PHYSICS A - L
Academic Year 2024/2025 - Teacher: MARCO RUGGIERIExpected Learning Outcomes
The aim of this course is to provide students with a fundamental understanding of classical physics, specifically mechanics, thermodynamics, optics and waves, as well as basics of quantum mechanics. By the end of the course, students will have acquired knowledge of the basic principles of the scientific method and physics, and will be able to formulate and/or solve a physics problem. Where possible, examples/applications that are useful in different contexts of computer science, such as video game design and quantum computing, will be shown.
The course includes 48 hours of in-person classes, divided into 24 hours of theory and 24 hours of practical exercises. In particular, the practical exercises will involve both numerical exercises carried out in class and formal developments (e.g., proofs of results stated in the theoretical part).
In detail, the expected learning outcomes, categorized according to the Dublin descriptors, are as follows.
1. Knowledge and understanding
- Understand the fundamental principles of physics, including concepts such as mechanics, electromagnetism, and thermodynamics.
- Identify and explain the physical laws that govern the behavior of matter and energy in the universe.
- Demonstrate a solid understanding of the mathematical and theoretical concepts underlying physics.
2. Application of knowledge and understanding
- Apply physics principles to solve practical problems in various contexts, such as the motion of objects, the propagation of light and so on.
- Interpret experimental data and apply physical laws to analyze the results.
- Develop physical models to describe and understand complex phenomena.
3. Ability to draw conclusions
- Perform critical analysis of experimental data and draw conclusions based on scientific evidence.
- Identify and solve complex physical problems using critical thinking and logic.
- Critically evaluate existing physical theories and recognize their limitations.
4. Communication skills
- Communicate the results of physical analyses clearly and concisely, both in written and verbal form.
- Effectively present complex physical concepts to a non-expert audience.
- Collaborate with others and actively participate in scientific discussions.
5. Ability to learn
- Demonstrate the ability to learn independently, deepening knowledge of physics beyond the basic level.
- Adapt and apply acquired knowledge and skills to new contexts and problems.
- Continue to explore and embrace new developments and discoveries in physics even after completing the course.
Course Structure
If the teaching is taught in a blended or distance mode, the necessary changes may be introduced with respect to what was previously declared, in order to respect the planned program and reported in the syllabus.
Access to the teaching material provided by the teacher will be available on Studium, Physics (A-L) - Computer Science (L31) course, academic year 2024/2025.
All communications will be made on the Studium channel mentioned above.
Required Prerequisites
Attendance of Lessons
Detailed Course Content
Physics and the Scientific Method: The Scientific Method, Physics, Branches of Modern Physics, Systems of Measurement Units
Kinematics of Point Particles: Vectors and Matrices, Vector Operations, Motion Equations of a Point Particle, Average and Instantaneous Velocity, Acceleration, Planar Motion
Dynamics of Point Particles: Principle of Relativity, Forces, Inertial Systems, Principle of Inertia, Force and Acceleration, Inertial Mass, Impulse and Momentum, Angular Momentum and Torque, Work and Kinetic Energy, Conservative Fields and Potential Energy, Conservation of Mechanical Energy, Examples of Forces, Solutions to the Equation of Motion
Thermodynamics: Heat and Temperature, Ideal Gases and Transformations, Absolute Temperature Scale, First Law of Thermodynamics and Applications to Ideal Gases. Second Law of Thermodynamics, Entropy, Entropy of an Ideal Gas and a Solid Body, Microscopic Interpretation of Thermodynamic Quantities
Elements of Waves and Optics: waves, interference and diffraction, geometrical optics.
Elements of Quantum Mechanics: wave mechanics, Schrodinger equation, wave functions for the hydrogen atom, harmonic oscillator, quantum superposition principle, Schrodinger's cat.
