00405 - Physics

Learning outcomes

After completing this course, the student has basic knowledge of
physical phenomena, with particular attention to geological systems
and processes. In particular, those necessary for an experimental
understanding of physical phenomena that involve interaction with
matter. The student is familiar with: - kinematics and dynamics of
systems under conservative and non-conservative forces; - gravitation and physical properties of the Earth (mass, density); - some aspects of the behaviour of fluids, heat and thermodynamic processes; - electric and magnetic phenomena, waves and optics.

Course contents

Description of a physical phenomenon. Units and dimensional
equations. The International System. Scalar and vector
quantities. Representation of vectors into components. Sum of
vectors. Scalar and vector product of vectors.

Unidimensional motion. Velocity and acceleration. Motion with constant acceleration. Motion in more dimensions. Trajectory. Uniform circular motion. Angular velocity. Centripetal acceleration.

Forces. Newton's laws of motion. Inertial reference systems. Weight
of a body. Friction. Work and energy. Kinetic energy. Potential
energy. Conservative and non-conservative forces. Conservation of
mechanical energy.

Systems of particles. Center of mass. Rigid systems. Momentum. Angular momentum. Gravitation. Newton's law of gravitation. Gravitational potential energy.

Fluids. Density and pressure. Pascal's principle. Archimedes's
principle. Motion of fluids. Viscosity. Kinetic theory of
gas. Temperature. Internal energy. Ideal gas. Laws of
thermodynamics. Thermodynamic transformations.

Electric charges. Quantization of electric charge. Conductors and
insulators. Coulomb's law. Definition of electric field. Electric
dipole. Charge density.

Electric potential. Potential difference. Equipotential
surfaces. Electric capacity.

Electric currents: definition and units. Current density. Resistance. Joule's Law. Electrical circuits. Resistors in series and in parallel. Electromotive force generators.

Magnetism. Effect of magnetic field on the motion of electric
charges. Lorentz's force. Magnetic field sources. Biot-Savart
law. Faraday's law. Induced electromotive force.

Waves. Electromagnetic waves. Fundamentals of optics.

Readings/Bibliography

The main reference textbook is:
D. Halliday, R. Resnick, J. Walker - Fondamenti di Fisica - Casa ed. Ambrosiana Milano (Volume unico oppure Volume 1 + Volume 2)

As an alternative, other books can be used by the student. For instance:
D.G. Giancoli - Fisica - Casa Editrice Ambrosiana
R.A. Serway, J. W. Jewett Jr - Principi di Fisica - EdiSES


A useful complement can be:
R. Chapman - Physics for Geologists - Taylor & Francis Group, Routledge US

Teaching methods

Lectures and exercises.

Assessment methods

Written and oral. The learning process during the course will be verified with two partial written tests. Students with a sufficient scores in these two tests are directly admitted to the oral examination. The written assessment consists of two or three exercises similar to those carried out during the course. To access the oral, a sufficient written assessment is required. The oral consists of two or three questions on topics presented during the course.

Teaching tools

Blackboard and projector

Office hours

See the website of Carlo Nipoti

See the website of Francesca Pozzi