The course introduces students to the classical mechanics of point-particles and rigid bodies.
The course provides the fundamental concepts and principles of Mechanics. Particular emphasis is given to understanding the usefulness and limitations related to the use of schematizations and models.
The Physics course module A has the following objectives:
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course, students will be able to
Acquisition of soft, transversal skills The course aims to encourage the acquisition of transversal skills such as functional literacy competence, personal competence, social competence, the learning-to-learn ability.
The topics of the course are presented with different teaching strategies (60 hours for each module). The lessons consist of:
After introducing a new topic, the teacher always shows examples and solves exercises on the blackboard.
Students are invited to participate in the lesson by means of:
Each lesson combines at least three different teaching methods.
Group exercises in the classroom, "think pair share" activities will support the acquisition of basic level personal and social skills and basic functional literacy skills. The use of learning verification apps during lessons, and the teachers' habit of offering self-evaluation tips, both during lessons and during oral tests, will favor the acquisition of metacognition skills (basic level personal skills, basic level learning-to-learn skills).
In order to support the students during the preparation of the written and oral parts of the exam, a teaching assistant will organize sessions during which exercises will be solved and discussed.
The A module of the course includes two tests, which allow the student to self-evaluate and the teacher to monitor the learning level of the class. The tests are carried out remotely through the aulaweb platform in the middle and at the end of the semester.
Content of MODULE A:
1) D. Halliday, R.Resnick, J.Walker, “Physics” Vol.I. 2) R.A. Serway, Jewett, “Physics for Scientists and Engineers", 10th Edition.
In Italian 3) P. Mazzoldi, M. Nigro e C. Voci, "Elementi di Fisica - meccanica e termodinamica", ed. Edises.
4) M. Villa, A. Uguzzoni, “Esercizi di Fisica- Meccanica come risolvere i problemi”, Ed. CEA.
Ricevimento: Upon personal request by phone, e-mail or Microsoft Teams. Elena Angeli Dipartimento di Fisica, via Dodecaneso 33, 16146 Genova floor 7th, room 713 phone: 010 3536309 email: elena.angeli@unige.it
ELENA ANGELI (President)
DIANA NELLI (President Substitute)
PAOLO SOLINAS (President Substitute)
https://corsi.unige.it/9273/p/studenti-orario
EXAM: Ongoing evaluation + written exam (one complete or two partial - mandatory) + oral exam (mandatory)
The final grade results from the sum of the marks of ongoing evaluations and the written and oral exams. The ongoing evaluated activities are not mandatory and are reserved for first-year students (enrolled in the academic year 2024/2025). Written and oral exams are mandatory for all students.
ONGOING EVALUATED ACTIVITIES (only for students matriculated ay 2024-2025)
- ONLINE TESTS: two online quiz tests for each course module are available on Aulaweb. Each test is passed if the score is ≥ 7/10. For each test, the student is awarded 0.5 points (for a maximum of 2 points, 1 for module A and 1 for module B).
The points obtained with the activities evaluated during the course (Aulaweb tests and group activities) are valid up to February 2026 exam.
COMPLETE WRITTEN TEST
The complete written test consists of four exercises: 2 exercises on Mechanics + 2 exercises on Electromagnetism. The maximum time for the complete test (2 + 2 problems) is four hours. The dates of the written tests are reported on Aulaweb and on the exam calendar website. Only scheduled exams are granted.
PARTIAL WRITTEN TESTS
Two partial written tests are reserved for those enrolled in 2024-2025. The first (on module A - classical Mechanics), concurrent with the ordinary exams of January and February 2025, consists of 2 exercises on Mechanics. The second one (on module B - Electromagnetism), concurrent with the ordinary June and July 2025 exams, in 2 exercises on Electromagnetism. The maximum time available for each partial test is 2 hours.
Only students enrolled in ay 2024-2025 can choose this type of written test.
The partial written exam on Mechanics of January 2025, can be repeated, regardless of the test mark, in February 2025.
If the partial exam on Mechanics is passed with a score ≥ 15/32 (excluding Online tests and homework points), students are allowed to sustain the partial exam on Electromagnetism, which will take place during the ordinary tests of June and July 2025. Also in this case, it is possible to repeat the test in July 2025.
If the second partial test is passed with a score ≥ 15/32 (excluding online tests and homework points), the written exam is considered passed with a score equal to the arithmetic mean of the first and second partial tests.
CAN I USE TEXTBOOKS DURING THE WRITTEN EXAM?
During the written exam, students are not allowed to use any textbook. A copy of the formulary (the same downloadable from Aulaweb) is provided to each student. No electronic devices other than scientific calculators are allowed.
CAN I REPEAT THE WRITTEN EXAM?
The student who has already passed the written exam, if not satisfied with the mark, can repeat the written exam. The submission of the new classwork cancels the previous mark independently of the result.
HOW LONG THE MARK OF THE WRITTEN EXAM IS VALID?
The mark of the written exam, obtained with the complete test (≥ 15/32) or with the two partial tests (≥ 15/32 for each test), grants the right to access the oral exam up to February 2026.
DATE OF THE ORAL EXAM
The date of oral examinations is announced during the written exam and is published on Aulaweb.
WRITTEN EXAM
Due to the limitations related to classroom booking, students wishing to take part in the written, partial or complete exam must register on unige pass, at least 5 days before the exam date.
The assessment tools associated with each learning objective are reported in the table below.
Activities during the course
Oral admission test (ONLY during Covid-19 emergency)
Written exam
Oral exam
to describe how to use the scientific method for analyzing physical phenomena
no
yes
to understand the language/lexicon of Physics for describing physical phenomena
to identify the model, among those proposed, which best describes a specific physical phenomenon
to use the language/lexicon of Physics in the description of physical phenomena and in solving problems
to describe the theory of classical mechanics and electromagnetism presented by the teachers
partially
to describe in a quantitative way the physical phenomena
to justify the steps when solving exercises, doing demonstrations, or describing models
self-assess the knowledge of the course content and the ability to describe physical situations by exploiting the theories and models proposed during the course
Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the instructor and with Professor Federico Scarpa (federico.scarpa@unige.it ), the School's disability liaison.
