28626 - General Physics T-A

Learning outcomes

After passing the final test, the student knows the general methodological aspects of physics (the important role of the experiments and the organization of the results in the framework of physics laws) and the fundamental concepts of the mechanics of the mass particle and of the systems of mass particles. Moreover the student is able to apply these basic concepts to solve problems and examples.

Course contents

Prerequisites

In order to favour a fruitful attendance of the course, the students MUST be familiar with:

• algebra
• trigonometry
• real functions
• differential and integral calculus.

This course DOES NOT foresee lectures on these subjects. Each student must remedy possible shortcomings with personal study.

Fluent spoken and written Italian is a necessary pre-requisite: all lectures and tutorials, and all study material will be in Italian.

Course Contents

Introduction: Physics and the experimental method. The physical quantities and their measure process. Units of measurement in physics. Systems of measurement, dimensions of a physical quantity, fundamental and derived physical quantities, the International System of Units (SI). Definition of reference frame.

Introduction to the vector calculus: Vector and scalar physical quantities. Vector definition and properties. Versor. Vector operations. Cartesian versors. Orthogonal Cartesian coordinate frame. Cartesian description of vectors. Vector operations in a Cartesian description. Polar coordinates in 2 and 3 dimensions (spherical and cylindrical). Versor derivative (Poisson formulae). Vector derivative. Partial derivatives. Nabla vector operator, gradient, divergence and curl in Cartesian coordinates. Definition of bound vector. Moment of a bound vector.

Kinematics (point mass): Definition of point mass, vector description of motion, “intrinsic” description of motion. Kinematics variables: position, velocity and acceleration vectors and their units. Motion classification. Uniform and uniformly accelerated linear motion. Motion of a falling body. Uniform and uniformly accelerated circular motion. Vector description of the circular motion and definition of the most relevant vector quantities. Angular velocity and acceleration. Connection between simple harmonic motion and uniform circular motion. Equation of the harmonic motion. Relative motion. Change of the reference frame. Transformation equations for position, velocity and acceleration. Galilean transformations.

Dynamics (point mass): Introduction. Force definition and units. Newton dynamics laws. Inertial reference frames. Momentum. Impuls of a force. Constraint forces. Weight. Dry friction, static and kinetic. Motion of a point mass on an inclined plane, with and without friction. Centripetal force: motion on a flat turn, on a banked turn with and without friction. Elastic force. Simple gravity pendulum. Conical pendulum with and without conical surface. Fluid friction. Work. Kinetic energy and theorem of the kinetic energy. Power. Work for weight, elastic force and friction. Potential energy. Potential energy, definition and evaluation for some forces. Conservative forces and properties. Force as gradient of the potential energy. Motion in a non-inertial reference frame. Fictitious forces. Definition of angular momentum and of torque. Theorem of the angular momentum. Central forces. Mechanical energy and angular momentum conservation in case of central forces.

Mechanics of point-mass systems: Definition of point-mass systems. Centre of mass and centre of gravity. Kinematical and dynamical variables for point-mass systems. Centre-of-mass theorems. Angular momentum theorem for a point-mass system. Dynamics equations for point-mass systems. Konig theorems: angular momentum and kinetic energy. Motion of the centre-of-mass and motion relative to the centre-of-mass. Centre-of-mass reference frame. Work for a point-mass system. Collisions and conservation laws of momentum, angular momentum, energy. Elastic and inelastic collisions.

Rigid body mechanics: Definition of rigid body. Fundamental equation of rigid body kinematics. Translation motion. Fixed axis rotation. Moment of inertia. Huygens–Steiner theorem. Rolling motion without slipping. Ballistic pendulum. Compound pendulum. Collision between a mass point and a rigid body and conservation laws. Fundamentals about static equilibrium for a rigid body.

Gravitation: Kepler's laws and universal gravitation law. Inertial and gravitational mass. Analogy between Moon and a falling body. Theorems of the shell (statement only). Motion of a mass point through an Earth tunnel. Gravitational constant G. Cavendish experiment an the measurement of the Earth mass. Gravitational potential energy and potential energy at the Earth surface. Escape velocity. Gravity close to the Earth surface: dependence of on the latitude and on the geoid.

Readings/Bibliography

Personal study and meditation with the help of a university-level book is MANDATORY to reach a good comprehension of the arguments foreseen in the program.

One of these books is suggested:

• P. Mazzoldi, M. Nigro, C. Voci: Fisica Vol.1 Meccanica - Termodinamica, EdiSES
• S. Focardi, I. Massa, A. Uguzzoni, M. Villa: Fisica Generale - Meccanica e Termodinamica, Casa Editrice Ambrosiana.

To practice on exercises, in addition to the examples presented and solved under the guidance of the teacher and to the exercises of the previous exams, students can look for tests and problems on the web. They can also consider one of the following exercise book:

• C. Mencuccini, V. Silvestrini: Esercizi di Fisica - Meccanica e Termodinamica, Zanichelli.
• G. Guidorzi, A. Zanzi: PROBLEMI DI FISICA GENERALE I Meccanica, Onde, Fluidodinamica, Termodinamica, Casa Editrice Ambrosiana.
• M. Villa, A. Uguzzoni: Esercizi di fisica - Meccanica, Come risolvere i problemi, Casa Editrice Ambrosiana.
• Any other exercise-book available on the web or in a library.

REMARKS:

On the web site https://virtuale.unibo.it/ students can find:

• the slides and the links to movies and images shown by the teacher during courses. In order to prepare the exam these tools are not sufficient. They are very useful to students that do not attend lectures to understand how the arguments are handled. They are very useful to attending students to keep memory of the lectures. Usually, slides are provided in advance in order to allow students to print and use them for their own remarks during lectures.
  
