27996 - General Physics T-1

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student has a good knowledge of classical mechanics (kinematics and dynamics, including systems of particles and rigid bodies) as well as of thermodynamics. He/she is able to apply this knowledge to the solution of exercises and problems of mechanics and thermodynamics of intermediate to advanced level.

Course contents

THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
Science and knowledge. The meaning of measurements. Physical quantities. The experimental method. Units of measurement and systems of units.

VECTOR QUANTITIES.

Vectors and scalars. Unit vectors. Sum, difference, and decomposition of vectors. Multiplication of vectors. Cartesian representation of vectors. Bound vectors (applied vectors). Moments of vectors. Vectors and physical laws.

THE MOTION OF BODIES FROM A KINEMATIC PERSPECTIVE.
Space and time. Motion and reference systems. Concept of a material point (point mass) and the representations of its motion. Displacement, velocity, and acceleration of a material point.
Study of rectilinear and circular motions. Simple and damped harmonic motion. Composition of harmonic motions. Definition of a rigid system.

 

DYNAMICS.
The search for the causes that generate the motion of bodies. Definition of force. Fundamental forces.

• The absence of forces and the principle of inertia. Inertia, inertial systems, and the first law of dynamics. Inertial mass.
• The second law of dynamics (Newton's second law). Motion in non-inertial systems and inertial forces (fictitious forces). Dynamics of a material point: momentum and angular momentum; central motions; the mathematical pendulum (simple pendulum).
• Study of the motion of systems of points: the concept of interaction; the third law of dynamics in Newton's formulation. Conservative statement of the third law of dynamics. Fundamental interactions in nature
  
• Gravitational interaction: Newton and the first unification of forces; gravitational mass and inertial mass. The motion of planets. Overview of electromagnetic, weak, and strong interactions and their unification.
• Gravitational interaction: Newton and the first unification of forces; gravitational mass and inertial mass. The motion of planets. Overview of electromagnetic, weak, and strong interactions and their unification.
• The cardinal equations of mechanics and the necessary and sufficient conditions to describe the motion of mechanical systems.
• The center of mass.
• Dynamics of rigid systems. Moment of inertia. The Huygens-Steiner theorem. Motion of a rigid body with a fixed axis. The physical pendulum.
• Work and energy: work done by a force on a material point. Power. The concept of energy. Relationship between work and motion. The work-energy theorem and kinetic energy for a material point. The gradient of a scalar field. The curl of a vector field. Conservative force fields and potential energy. The theorem of conservation of mechanical energy. The potential of the gravitational force field.
• Work and energy for a system of points. Expression of work and kinetic energy for a rigid system of points. Expression of kinetic energy for a rigid system. Potential energy for systems of points. Theorem of conservation of energy for systems. Systems of material points in the presence of conservative and non-conservative forces: the principle of conservation of energy.

Office hours

See the website of Simone Dall'Osso

See the website of Carlo Battilana