Textbook Information
Testi principali
1. U. Gasparini, M. Margoni e F. Simonetto, Fisica. Meccanica e Termodinamica. Piccin-Nuova Libraria (9 Gennaio 2019)
2. R. A. Serway e J. W. Jewett, Fondamenti di Fisica, Edises; 6° edizione (10 giugno 2022)
3. G. Vannini e W. E. Gettys, Gettys Fisica 1, McGraw-Hill Education 5a edizione (22 Gennaio 2015)
4. G. Cantatore, L. Vitale e W. E. Gettys, Gettys Fisica 2, McGraw-Hill Education 4a edizione (15 Gennaio 2016)
Fonti aggiuntive
C. Mencuccini e V. Silvestrini, Fisica: Meccanica e Termodinamica, Casa Editrice Ambrosiana (26 Settembre 2016)
C. Mencuccini e V. Silvestrini, Fisica: Elettromagnetismo e Ottica, Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, 2° edizione (16 Gennaio 2017)
D. Sette, A. Alippi e A. Bettucci, Lezioni di Fisica 1, Zanichelli 2° edizione (19 Luglio 2021)
E. Fermi, Termodinamica, Bollati Boringhieri (1 Novembre 1977)
| Author | Title | Publisher | Year | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G. Vannini e W. E. Gettys | Gettys Fisica 1 | McGraw-Hill Education | 5a edizione (22 Gennaio 2015) | 978-8838668838 |
| G. Cantatore, L. Vitale e W. E. Gettys | Gettys Fisica 2 | McGraw-Hill Education | 4a edizione (15 Gennaio 2016) | 978-8838669132 |
| R. A. Serway e J. W. Jewett | Fondamenti di Fisica | Edises | 6a edizione (10 Giugno 2022) | 978-8836230730 |
| U. Gasparini, M. Margoni e F. Simonetto, | Fisica. Meccanica e Termodinamica. | Piccin Nuova Libraria | 9 Gennaio 2019 | 978-8829929726 |
Course Planning
| Subjects | Text References | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduzione alla fisica, metodo scientifico, dimensioni, algebra vettoriale (4 ore, di cui 2 di esercitazioni) | testi 1 e 2 |
| 2 | Cinematica del punto materiale (4 ore, di cui 2 di esercitazioni) | testi 1 e 2 |
| 3 | Dinamica del punto materiale (18 ore, di cui 12 di esercitazioni) | testi 1 e 2 |
| 4 | Lavoro ed energia (4 ore, di cui 2 di esercitazioni) | testi 1 e 2 |
| 5 | Elementi di termodinamica classica e teoria cinetica dei gas (10 ore, di cui 6 di esercitazioni) | testi 1 e 2 |
| 6 | Elementi di propagazione ondosa (2 ore) | testi 1 e 2 |
| 7 | Elementi di ottica geometrica e ottica fisica (2 ore) | testi 1 e 2 |
| 8 | Elementi di Meccanica Quantistica (4 ore) | Dispense |
Learning Assessment
Learning Assessment Procedures
The assessment will be done through a written test, containing two/three simple exercises on the topics discussed in the course (material point kinematics, material point dynamics, thermodynamics), and an oral test, which consists of an interview (three/four questions) on the topics covered in the course.
For the written test, a grade, S, from 0 to 30 will be assigned. The assessment of the written test will depend on the correctness of the answers, as well as the student's ability to express themselves with adequate technical language. Depending on the score, the written test will be considered:
passed, if the score is equal to or greater than 18. In this case, you are directly admitted to the oral test.
passed with reservation, if the score is between 12 and 17 (inclusive). In this case, you are admitted with reservation to the oral test. In this case, during the oral test, additional questions will be asked to test the knowledge of the topics of the written test.
failed, if the score is between 0 and 11 (inclusive). In this case, the exam is not considered passed and it is necessary to appear at the next exam session.
For the oral exam, a grade, O, between 0 and 30 will be assigned. The grade of the oral exam will depend on the correctness of the answers, as well as the student's ability to express themselves with adequate technical language and to make connections with other topics in the program.
The final grade of the exam, F, will be calculated using the formula:
F=P*S + Q*O,
where P=1/3 and Q=2/3. At the discretion of the teacher, if the final grade is F=30, an additional question may be asked at the end of the oral exam, always on topics covered during the course, to assign honors. The exam is considered passed if F is greater than or equal to 18. If the student does not pass the exam tests, he/she will be sent back to the next exam sessions.
The exam tests are structured so that each student is given a grade according to the following scheme:
Not approved: the student has not acquired the basic concepts and is unable to answer at least 60% of the questions or complete the exercises.
18-23: the student demonstrates minimal mastery of the basic concepts, his/her ability to connect the contents is modest, he/she is able to solve simple exercises.
24-27: the student demonstrates good mastery of the course contents, his/her ability to connect the contents is good, he/she solves the exercises with few errors.
28-30 cum laude: the student has acquired all the contents of the course and is able to fully master them and connect them with a critical spirit; he/she solves the exercises completely and without errors.
Students with disabilities and/or DSA must contact the teacher and the CInAP representative of the DMI sufficiently in advance of the exam date to communicate that they intend to take the exam by taking advantage of the appropriate compensatory measures. In particular, interested students will be allowed to consult personal notes and/or textbooks during the written and oral tests.
Learning assessments may also be carried out electronically, if conditions so require.
Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises
Ballistic motion
Inertial reference systems
Principles of the dynamics of a material point
Simple pendulum motion
Harmonic motion of a material point subjected to an elastic force
Elastic collisions and applications to billiards and bowling
First law of thermodynamics
Second law of thermodynamics
Internal energy of perfect gases
Entropy of the universe and irreversibility
Variation of entropy related to heat exchange between two bodies
Unattainability of absolute zero