OVERVIEW

The course introduces students to the classical mechanics of point-particles and rigid bodies.

AIMS AND CONTENT

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The Physics course module A has the following objectives:

• to provide basic knowledge on classical Mechanics (mod. A) and Electromagnetism (mod. B)
• to provide useful tools for modeling and analyzing real complex physical situations
• to show, with examples, how simple models of real complex situations can be used to make predictions about the evolution of physical systems
• to construct a language suitable for the description of the physical reality
• to stimulate communication between students around topics of Physics

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students will be able to

• describe and use the scientific method for the analysis of physical phenomena
• understand the language/lexicon of Physics in the description of physical phenomena
• identify the model that best describes a given physical phenomenon,
• use the language/lexicon of physics in describing physical phenomena and solving problems
• describe the theory of classical mechanics (mod. A) and electromagnetism (mod. B) in vacuum
• describe the physical reality in a quantitative way
• solve problems of mechanics (mod. A) and electromagnetism (mod. B) by combining the theoretical notions of physics with the appropriate mathematical formalism
• explain each step when solving an exercise, when providing a formal demonstration and when describing a model
• self-assess the ability to describe physical situations by exploiting the proposed models

TEACHING METHODS

The topics of the course are presented with different teaching strategies (60 hours for each module). The lessons consist of:

• traditional teaching based on teacher-led demonstrations and presentation of examples at the blackboard
• PowerPoint presentations
• videos
• simulation tools (Matlab, Algodoo, java applet)

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:

• exercises led by the teacher and carried out in small groups
• apps that allow students to immediately verify that they have understood the teacher's explanation through short questionnaires and exercises. These tests are always carried out anonymously. The tests allow the teacher to monitor, during the course of the lesson, the level of understanding by the class
• exercises to be carried out at home, independently, or in a group
• exercises based on the "think-pair-share" method
• simple experiments aimed at predict or verify physical laws

Each lesson combines at least three different teaching methods.

To support 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.

Both modules (A and B) of the course include two tests, which allow the students to self-evaluate and the teacher to assess the learning level of the class. The tests are carried out remotely, via the Aulaweb, in the middle and at the end of the semester.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Content of MODULE A:

1.  Introduction to scientific method. Reference frames. Vectors and sum of vectors. Components of a vector with respect to a set of orthogonal Cartesian axes. Scalar product and vector product. Point particle approximation. Motion of a point particle: position, displacement, velocity and acceleration vectors. Trajectory of a point in space. Equations of motion. Circular motion: angular velocity, centripetal and tangential acceleration. Relative motion.
2.  Forces as a cause of motion. First law of Newton. Inertial reference frames. The second and third Newton's law. Weight force, normal force, elastic force, friction, contact forces. Work done by a force. Kinetic energy, the work-kinetic energy theorem. Power. Conservative forces and potential energy. Conservation of mechanical energy. Impulsive forces and impulse of force. Impacts between non-constrained point particles: elastic, inelastic and completely inelastic collision.
3. Systems of point particles; internal and external forces. Center of mass; motion of the center of mass. Linear momentum. Influence of external forces on momentum. Conservation of momentum. Moment of force (or torque) and angular momentum. Influence of external forces on angular momentum. Conservation of angular momentum.
4. Rigid body rotation around a fixed axis. Moment of inertia. Motion equation. Kinetic rotation energy. Constraint forces. Statics of the rigid body. Free motion of a rigid body. Rolling. Collisions between point particles and extended bodies.
5. Simple harmonic motion: amplitude, frequency and phase. Energy considerations.
6. Non-inertial reference frames and apparent forces.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

1) D. Halliday, R.Resnick, J.Walker, “Physics” Vol.I.
2) R.A. Serway, Jewett, “Physics for Scientists and Engineers", 10th Edition.
3) P. Mazzoldi, M. Nigro e C. Voci, "Elementi di Fisica - meccanica e termodinamica", ed. Edises.

4) S. Focardi, I. Massa, A. Uguzzoni, M. Villa, “Fisica Generale – Meccanica e termodinamica”, II edizione,  Ed. CEA.

5) M. Villa, A. Uguzzoni, “Esercizi di Fisica- Meccanica come risolvere i problemi”, Ed. CEA.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

GIULIA ROSSI (President)

NICOLA MAGGIORE

PAOLO SOLINAS

LUCA VATTUONE

ELENA ANGELI (President Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

https://corsi.unige.it/9273/p/studenti-orario

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

EXAM: Activities during the course (online - not mandatory) + written exam (one complete or two partial - mandatory) + oral exam (mandatory)

The final grade is the result of the sum of the marks of the written and oral exams and of the activities proposed during the course. The 4 online tests are not mandatory and they are reserved for first-year students (enrolled in the academic year 2022/2023). Written and oral exams are mandatory for all students.

ACTIVITIES PROPOSED DURING THE COURSE (only for students matriculated ay 2022-2023)

- TEST AULAWEB Two online quiz tests for each module of the course 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).

- GROUP ACTIVITIES
Group activities include short experimental sessions, group exercises and presentations to the class, etc ... Students who participate in, at least, 2 of these activities in each semester will be entitled to 1 point/semester which will be added to the mark of the written exam.

The points obtained with the activities evaluated during the course (Aulaweb tests and group activities) are valid up to February 2024 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 the ay 2022-2023. The first (on module A - classical Mechanics), concurrent with the ordinary exams of January and February 2023, consists of 2 exercises on Mechanics. The second one (on module B - Electromagnetism), concurrent with the ordinary exams of June and July 2023, in 2 exercises on Electromagnetism. The maximum time available for each partial test is 2 hours.

Only students enrolled in ay 2022-2023 can choose this type of written test. 

The partial written exam on Mechanics of January 2023, can be repeated, regardless of the test mark, in February 2023.

If the partial exam on Mechanics is passed with a score ≥ 15/32 (excluding Aulaweb test points), students are allowed to sustain the partial exam on Electromagnetism, which will take place during the ordinary tests of June and July 2023. Also in this case, it is possible to repeat the test in July 2023.

If the second partial test is passed with a score ≥ 15/32 (excluding Aulaweb test 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 2024.

DATE OF THE ORAL EXAM

The date of oral examinations are announced during the written exam and are 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.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The assessment tools associated with each learning objective are reported in the table below. Please note that the test for admission to the oral examination is an alternative to the written exam ONLY during the Covid-19 emergency. 

Exam schedule