.
• Sound waves: propagation of sound through different media, with particular emphasis on the speed of sound. Relationship between sound intensity and sound perception. Definition of sound intensity level in decibels.
• Doppler effect: qualitative description.

Thermodynamics

• Fundamental concepts: definition of system and surroundings. Thermodynamic variables (pressure, volume, temperature) and thermodynamic state. State functions. Temperature and temperature scales. Ideal gases and the equation of state.
• Heat and heat capacity: energy transfer in the form of heat. Definition of heat capacity and specific heat, with reference to ideal gases. Phase transitions (melting, evaporation, condensation) and latent heat. Calorimetry.
• Heat transfer mechanisms: thermal conduction, convection, and radiation.
• First law of thermodynamics: definition and physical meaning. Internal energy, heat, and work. Application of the first law to thermodynamic processes. Reversible and irreversible processes. Standard thermodynamic processes in ideal gases: isothermal, isochoric, isobaric, and adiabatic transformations, with qualitative comparison of their behavior.
• Second law of thermodynamics: fundamental statements and the concept of irreversibility. Thermodynamic cycles: definition and operation. Heat engines, efficiency, and the Carnot cycle. Entropy as a state function, its macroscopic implications, and its statistical interpretation. Relationship between entropy variation and the natural direction of thermodynamic processes.

Electricity and Magnetism

• Electric charge and interactions: fundamental properties of electric charge, units of measurement, and conservation of charge. Interaction between point charges and Coulomb’s law. Definition of the electric field and its representation through field lines. Electric field generated by a point charge or by a distribution of point charges. Motion of a charge in a uniform electric field.
• Electric energy and electric potential: potential energy associated with a distribution of charges. Definition of electric potential and potential difference. Conservation of energy for a charge moving in an electric field.
• Conductors and dielectrics (insulators): qualitative description of electrostatic induction and polarization phenomena.
• Electric current: direct current, electric current intensity, ideal voltage source, and applied potential difference. Conduction in ohmic conductors. Ohm’s laws, electrical resistance, and resistivity of materials. Electrical power dissipated through the Joule effect. Resistors connected in series and parallel.
• Capacitance and capacitors: concept of electrical capacitance. Capacitance of a parallel-plate capacitor and the effect of inserting a dielectric. Energy stored in a charged capacitor. Capacitors connected in series and parallel.
• Magnetic field: origin of magnetic fields from electric currents (Oersted’s experiment). Lorentz force acting on a moving charge and on a current-carrying wire. Circular motion of an electric charge in a uniform magnetic field.
• Electromagnetic induction: variation of magnetic flux and generation of induced electromotive force.

Radiation Physics

• Electromagnetic radiation: wave nature of electromagnetic waves as combinations of oscillating electric and magnetic fields perpendicular to each other; fundamental characteristics (wavelength, frequency, propagation speed, amplitude, and wave intensity).
• Electromagnetic spectrum: subdivision of the spectrum into regions (radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays, gamma rays), in order of increasing frequency and decreasing wavelength.
• Quantization of energy: concept of the photon as the quantum of energy associated with electromagnetic radiation; relationship between photon energy and frequency.
• Absorption of electromagnetic radiation: Lambert–Beer law.
• Radioactivity and radioactive decay: definition of unstable nuclei and the concept of radioactive isotopes. Activity and the law of radioactive decay, half-life. Main types of radioactive decay (alpha, beta, gamma) and the associated nuclear transformations.
• Ionizing and non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation: distinction based on the energy carried by the radiation relative to the ionization energy of atoms. Examples of non-ionizing radiation (radio waves, microwaves, infrared) and ionizing radiation (X-rays, gamma rays).
• Optics: laws of reflection and refraction of light, concept of refractive index. Thin converging lens equation (conjugate points equation) and image formation.

Readings/Bibliography

• Velotta, R. Manuale di Fisica Generale per il semestre filtro. EdiSES.
• Serway-Jewett. Fondamenti di Fisica. EdiSES.
• Andrea Alessandrini “Fisica per Medicina” Per il semestre aperto di Medicina, Odontoiatria e Veterinaria. Zanichelli.
• Scannicchio, D. Fisica Generale e Biomedica (Manuale completo per il semestre filtro). EdiSES.
• Raffaele Tommasi “2000 quiz di Fisica a risposta multipla” Per il semestre aperto di Medicina, Odontoiatria e Veterinaria

Teaching methods

In-person and online lectures.

Exercises on lecture topics.

Assessment methods

Self-assessment sessions will be held.

Final exams will be administered on the dates and in the form communicated by the Ministry.

Teaching tools

Any teaching materials will be made available directly within the Zoom space used for lecturing.

Office hours

See the website of Daniel Remondini