OVERVIEW

Lectures will be held in Italian.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Understanding the fundamental laws of mechanics and thermodynamics. Ability to solve problems related to course topics.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim is to acquire a sufficient understanding of the physical laws describing classical mechanics and equilibrium thermodynamics. The student must become proficient in analyzing and solving problems concerning the topics covered in classes, and to acquire a good level of comprehension of the theoretical framework in which the discussed physical laws are embedded.

PREREQUISITES

The following basic mathematical facts will be given for granted, and thus *not* revised during the course: 

*) Planar elementary geometry (including triangles and related theoremes: sine anc cosine rule);
*) Planar trigonometry;
*) Exponential and logarithmic functions and their properties;
*) Differential and integral calculus in one variable. In particular: limits and derivatives of functions of one variable. Stationary points of said function. Taylor polynomials and Taylor series. Definite and indefinite integral of a function of one variable. Elementary ordinary differential equations: separation of variables, linear equations and characteristic polynomial.

The following topics should be given for granted, but will be quickly revised at the beginning of the course:

*) Vectors and operations among vectors: including their projection on the elements of a given basis, definition and interpretation of scalar and vector products in R^3. 

TEACHING METHODS

Blackboard lectures.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The course is meant for students with little to no previous knowledge of physics. We will focus on identifying the symmetries and ensuing conservation laws which often allow to ease the understanding of physical phenomena and the related problems.

The syllabus is as follows

1. Mechanics
   • Point mass kinematics;
   • Forces, statics and dynamics of point masses: Newton's laws;
   • Work, work-energy theorem, conservative forces, potential energy;
   • Angular momentum and torque;
   • Statics and dynamics of systems of point masses: fundamental laws of mechanics;
   • Scattering between point masses;
   • Rigid bodies: statics and dynamics.
      
2. Thermodynamics
   • ​Temperature, extensive variables, equilibrium states of a thermodynamical system;
   • Heat, work and internal energy: the first law of thermodynamics;
   • Perfect gases, comments on the kinetical theory of perfect gases;
   • Reversible and irreversible thermodynamical processe, main transformations of a perfect gas;
   • Thermal machines, irreversible transformations: the second law of thermodynamics;
   • Entropy;
   • Remarks on phase transitions of the first kind.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

See Italian section.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

FABIO CAVALIERE (President)

NICCOLO' TRAVERSO ZIANI

DARIO FERRARO (Substitute)

DIANA NELLI (Substitute)

PAOLO SARACCO (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

The class will start according to the academic calendar.

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Written and oral examination

The written exam will be evaluated with a score in the range 0-30 and will be passed with a score not less than 18/30. Such a score allows to access to the oral examination which will award a score within the range 0-30. The final mark is essentially given by the average of the two scores (written and oral) althogh the assessing committee reservesto apply slight corrections *"upwards"* (a.k.a. increasing the final mark) whenever said committee as a whole will deem it appropriate and necessary. In the same way, the committee can attribute a "cum laude" to those who were awarded a final mark of 30/30 and proved an outstanding level of proficiency.
 

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The student must solve a series of physics problems concerning the topics covered during the classes: this will allow to assess the ability to identify the key physical laws and their role in describing physical phenomena. If the written examination earns at least a sufficient mark, the ensuing oral examination will assess the understanding of the theoretical framework underlying the discussed physical laws.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

Teaching style: in presence.