PHYSICS I A - E
Academic Year 2024/2025 - Teacher: Fiorenzo VINCENZOExpected Learning Outcomes
The purpose of the course is to provide basic qualitative and quantitative knowledge on the topics of classical mechanics and thermodynamics included in the "Detailed Course Contents" section, as well as the ability to know how to apply the Scientific Method to solving real and concrete problems. In particular, and with reference to the so-called Dublin Descriptors, the course aims to provide the following knowledge and skills.
Knowledge and understanding abilities
Knowledge of the main phenomenological aspects related to classical mechanics and thermodynamics and understanding of their physical implications and their mathematical description, in order to develop an ability to reflect on scientific issues in a way that presents traits of originality.
Applying knowledge and understanding ability
Ability to recognize the main physical laws that govern a phenomenon in mechanics and thermodynamics, and to apply them to solve problems and exercises in different fields and at different levels of complexity, and therefore of approximation, with the use of appropriate mathematical tools.
Ability of making judgements
Ability to estimate and calculate the order of magnitude of the variables that describe a physical phenomenon (in mechanics and in thermodynamics). Ability to discern the level of importance of a physical law (axiom, conservation principle, universal law, theorem, law in global/integral or local/differential form and its generality, properties of materials, etc.). Ability to be able to evaluate the Physical Model and the corresponding Mathematical Model that best applies to the description of a physical process and therefore to the solution of quantitative problems.
Communication skills
Ability to present scientific concepts belonging to physics but also, and more generally, information, ideas, problems, and solutions with properties and unambiguity of language, at different levels and to different, both specialists and non-specialists, audiences.
Learning skills
The ability to learn the scientific concepts of Physics is necessary to undertake subsequent studies with a high degree of autonomy.
Course Structure
The teaching activity consists of lectures and exercises (for a total of 9 ECTS, of which 7 of lectures and 2 of exercises), accompanied by tutoring activities(*). The exercises provide for the resolution, both guided and autonomous, of tasks and exercises. Where possible, innovative teaching and learning strategies are used. During each lesson, teacher-student interactions are encouraged, leaving space to students for questions, curiosities, and comments.
(*) If specialist tutors are available for the course during the academic year.
Required Prerequisites
Although no prerequisite is officially imposed, it is extremely useful for the student to have mastery of the subjects of elementary mathematics (algebra, geometry, trigonometry, analytical geometry) and knowledge of those of mathematical analysis (differential and integral calculus).
For the presentation of the physical concepts included in the course content, the following mathematical tools are used: equations and systems of 1st and 2nd degree equations, trigonometric functions and their properties, exponential functions and their properties, logarithmic functions and their properties, equations of loci in the plane and in space, derivatives, and integrals of functions of one variable, linear differential equations with constant coefficients.
For the self-paced learning, and/or consolidation, of the required preliminary knowledge, the mathematics and basic calculus courses available on e-learning platforms such as, for example, Federica Web Learning and Coursera for Campus, to which students of the University have access, may be useful.
Attendance of Lessons
Detailed Course Content
INTRODUCTORY CONCEPTS
Physical quantities and units. The scientific method. Physical quantities and units. The International System (SI). Scientific notation. Dimensional issues. Fundamental and derived physical quantities.
Measurement errors and approximations. Significant figures. Functions' approximations. Scalars and vectors. Scalar and vector quantities. Invariance and symmetry. Vector algebra. Vector calculus: derivatives and integrals of vectors.
MECHANICS
Kinematics. Speed, velocity, acceleration, and time dependence of motion. Straight and uniformly accelerated rectilinear motion. Vertical motion. Simple harmonic motion. Rectilinear motion exponentially damped. Motion in a plane: velocity and acceleration. Circular motion. Parabolic motion. Motions in space.
Dynamics of the material point. Principle of inertia and the concept of force. Second and third Newton's law. impulse and momentum. Resulting force: binding reactions and equilibrium. Examples of forces: weight force, sliding friction force, viscous friction force, centripetal force, elastic force. Inclined plane. Simple pendulum. Wire tension. Reference systems. Relative speed and acceleration. Inertial reference systems. Galilean Relativity.
Work and energy. Work, power, and kinetic energy. The theorem of the kinetic energy. Examples of works done by forces. Conservative forces and potential energy. Non-conservative forces. Principle of conservation of mechanical energy. Relationship between force and potential energy. Angular momentum. Torque. Central forces.
Gravitation. Kepler's laws. The Universal Gravitation Law. Inertial mass and gravitational mass. Gravitational field and gravitational potential energy.
