28000 - General Physics T-2

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 superposition principle.

• Electrostatic field in vacuum: divergence and curl (differential formulation).

• Gauss’s theorem and Stokes’s theorem (integral formulation).

• Electrostatic potential; Poisson’s and Laplace’s equations.

• Electric dipole.

• Electric capacitance and capacitors.

• Electrostatic work and energy.

• Examples of electric field calculations using direct integration and Gauss’s theorem.

• Dielectrics: polarization, polarization charges, and the electric field in matter.

• Electric susceptibility, permittivity, and dielectric constant.

• Linear dielectrics and electrostatic energy in dielectric systems.

Steady Electric Current

• Moving charges and electric current.

• Current density.

• Charge conservation and the continuity equation.

• Ohmic conductors and Kirchhoff’s laws.

• Electromotive force.

• RC circuits.

Magnetostatic Fields and Time-Varying Phenomena

• Biot–Savart law and the magnetic field in vacuum.

• Ampère’s law in integral and differential form.

• Examples of magnetic field calculations using the Biot–Savart and Ampère laws.

• Magnetic fields in matter.

• Sources of electromotive force and induced electromotive force.

• Faraday’s law and Lenz’s law.

• Time-varying current circuits.

Maxwell’s Equations and Electromagnetic Waves

• Displacement current and the symmetries of electromagnetism.

• Maxwell’s equations.

• Electromagnetic waves as solutions of Maxwell’s equations.

• Poynting’s theorem.

Readings/Bibliography

Textbooks and References

Any university-level textbook on Electromagnetism is suitable for this course. Students are strongly encouraged to complement their study of lecture notes and the material available on the Virtuale platform (virtuale.unibo.it) with a standard reference textbook.

Students who do not attend the lectures are particularly advised to make use of the course syllabus, teaching materials, and exercises available on the Virtuale platform.

Recommended textbooks:

• S. Focardi, I. Massa, A. Uguzzoni, Fisica Generale – Elettromagnetismo, Casa Editrice Ambrosiana.

• C. Mencuccini, A. Silvestrini, Fisica II, Liguori Editore (Chapters I–VII and IX).

• P. Mazzoldi, M. Nigro, C. Voci, Elementi di Fisica – Elettromagnetismo e Onde, EdiSES (Chapters 1–10).

• D. Giancoli, Fisica 2, Casa Editrice Ambrosiana (Chapters 21–31).

• D. Halliday, R. Resnick, K. Krane, Fisica 2, Casa Editrice Ambrosiana.

Teaching methods

The course is offered during the second teaching term and represents the natural continuation of General Physics T-1. Students are therefore expected to have a solid understanding of the topics covered in General Physics T-1, as well as the fundamental concepts of Mathematical Analysis I and II.

Teaching activities consist of in-person lectures delivered using a digital “virtual blackboard” on a tablet. All material presented during the lectures is made available to students through the Virtuale platform.

In addition to the theoretical aspects, the course includes the discussion and solution of exercises designed to prepare students for the final examination.

Although attendance is not mandatory and does not directly affect the final grade, it is strongly recommended.

Assessment methods

The final examination consists of a two-hour written test followed by an oral examination lasting approximately 20 minutes.

Written Examination

The written examination consists of solving open-ended problems requiring numerical and/or analytical solutions on the topics covered in the course.

During the examination, the use of books, notes, electronic devices, and mobile phones is not permitted. The use of a calculator is allowed.

A grade of 18/30 or higher is required to pass the written examination. The result of the written test remains valid for two consecutive examination sessions.

Oral Examination

Students may take the oral examination only after obtaining a grade of at least 18/30 in the written test.

The oral examination begins with a discussion of the written test and continues with questions covering the course topics. The oral examination must be taken within the examination session immediately following the session in which the written test was passed.

Final Grade

The final grade is determined as a weighted average of the written and oral examination grades.

Students may decline the proposed final grade and choose to retake either the oral examination only or both parts of the examination.

The examination schedule is published well in advance on the AlmaEsami platform. Registration for both the written and oral examinations must be completed online through AlmaEsami.

Students are required to bring a valid form of identification to all examinations.

The use of AI is prohibited during assessments. Any use of AI constitutes a violation of academic integrity.

 

Teaching tools

Through the Virtuale platform, students have access to all material presented during lectures using the virtual blackboard, as well as a large collection of worked exercises and past examination papers complete with solutions.

Students with Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD) or Disabilities

Students with specific learning disabilities (SLD) or with temporary or permanent disabilities are encouraged to contact the relevant University support office as early as possible:

https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it

Any accommodations or compensatory measures will be proposed by the University's support services and must be submitted for the instructor’s approval at least 15 days before the examination date. Such measures will be evaluated in accordance with the learning objectives of the course.

Office hours

See the website of Fabio Ferrari