58200 - Applied Physics

Learning outcomes

After completing this module the student knows the physical and methodological foundations of the scientific method for medical applications. In particular, he/she is able to: acquire the experimental data in biomedicine; analyze data and develop predictive models; verify experimentally the models.

Course contents

Scientific Method

• Measurements and errors
  Introduction to the scientific method; physical quantities; direct and indirect measurements; units of measure; statistical and systematic errors; propagation of errors; precision and accuracy; dimensional analysis
• Theories and models
  Analytical description of measures; laws of Nature; problem-solving methods in Physics; introduction to Classical Physics
  

Mechanics

• Kinematics
  Position, distance and displacement; velocity, acceleration; uniform linear motion; uniformly accelerated motion; scalar and vector quantities; motion in two dimensions
• Dynamics 
  Force and mass; Newtons’s three laws of motion; normal forces; frictional forces; ropes and springs; circular motion
  
• Energy 
  Work; kinetic energy; conservative and non-conservative forces; potential energy; conservation of energy
• Collisions
  Momentum; impulse; elastic and inelastic collisions; center of mass
• Rotational kinematics
  Angular velocity and acceleration; rolling motion; angular kinetic energy; moment of intertia
• Rotational dynamics
  Twisting moment; angular momentum; rotational work; equilibrium
• Gravitation
  Newton’s law of universal gravitation; Kepler’s laws of planetary motion; gravitational potential energy
• Oscillations and waves
  Oscillations and waves: harmonic oscillator; pendulum; waves
• Fluids
  Density; pressure; Archimedes’ principle; Bernoulli’s equation
  

Thermodynamics

• Temperature and heat
  Temperature; thermal expansion; heat; specific heat capacity; thermal conduction, convection and irradiation; kinetic theory; latent heat; phase transitions
• Thermodynamics
  The three laws of thermodynamics; thermodynamic processes; heat engines; entropy

Electromagnetism

• Electrostatics
  Electric charges; electrical insulators and conductors; Coulomb’s law; electric field; electric potential; capacitors and dielectrics
• Electric current
  Electric current; resistors; Ohm’s law
• Magnetism
  Magnetic field; magnetic forces; Ampère’s circuital law; magnetism in matter; Faraday’s law
• Elettromagnetic waves
  Production and propagation of electromagnetic waves; electromagnetic spectrum

Readings/Bibliography

Recommended book: 
- Fondamenti di Fisica 6/Ed. con MyLab, James S. Walker; Pearson

Alternatively:
- FISICA Principi e Applicazioni 2/Ed., Douglas C. Giancoli; Casa Editrice Ambrosiana
- Elementi di Fisica in Medicina e Biologia, G. Castellani, D. Remondini; Ed. Bononia University Press

Teaching methods

Lectures with exercises on the topics covered.

Assessment methods

The assessment consists in a written examination and an optional oral interview. The written test, lasting 2 hours, consists of solving 6 problems concerning the topics of the course program. The use of calculators is allowed. Each problem will be rated from 0 to 5 points (0 if unsolved or totally wrong; from 1 to 4 points if partially solved; 5 points if correct). The optional oral interview, lasting about 15 minutes, aims to assess the knowledge of the topics covered in the program, including demonstrations, and the student's exhibition quality. A successful oral interview can increase the score of the written examination, up to a maximum of 20%. If the student fails the oral interview, the score of the written examination will be kept unchanged. "Lode" will be considered only in exceptional cases, after passing both the written examination and the oral interview with top scores. 

The final result is integrated with that of the Statistics test. The overall examination is considered passed if both tests are successful.

The FINAL SCORE of the integrated course will be calculated as arithmetic mean between the results of the Statistics and Applied Physics tests; if the arithmetic mean is not an integer, verbalizable, the rounding will be carried out considering as predominant the test relative to the teaching with the greatest number of credits (Applied Physics).

"Lode" will be recognized if at least in one course the student gets honors and in both courses the score achieved is 30/30.

 

Teaching tools

The slides of the lessons and other possible teaching materials are provided during the course at https://virtuale.unibo.it/course/view.php?id=21755

Office hours

See the website of Federico Marulli