• the text of previous written exams, with a proposed solution. Students can have an idea of the difficulties to face during the final evaluation.

Teaching methods

Traditional lectures, structured in theoretical parts, examples and exercises. Changes of the standard teaching organization are enivsaged as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Participation and contributions of the students to lectures is strongly encouraged, through questions, suggestions for discussion and for exercises' resolution.

Attending the courses is very useful, though it is not mandatory.

Periodic checks of the level of comprehension can be arranged without score, mainly finalized to student self-evaluation.

The teacher uses the https://virtuale.unibo.it/ platform to directly communicate with students via the Forum, where students can ask questions, propose solutions and discuss with each other and with the teacher.

The teacher encourages the request of personal or group appointments, to be fixed by e-mail, in case of difficulties with the study of this course.

Assessment methods

Achievements will be assessed by means of a final exam. This is based on an analytical assessment of the "expected learning outcomes" described above.

The final exam consists of a compulsory written test with a maximum score of 26/30 and an optional oral interview (the teacher reserves the right to call for an oral interview if she deems it essential to clarify the performance of the written test), thanks to which a maximum of 5 points can be added to the written test grade. This makes it possible to achieve a maximum mark of 30/30 cum laude.

NOTE1: If the oral examination is seriously inadequate, the final mark for the examination may be lower than the mark of the written examination. In extreme cases, the full exam is considered inadequate and the student must repeat the written test.

There are no constraints on admission to the written test apart from the prohibition of subscribing to two different exam lists at a time. No in-year tests are foreseen.

There are 6 dates per academic year :

2 dates in the summer session (June - July)
1 date in the autumn session (September)
3 dates in the winter session (December - February)

Written test

• The duration of the written test is normally 90 minutes.
• The maximum mark achievable is 26/30
• It typically consists of a few problems (3 to 5) and a couple of multiple-choice questions aimed at ascertaining knowledge of the topics included in the syllabus.
• Each question/exercise is given a mark, indicated on the text.

• The test is passed if the total sum of the marks is at least 18/30. The mark for each exercise is fully awarded if the final result is correct and the justification for the result is logical and consistent. Otherwise penalties are applied. For example: a numerically correct result associated with an incorrect solving procedure is considered null; a calculation error associated with a correct procedure is slightly penalised. The final score for the written test is simply the sum of the points obtained in exercises/questions.
• Only the use of pocket calculators is permitted. Consultation of notes or books is not permitted. (students with disabilities must contact the teacher for agreement). No mobile phones or programmable calculators may be used. Several written tests may be taken in the same session, but the mark of the last test is valid (even if it is lower than the previous marks). Students  may withdraw at any time during the written test.
• Under no circumstances may students leave the classroom before the final delivery of the paper. Students caught copying or communicating with each other or with outsiders will be immediately excluded from the written test and the result recorded as RITIRATO (WITHDRAWN).
• In view of the health conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the written test may take place remotely using applications made available by the University. Further and more precise information will be provided in due time. It is possible that in these cases some details concerning the rules for the conduct of the test may be modified. However, the general principles remain valid.

Those who pass the written test (score 18/30 or more) may :

• accept the grade obtained, which can be a maximum of 26/30, by sending an email to the teacher from their institutional email address within 5 (five) days of publication of the results. In the absence of explicit acceptance, the grade is considered RIFIUTATO (REFUSED) and is recorded as such. Students have to start  from the written paper.
• reject the grade and repeat the written test.
• try to improve the grade by the optional oral test in the date immediately following the written test.

Oral test
- The oral test is optional.
- The oral test must be taken at the first available date after the written paper. It is not possible to take the oral test in subsequent dates.
- The oral test generally lasts 15-20 minutes and starts with a discussion of the written paper. It includes at least one question on each of the macro-topics included in the syllabus. The aim is to ascertain understanding of the course content, acquisition of appropriate language and scientific reasoning skills in answering simple questions.
- The mark for the written test is the starting mark for the oral test. The final grade may be higher or lower than the written paper depending on the outcome of the oral test. In extreme cases the student may also fail the full exam. In this case they must start from the written test.
- At the end of the oral test the student can either accept or reject the grade. In the latter case, they start  from the written paper.
- The conduct of the oral examination is also subject to the procedures decided by the University in connection with the COVID-19 epidemic.

Practical instructions for subscription to the exam:
- Subscription to  the written examination takes place through  the Almaesami website. As a rule, the list is closed a few days before the written examination. Late registration is not accepted under any circumstances.
- Registration for the oral examination takes place on the Almaesami website. It is possible to register up to the day before the examination. For the oral test, the order of registration in Almaesami is followed. The oral examination may be held on more than one day if the number of students is greater than 30. Exchanges of position on the list are permitted by agreement between the students and not handled by the teacher.

NOTES:
Students who demonstrate mastery and operational ability in relation to the key concepts illustrated in the teaching and in particular the fundamentals of classical mechanics are guaranteed to pass the exam. A higher mark will be awarded to students who demonstrate that they have understood and are able to use all the contents of the teaching, illustrating them with language skills and solving even complex problems.
Failure to pass the examination may be due to insufficient knowledge or understanding of the key concepts, a lack of reflection on these concepts and thus a lack of ability to apply them in problem solving.

Teaching tools

Lectures will be given at the blackboard. Slides, drawings and short movies can be used to facilitate the understanding of some concepts and made available on the IOL website. Attending the courses is very useful, though it is not mandatory. Changes of the standard teaching organization are enivsaged as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Information and details will be provided in due time.

Students with disabilities are invited to contact the teacher in order to provide them with any kind of support useful to fully exploit the courses and to guarantee a proper access to the exams. No need to say that any private information will be treated as confidential.

Office hours

See the website of Annarita Margiotta