OVERVIEW

The course aims to provide the basic knowledge necessary for understanding the main applications of applied physics in the design of recreational boating. After an introduction to the principles of thermodynamics in energy systems, particular emphasis is placed on the study of heat transfer and the main issues related to thermal and humidity comfort as well as environmental conditioning.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The purpose of the course is to train individuals capable of analyzing and solving simple problems in various fields of applied physics while simultaneously developing proficiency in the appropriate technical and scientific language.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Educational objectives

Through the course contents, the student is able to analyze and solve simple problems in different fields of applied physics: applied thermodynamics, heat transfer, environmental comfort and air conditioning, with particular reference to applications relating to pleasure boats.

The lessons and activities are aimed simultaneously at

• encourage the acquisition of critical knowledge of the proposed themes or case studies and related physical phenomena;
• support the student in the acquisition of an adequate technical-scientific language, as an indispensable tool both for understanding technical documentation and for dialogue with the various players in the ship design and construction process.

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course students will have to

• remember the main thermophysical quantities/properties with the relative units of measure,
• be able to accurately identify the physical meaning of the terms that make up the mathematical expressions of the relationships/physical laws, with particular attention to dimensional analysis,
• be able to correctly interpret a proposed text, knowing how to discuss the proposed application or case study,
• be able to solve simple numerical problems,
• have a clear awareness of the physical phenomena treated and the related technical implications,
• have acquired an adequate technical-scientific language, which tends not to leave ambiguities in the interpretation.

In addition, as a desirable more advanced result, students will also acquire an awareness of the subject to be able to

• analyze more complex problems related to physical-applied applications in the nautical sector,
• study articulated design solutions relating to thermohygrometric comfort and air conditioning systems in pleasure boats.

PREREQUISITES

To effectively approach the content of the course, the following basic mathematical knowledge is necessary:

• Calculation of areas and volumes of simple geometries.
• Calculation of percentages, percentage change between two values, percentage increase/decrease.
• Study of functions: linear, absolute value, parabola, hyperbola, logarithm, exponential, trigonometric functions (sine, cosine, tangent, and their inverse functions).
• Solving equations of the first and second degree, equations with logarithms and trigonometric functions.
• Solving simple inequalities.

Furthermore, for a critical understanding of the treated physical phenomena, mastery of the following concepts from mathematical analysis is desirable:

• Meaning of taking a limit.
• Differential calculus in a real variable: geometric interpretation of derivative and integral concepts, calculation of derivatives and antiderivatives of simple functions.
• Ordinary differential equations with separable variables of the first and second order.

To tackle the resolution of simple numerical problems, adequate familiarity with the use of a scientific calculator is also necessary.

TEACHING METHODS

The course is carried out in Italian using a traditional teaching method based on lectures and guided numerical exercises.

Learning is also supported by numerous multiple-choice tests, divided by topics, and freely available to students on AulaWeb.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

General knowledge of mechanical quantities and their relative units is an essential prerequisite to the study of physical phenomena: in fact, they are recalled in the introductory part of the course.
Then, the course addresses the main topics of technical thermodynamics, hinting at the analysis of thermodynamic systems and energy transfer that characterize them.
Afterwards the course deals with Following is the study of the main heat transfer mechanisms: conduction, convection and thermal radiation. Finally, the basics of thermohygrometry are introduced, aimed at analyzing the conditions of environmental comfort and preliminary to the study of air conditioning systems. In relation to the latter, a brief mention is made of some applications in the nautical sector.

Detailed program

NOTES ON MECHANICS

Units of measure, scalar and vector quantities.
Kinematics: displacement, velocity, acceleration. Uniform and uniformly accelerated rectilinear motions. Uniform circular motion.
Fundamental laws of dynamics. Centripetal force, gravitational force, friction force, elastic force.
Work, kinetic energy theorem, power. Conservative and non-conservative forces, potential energy, conservation of mechanical energy law.

NOTES ON STATIC OF FLUIDS

Pressure, Stevin's law, Pascal's law, Archimedes' law, Torricelli's experience, differential pressure gauges.

THERMODYNAMICS

Thermodynamic systems, state variables, thermodynamic transformations.
Operational definition of temperature. Absolute temperature scale. Perfect gases.
Mechanical work. Operational definition of heat.
First law of thermodynamics for closed systems.
Conservation of energy and mass. Continuity equation. First law of thermodynamics for open systems.
Internal energy, enthalpy, specific heat of incompressible substances.
Internal energy, enthalpy, specific heat at pressure and constant volume of perfect gases.
Energy equation in mechanical terms. Bernoulli's equation. Distributed head losses. Concentrated head losses. Prevalence of an engine. Converging and diverging channels. Pump and turbine efficiency, closed circuit.
Pure substances: state diagrams, vapour quality, latent phase transition heat.

