FISICA II
Academic Year 2026/2027 - Teacher:
GIUSEPPE FERDINANDO D'AGATA
Expected Learning Outcomes
Upon successful
completion of the course, the student must be able to independently solve a
wide range of problems related to electromagnetism and optics, and must have
learned and internalized the conceptual foundations and key experimental
results associated with the historical development of electromagnetism.
In particular,
the student's preparation must ensure:
- the ability to
fully (or at least partially) solve some of the exercises proposed in the
written exam,
- knowledge of
the following topics and their associated practical applications:
Mechanical waves,
wave equation, string with fixed ends – concept of electric field and its
conservative nature – Gauss's theorem in integral form and its applications –
definition of potential difference and its application to a uniform electric
field – definition of capacitance and calculation of capacitance for
parallel-plate and spherical capacitors – Ohm's laws – Joule's law – series and
parallel connections – Kirchhoff's laws and their use in solving circuits –
discharge of an RC circuit – Lorentz force – Biot-Savart law – Ampère's law in
integral form – magnetic field of an infinite wire and an ideal solenoid –
Faraday's law in integral form – alternating current generator – concept of
self-inductance – calculation of self-inductance for an ideal solenoid –
displacement current and Maxwell's fourth equation in integral form –
definition of the Poynting vector and intensity of an electromagnetic wave –
speed of light – Snell's laws – image formation with spherical mirrors and thin
lenses.
Course Structure
The course
consists of lectures and practice sessions.
During the
practice sessions, exercises similar to those on the exam will be worked
through.
Required Prerequisites
Successful
completion of the Physics I exam is required. It is also strongly recommended
to have a thorough knowledge of Mathematical Analysis I and Linear Algebra and
Geometry.
Attendance of Lessons
Compulsory
Detailed Course Content
Electrostatics - exercises
Introduction to
and review of vector calculus. Vector operators. Electric charge: properties.
Conductors and insulators. Coulomb's law. Electric field of a point charge.
Electric field of charge distributions. Electric flux and Gauss's law.
Conductors in electrostatic equilibrium. Electric potential and potential
energy. Potential and potential energy of discrete and continuous charge
distributions. Charged conductors: field and potential. Capacitors. