OVERVIEW

Physics is a fundamental science that has as its object the understanding of natural phenomena. Its purpose is to provide the tools to be able to describe these phenomena in a quantitative way. Physics is the basis of all other sciences and plays an important role in the field of cultural heritage and restoration of cultural goods as it provides the basis for the development of relevant technologies for diagnostics, conservation and restoration.

The course will consist of two parts, a general one on the basic concepts and a second one focused on the techniques for materials analysis.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of the course is to provide students with the basic knowledge of physics, sufficient to understand the physical methods applied to the conservation and restoration of cultural heritage.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Attendance and participation in didactic activities will allow the student to acquire basic knowledge necessary to face studies in the field of Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage.

At the end of the first part the student will be able to:

- correctly express the result of a physical measurement and understand the meaning of reliability of a measurement and statistical distribution

- know and use the main physical laws of mechanics, electromagnetism and optics

- apply the knowledge acquired to simple physical systems

At the end of the second part the student will be able to:

- know the main diagnostic techniques for the analysis of an artifact

- know the physical principles underlying the diagnostic techniques

PREREQUISITES

To effectively deal with the contents of the course, the following basic knowledge of elementary mathematics is necessary:

Elements of geometry
Cartesian plane and representation of elementary functions
Elements of trigonometry

TEACHING METHODS

The teaching consists of lectures given by multimedia presentations including numerical examples and simple exercises.

Attendance at lessons and exercises is strongly recommended.

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 Sara Ferrando (sara.ferrando@unige.it), the Department’s disability liaison.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

First part:

1. Measurement of physical quantities and units of measurement

2.Treatment of physical measures

- Significant figures

- Error of a measurement

- Bases of the statistical treatment of data

3. Mechanics

- Vectors in physics

- The laws of motion: kinematics

- Force, dynamics, the three principles

- Work, energy, power

- Conservative forces and potential energy

4. Electromagnetism

- Electric charges, forces and fields

- Electrostatic potential and potential energy

- Current and basic circuits

- Introduction to electromagnetic waves

5. Thermology:

- Temperature and heat

- Themodynamics, the three principles

6. Waves:

- Geometric optics

- Physical optics: interference and diffraction

Second part:

1. Introduction to the Physical Diagnostics of Cultural Heritage

Relevance of the DFBC in the context of a multidisciplinary knowledge of the object
The general principle of a physical observation of matter: probe, system, interaction, product
The dimensional levels at which the information is located and the instrumental techniques that make it accessible
Physical investigation strategy

2. States of aggregation of matter

3. Light as a probe

The electromagnetic spectrum
Optical microscopy
Infrared reflectography
Multispectral analysis
Thermoluminescence and optically stimulated luminescence
Raman spectrometry

4. X-rays as a probe

Nature of X-rays and ways of interacting with matter
X-ray sources
Tools for X-ray detection
radiography
X-ray fluorescence
X-ray diffraction
Other techniques with synchrotron light

5. Electrons as a probe

Nature of electrons and ways of interacting with matter
Operating principle of a scanning electron microscope (SEM)
Images with secondary electrons and backscattered electrons
Elemental analysis with ED-XRF in a SEM with the possibility of mapping

6. The ions as a probe

Nature of ions and methods of interaction with matter
Ion production: electrostatic accelerators and their types
Analytical techniques with ion beams: PIXE, PIGE, RBS, ERDA and their specific instruments
The sample itself as an ion source: AMS and dating with 14C

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

All the multimedia material used during the lessons will be available on the Aulaweb website along with possible additional in-depth material on specific topics.

The texts indicated below, available at the library of the School of Sciences M.F.N., are suggested as reference texts, but any other text covering the same topics will be allowed for use.

First part:

James S. Walker: Fundamentals of Physics 1. Zanichelli.

Second part:

James S. Walker: Fundamentals of Physics 2. Zanichelli.

M. Martini, A. Castellano, E. Sibilia: Elements of Archeometry. Egea

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

The calendar of the lessons for the first part (24 hours) will be published in September 2025

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam consists of a written test for the first part and a written dissertation on a topic agreed with the teacher of the course relating to the second part.

The written exam, relating to the topics covered in the first part, is passed if the student obtains a mark greater than or equal to 18/30.

5 exam dates will be available for the written test starting from the end of the first semester.

The dissertation, to be discussed orally before the Exam Commission after the student has passed the written part of the exam, must be presented in writing to the members of the Commission one week before the discussion and is passed if the student obtains a mark greater than or equal to 18/30.

The final mark is given by the arithmetic mean between the mark of the written test and the oral exposure of the thesis.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Details on the methods of preparation and the degree of detail required for each topic covered will be provided during the lessons.

The written exam (first part) will verify the acquisition of the concepts relating to data processing and physical laws. The student must demonstrate that he/she has acquired these concepts by applying them to simple physics problems and is able to use dimensions and measurement units of physical quantities appropriately.

The dissertation (second part) must highlight how the student has understood the potential of one or more diagnostic techniques by highlighting the results they are able to provide and their limitations also through the application to the study of a specific object.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Attending the lectures is strongly recommended