HEAT TRANSFER

Generalities and second law of thermodynamics (outline).
Thermal conduction: Fourier's law, thermal conductivity, conduction across a plane wall and a cylindrical surface, conductive thermal resistance, thermal resistances in series and parallel. Flat multi-layered walls and complex walls.
Thermal convection: generalities, Newton's law, forced and natural convection.
Thermal radiation: electromagnetic waves, black body, Planck’s and Wien’s laws, emissivity, gray body, absorption, reflection and transmission factors, Kirchhoff's law, selective surfaces, view factor, heat transfer between black and gray surfaces.
Combined heat transfer mechanisms: surface resistances, flat multi-layer walls. Transmittance of flat multilayer and complex walls.

THERMOHYGROMETRY AND PLANTS

Psychrometry: generalities. Thermohygrometric quantities: specific, absolute and relative humidity, specific volume, enthalpy of humid air, dew point temperature, adiabatic saturation temperature. Psychrometric chart, relative humidity measurement.
Thermohygrometric comfort. The thermoregulatory system of the human body. The thermal balance of the human body. Overall comfort indices. Local discomfort indices (outline).
Humid air transformations: adiabatic mixing, sensible heating, sensible cooling and cooling with dehumidification, adiabatic humidification.
Classification of air conditioning systems. Mass and energy balance of an air-conditioned environment. Heating system: dispersions for ventilation and transmission, sizing and calculation parameters.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bergero S., Chiari A., Appunti di termodinamica, Aracne editrice, 2007.
Bergero S., Chiari A., Appunti di trasmissione del calore, Aracne editrice, 2012.
Bergero S., Chiari A., Appunti di termoigrometria e impianti, Aracne editrice, 2015.
Bergero S., Cavalletti A., Chiari A., Problemi di Fisica Tecnica, Dario Flaccovio, 2023.

All books are available in the library; they can be easily purchased on the main websites and are also available in electronic format.

In the AulaWeb of the course, additional teaching materials are made available to students, including handouts for the topics "General physics recalls", the complete reference bibliography, proposed and solved exercises, texts of past exams.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

The course is in the first semester, in agreement with the academic calendar.

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam is made up of three parts: a quiz exam, a written exam, and an oral exam.
The quiz exam checks your basic theoretical knowledge of the course topics. The written exam focuses on solving numerical problems related to the main themes covered. Finally, the oral exam aims to assess your critical understanding of the issues discussed.

The dates for the quiz and written exams are listed in the official calendar. The date for the oral exam will be announced right after the written exam concludes.
Typically, the quiz and written exams are held on the same day. The oral exam generally takes place in the week following the written exam.

You must pass each exam component to move on to the next one (quiz, then written, then oral). If you fail any part of the exam, all previously passed components will lose their validity, meaning you'll have to start over.

During both the quiz and written exams, you are only allowed to use a calculator and specific tables. For the written exam, you may also use the formula sheet provided by the instructor. No other notes or books are permitted during these exams.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Here's a breakdown of the evaluation methods for the exam, keeping in mind the specified learning outcomes:

Quiz Exam

The quiz exam consists of a 30-question multiple-choice test with only one correct answer, lasting 30 minutes. You'll get 1 point for a correct answer, -0.2 points for a wrong answer, and 0 points if you don't answer. To pass, you need a total score of 18/30.
If you pass the quiz, you'll receive a minimum score of 18/30 on the final exam (regardless of your actual quiz score). At this point, you can choose to accept this score and forgo the subsequent written exam.
To be eligible for the quiz exam, you must first pass a similar test available on AulaWeb in the "PERCORSO TEST per esame" (Test Pathway for Exam) section. In the month leading up to the exam date, you need to complete the entire pathway by passing tests on individual topics to access the final test covering the entire course syllabus. This pathway must be successfully completed at least two days before the exam date.

Written Exam

You can only take the written exam if you've passed the quiz exam. By taking the written exam and submitting your work, you forfeit the minimum score you might have achieved with the quiz. If you don't pass the written exam, you'll need to retake the entire exam at the next available session.
The score you get on the written exam doesn't affect your final overall grade; it only determines whether you've met the threshold to move on to the oral exam. You pass the written exam with a score of ≥5.5/10 or ≥4.5/8.

Oral Exam

Only students who have successfully passed the written exam can access the oral exam. Your final exam grade will be determined by your performance on this last component.
Since the final exam is considered a single activity, if you fail the oral exam, both your quiz and written exam results will no longer be valid, and you'll need to retake everything.

FURTHER INFORMATION

All information regarding the course (student office hours, instructor communications, teaching materials, etc.) is available and constantly updated on AulaWeb.