28628 - General Physics T-B

Academic Year 2024/2025

  • Docente: Sirio Belli
  • Credits: 6
  • SSD: FIS/01
  • Language: Italian
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Civil Engineering (cod. 8888)

Learning outcomes

The aim of the course is to provide basic knowledge of general concepts in electromagnetism, both in vacuum and in conductors, and to teach the application of such concepts for the solution of  problems.

Course contents

Part I: Electrostatics

  • Introduction to electrostatics
  • Coulomb's law
  • Electrostatic field
  • Discrete and continuous charge distribution
  • Gauss's law
  • Divergence of the electric field
  • Electric potential
  • Curl of the electric field
  • Conductors
  • Capacitors
  • Electrostatics in matter
  • Currents and circuits

Part II: The Electromagnetic Field

  • Introduction to magnetostatics
  • Magnetic field
  • Interaction between charges and magnetic field
  • Coils and magnets
  • Magnetostatics in matter
  • Electromagnetic induction
  • Mutual and auto induction
  • Maxwell's equations
  • Electromagnetic waves

Readings/Bibliography

S. Focardi, I.G. Massa, A. Uguzzoni, M. Villa, Fisica generale - Elettromagnetismo, Seconda Edizione, CEA.

Teaching methods

  • Lectures
  • Exercises
  • Simulations to illustrate key ideas and experiments

Assessment methods

Written exam (mandatory)

There are six exams in one academic year: three in the winter session, two in the summer session, and one in the fall session. Each written exam includes both numerical exercises and open theory questions. The exam is 2-hour long and the use of pocket calculators is allowed, but it is not possible to bring textbooks or notes.

The highest grade achievable in the written test is 28. If the grade is higher than 18, the student can decide (via email communication with the teacher) either to confirm the grade or to try to improve the grade by taking the oral exam. If the grade of the written exam is less than 18, it will not be possible to take the oral exam.

Oral exam (optional)

The oral exam consists of theory questions and simple problems. Long calculations and complex derivations will not be requested. The primary goal is to verify the student's comprehension of the fundamental concepts of electromagnetism.

In general, with the oral exam it is possible to increase the grade obtained in the written exam by a margin that goes from zero to +5 points; however, a particularly poor oral exam may also lead to a decrease of the grade obtained in the written exam.

Teaching tools

Tutor.

Office hours

See the website of Sirio Belli