19704 - General Physics B

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student will have acquired the basic concepts of General Physics. In particular, the student:

• understands the laws of Electromagnetism in a vacuum and the principles of Classical Thermodynamics;

• is able to handle these concepts using the language of mathematical analysis, vector calculus, and integral calculus;

• is aware of the limits of validity of Classical Physics;

• has the scientific and technical methodology necessary to quantitatively address problems in Classical Physics.

Course contents

Part I: ELECTROMAGNETISM

Introduction. Brief historical introduction to electromagnetism; notes on the microscopic model of the atom and matter.

Electrostatics. Electric charge, electrification phenomena and electrostatic induction, Coulomb's force, electric field, Gauss's theorem for the electric field and its applications. Capacitors and capacitance. Electrostatic potential energy and potential.

Motion of electric charges in electric fields. Electric current. Ohm’s laws. Elements of electric circuits.

Magnetism. Magnetic field and its sources. Lorentz force. Motion of electric charges in magnetic fields. Applications. Magnetic forces on parallel wires. Current-carrying loops. Magnetic field generated by electric currents, Laplace’s laws. Interaction between current-carrying wires, Biot–Savart law. Gauss’s theorem for magnetism, Ampère’s law. Loops as magnetic dipoles, magnetic moment.

Electromagnetic induction. Faraday–Neumann–Lenz law. Energy of the magnetic field.

Summary of electromagnetism in Maxwell’s equations. Notes on electromagnetic waves. Divergence theorem and Stokes' theorem. Formulation of Maxwell’s equations in local form.

 

Part II: THERMODYNAMICS

Temperature and thermal equilibrium (zeroth law of thermodynamics).

The concept of heat. Heat capacity and specific heat. Calorimetry and phase transitions. Heat transfer.

Gas laws. Equation of state for ideal gases. Notes on kinetic theory.

Thermodynamic transformations. The concept of thermodynamic work. Internal energy. The first law of thermodynamics. The second law of thermodynamics: heat engines and Kelvin’s statement; refrigerators and Clausius’s statement; reversible engines and efficiency; Carnot cycle and Carnot engine.

The concept of entropy: entropy and disorder. The entropy increase principle as a further statement of the second law.

Readings/Bibliography

It is recommended to adopt at least one reference textbook, to complement the notes taken during lectures.

Recommended textbook for the Electromagnetism section:

D.C. Giancoli, FISICA 2, Elettromagnetismo - Ottica,

Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, Third edition or later

• includes a collection of exercises for each chapter

• includes sets of theory questions

• online resources available for students
  

 

For the Thermodynamics section, the textbook adopted for FISICA Generale A can be used.

 

The topics covered in the course are included in all General Physics textbooks that cover Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Electromagnetism, and Optics (university-level texts that make use of differential and integral calculus). For example:

• Hugh D. Young, Roger A. Freedman, A. Lewis Ford, "PRINCIPI DI FISICA, vol 1. Meccanica, Onde e Termodinamica", Pearson
  [used in previous academic years]

• Hugh D. Young, Roger A. Freedman, A. Lewis Ford, "PRINCIPI DI FISICA, vol 2. Elettromagnetismo e Ottica", Pearson
  [used in previous academic years]

• G. Vannini, Gettys, Fisica 1, Meccanica e termodinamica, McGraw Hill Education

• G. Vannini, Gettys, Fisica 2, Elettromagnetismo e onde, McGraw Hill Education

 

For additional practice, the electronic versions of the aforementioned books are recommended, as they contain end-of-chapter summary exercises. A set of supplementary exercises will also be made available by the instructor on the course’s Virtuale platform.

Teaching methods

Lectures are primarily conducted using the blackboard or a digital tablet and consist of theoretical explanations accompanied by applications and practical exercises. Exercises and derivations may be carried out entirely on the board.
These activities aim to support the understanding of theoretical concepts and to develop the methodology required to quantitatively approach physics problems.

A tutor will be available to students to supplement the lectures with exercise sessions and to support their learning process.
The tutoring sessions will focus on summary exercises covering key topics, such as the Electric Field, Magnetic Field, and Thermodynamics.

Teaching tools

Theoretical Lectures.
Lectures are delivered at the blackboard or with the support of slide presentations projected from a computer onto a digital whiteboard.

Exercise Sessions.
Throughout the course, dedicated exercise sessions are scheduled on the topics covered during the theoretical lectures. During these sessions, discussion among students, and between students and the instructor, is encouraged. A teaching tutor is in charge of the exercise sessions, which are held in addition to the regular lecture hours.

Teaching Materials.
All course materials (slides shown during lectures, exercise texts, and solutions) are made available to students online on UniBO’s Virtuale (Virtual Learning Environment) platform. Access is granted to all students enrolled in the degree program using their student credentials.

Office hours

See the website of Francesca Bellini