Oscillations and waves. Properties of the differential equation of the harmonic oscillator. Simple harmonic oscillator: motion equation and its solution. Motion of a mass connected to a spring. Energy of a simple harmonic oscillator. Damped and forced harmonic oscillators. Resonance.
Dynamics of systems of material points. Systems of points. Internal and external forces. Center of mass and its properties. Principle of conservation of the momentum. Principle of conservation of the angular momentum. The König theorems. Theorem of the kinetic energy. Collisions.
Dynamics of the rigid body. Definition of rigid body and its properties. Motion of a rigid body. Continuous bodies, density, and the position of the center of mass. Rigid rotations around an axis in an inertial reference system. Rotational energy and work. Moment of inertia. Huygens-Steiner's theorem. Compound pendulum. Pure rolling motion. Energy conservation in the motion of a rigid body. Rolling friction.
THERMODYNAMICS
First Principle of Thermodynamics. Thermodynamic systems and states. Thermodynamic equilibrium and the Principle of Thermal Equilibrium. Temperature and thermometers. Equivalence of work and heat: Joule's experiments. First Principle of Thermodynamics. Internal energy. Thermodynamic transformations Work and heat. Calorimetry. Phase transitions. Heat transmission.
Ideal gases. Laws of the ideal gas. Equation of state of the ideal gas. Transformations of a gas. Work. Specific heat and internal energy of the ideal gas. Analytical study of some transformations. Ciclic transformations. The Carnot cycle. Kinetic theory of gases.Equipartition of energy.
Second Principle of Thermodynamics. Statements of the Second Principle of Thermodynamics. Reversibility and irreversibility. Carnot's theorem. Absolute thermodynamic temperature. Clausius theorem. Entropy state function. The principle of increasing entropy of the universe. Entropy variations' calculations. The entropy of the ideal gas. Unusable energy.
Textbook Information
- Teaching materials and weekly problems with detailed solutions are provided by the instructor in the dedicated teaching space online on
- Reference textbook:
Mazzoldi P., Nigro M., Voci C., "Fisica I Vol. I - Meccanica e Termodinamica", EdiSES, III Edizione, 2023
| Author | Title | Publisher | Year | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mazzoldi P., Nigro M., Voci C. | Fisica I Vol. I - Meccanica e Termodinamica | EdiSES | 2023 | 9788836230679 |
Course Planning
| Subjects | Text References | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Physical quantities, Units of measure, Scalars, Vectors (8 hours, including 3 hours of exercises) | Teaching materials provided by the lecturer. For further reading: reference textbook (Appendix B, Appendix C) |
| 2 | Kinematics (12 hours, including 5 hours of exercises) | Teaching materials provided by the lecturer. For further reading: reference textbook (Chapters 1 and 3) |
| 3 | Dynamics of the material point (10 hours, including 4 hours of exercises) | Teaching materials provided by the lecturer. For further reading: reference textbook (Chapter 3) |
| 4 | Work and energy (8 hours, including 3 hours of exercises) | Teaching materials provided by the lecturer. For further reading: reference textbook (Chapter 2) |
| 5 | Gravitation (1.5 hours, including 0.5 hours of exercises) | Teaching materials provided by the lecturer. For further reading: reference textbook (Chapter 6) |
| 6 | Oscillations and waves (1.5 hours, including 0.5 hours of exercises) | Teaching materials provided by the lecturer. For further reading: reference textbook (Chapter 4) |
| 7 | Dynamics of systems of material points (8 hours, including 3 hours of exercises) | Teaching materials provided by the lecturer. For further reading: reference textbook (Chapter 5) |
| 8 | Dynamics of the rigid body (8 hours, including 3 hours of exercises) | Teaching materials provided by the lecturer. For further reading: reference textbook (Chapter 7) |
| 9 | First Principle of Thermodynamics (8 hours, including 3 hours of exercises) | Teaching materials provided by the lecturer. For further reading: reference textbook (Chapter 13) |
| 10 | Ideal gases (6 hours, including 2 hours of exercises) | Teaching materials provided by the lecturer. For further reading: reference textbook (Chapter 14) |
| 11 | Second Principle of Thermodynamics (8 hours, including 3 hours of exercises) | Teaching materials provided by the lecturer. For further reading: reference textbook (Chapter 15) |
Learning Assessment
Learning Assessment Procedures
The assessment consists of a written examination followed by an oral exam.
Two possibile evaluation methods are available to students, as described below.
ONGOING TESTS + ORAL EXAM
Evaluation method available only to current students
Ongoing tests. There are two non-compulsory ongoing tests of 1 hour each, the first scheduled during the teaching break of the second semester and the second after the end of the course. Only current students can take the ongoing tests.
