00405 - Physics

Learning outcomes

After completing this course, students have 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 kinematics and dynamics of systems under conservative forces and non; the effects of gravity on the bodies and the equilibrium conditions; some elementary aspects of  heat and thermodynamic processes; the electric and magnetic phenomena; the electromagnetic waves.

Course contents

Introduction. Description of a physical phenomenon. Units and dimensional equations. The International System: time, mass, length. Prefixes. Derived units. Dimensional equations.

Scalar and vector quantities. Representation of vectors into components in a reference system. Sum of vectors. Scalar and vector product of vectors. Uni-dimensional motion. Definition of velocity and speed. Acceleration. Motion with constant acceleration. Motions in three dimensions. Projectile motion.

Decomposition of motions along the axes of a reference frame. Trajectory. Range and maximum height of a projectile.

Circular motion. Angular velocity. Centripetal acceleration. Period and frequency.

Forces and motion. Newton's first law. Inertial reference systems. Vector nature of forces. Newton's second law. Unit of measure of force. Weight of a body. Some special forces: friction, reaction force. Newton's third law. Application of the friction force: the ​​limit speed.

Work and energy: definitions and units. Theorem of the kinetic energy. Elastic force and work of the elastic force (spring). Definition of power. Units of measurement. Potential energy. Non-conservative forces. Work and potential energy. Conservation of mechanical energy. Relationship between force and potential energy. Work done by the friction force. Extent of conservation of mechanical energy.

Particle systems. The center of mass. Rigid systems. II Newton's law for a rigid system. Internal and external forces. Momentum. Conservation of momentum. Center of gravity.

Angular velocity, centripetal and tangential accelerations. Moment of a force. Definition of angular momentum. Conservation of angular momentum.

Gravitation. Newton's law. Gravitational potential energy. Escape velocity. Energy of a gravitationally bound system

Electric charges. Quantization of electric charge. Conductors and insulators. Coulomb's law. Definition of electric field. Electric dipole. Electric dipole moment. Definition of flux of a vector. Charge density. Gauss' law for the electric field.  Electric potential. Potential difference. The zero of potential.  Equipotential surfaces. Capacitors and capacity. Ideal capacitor.

Electric currents: definition and measurement units. Current density. Resistance. Joule Law. Electrical circuits. Resistors in series and parallel. F.e.m. generators.

The permanent magnets. Effect of magnetic field on the motion of electric charges. Lorentz force. Primary magnetic field: magnetic field sources. Biot-Savart. Gauss' law for the magnetic field. Definition of the circuitry. Ampere's law. Magnetic flux. Faraday's law. Electromotive force induced. Maxwell term.

Electromagnetic waves. Energy flux. Polarization: circular, linear. Polaroid. Huygens principle. Maxwell's equations in vacuum.

Geometrical optics: light spectrum. Refractive index. Reflection and refraction. Total reflection and critical angle. Chromatic dispersion. Devices, optical mirrors, lenses and diopters. Magnification. Focal length. Image building. Thin lenses. Chromatic dispersion.

Interference. Calculation of maximum and minimum of interference. The two-slit experiment. Interference Intensity. Diffraction: maximum and minimum intensity. Resolving power.

Readings/Bibliography

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

D.G. Giancoli. Fisica. CEA

Ferrari-Luci-Mariani-Pelissetto. Fisica. Casa Ed. Idelson-Gnocchi (Volume 1 + Volume 2) 

R. Chapman - Physics for Geologists - Taylor & Francis Group, Routledge US

Teaching methods

Lectures and exercitations

Assessment methods

Written and oral

Teaching tools

Blackboard

Links to further information

http://ishtar.df.unibo.it/Uni/bo/scienze/all/spurio/stuff/fisicageo.htm

Office hours

See the website of Maurizio Spurio

See the website of Lorenzo Rinaldi