The first ongoing test consists of solving 2 problems in Mechanics, relating to the topics of the course explained before the teaching break of the second semester. The second ongoing test consists of solving 1 problem in Mechanics, relating to the topics of the course explained after the teaching break of the second semester, and 1 problem in Thermodynamics.
The resolution of each problem is assigned a score between 0/30 and 7.5/30 in relation (1) to the completeness of the description of the Physical and Mathematical Models used for the solution, (2) to the correctness of the mathematical treatment, and, of course, (3) to the correctness of the result, both from a numerical and a dimensional point of view. If the overall score obtained in the two ongoing tests is equal to or greater than 18/30, it is possible to take the oral test directly in one of the sessions of Second and Third exam sessions for current students. If, on the other hand, the overall score achieved in the two ongoing tests is less than 18/30, it is not recommended to take the oral test. However, being discouraged is not equivalent to a formal ban on taking the oral exam. However, this must be taken in one of the sessions of the Second and Third exam sessions for current students.
Oral exam. The oral exam lasts about 30 min and consists of the discussion of at least three (3) distinct topics of the course contents, of which the first is chosen by the student.
During the oral exam, the student's ability to clearly, confidently, and logically explain the physical meaning and implications of a given phenomenon will be assessed. This will include using mathematical equations, focusing on the definition of all the quantities involved, providing insights beyond what was covered in class, and demonstrating independent reflection and study. The student's ability to synthesize and connect the various topics covered in the curriculum will also be assessed. Finally, the degree of familiarity with the mathematical proofs of theorems and important results included in the program will be assessed, along with the ability to provide numerical evaluations of the order of magnitude of the physical quantities involved in a given phenomenon.
WRITTEN PRELIMINARY TEST + ORAL EXAM
Standard evaluation method available to all students
Written preliminary test. The preliminary test consists of the resolution, justified, and clearly commented, of 2 Mechanics problems and 2 Thermodynamics problems in a maximum time of 2 hours. Only in the sessions of Second and Third exam sessions for current students, the student is free to split this test into the following two intermediate tests:
- 1st intermediate preliminary test, which consists of the resolution, justified and clearly commented, of 2 problems of Mechanics in the maximum time of 1 hour;
- 2nd intermediate preliminary test, which consists of the resolution, justified, and clearly commented, of 2 thermodynamic problems in the maximum time of 1 hour.
At the beginning of the preliminary test, the student must inform the teacher if he/she intends to make use of this "exam splitting possibility".
The resolution of each problem will be assigned a score between 0/30 and 7.5/30 in relation (1) to the completeness of the description of the Physical and Mathematical Models used for the solution, (2) to the correctness of the mathematical treatment and, of course, (3) to the correctness of the result, both from a numerical and a dimensional point of view. The students who obtain a score lower than 18/30 in the preliminary test or in the two intermediate preliminary tests are not recommended to take the oral test. However, being discouraged is not equivalent to a formal ban on taking the oral exam.
The preliminary test must be taken as part of the same call in which the student intends to take the oral exam. In the case of the intermediate preliminary tests, only the second one must be taken as part of the same call in which the student intends to take the oral exam and in any case, this call must belong to the Second or Third Session of exams for current students.
Oral exam. The oral exam lasts about 30 min and consists of the discussion of at least three (3) distinct topics of the course contents, of which the first is chosen by the student.
During the oral exam, the student's ability to clearly, confidently, and logically explain the physical meaning and implications of a given phenomenon will be assessed. This will include using mathematical equations, focusing on the definition of all the quantities involved, providing insights beyond what was covered in class, and demonstrating independent reflection and study. The student's ability to synthesize and connect the various topics covered in the curriculum will also be assessed.
Even though mathematical proofs are not required to pass the oral exam, proofs of theorems and important results included in the program may be asked during the exam.
EXAM DATES
Check the following web pages:
https://studenti.smartedu.unict.it/
https://www.dieei.unict.it/corsi/l-8-inf/esami
Exam booking through the Smart_Edu platform is mandatory (ttps://studenti.smartedu.unict.it/). Non-booked students will not be able to do exams.
Information for students with disabilities and/or SLD
To guarantee equal opportunities and in compliance with the laws in force, interested students can ask for a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, according to the educational objectives and specific needs.
It is also possible to contact the CInAP (Centro l'Integrazione Attiva e Partecipata - Servizi per le Disabilità e/o DSA) contact-person of the Department, Prof. Antonella Di Stefano.
Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises
Written examination. The mechanics and thermodynamics problems in the written examinations are very similar to those in the weekly workshops throughout the semester. Before each ongoing test during the semester, a workshop will be dedicated to carry out a mock test in the classroom.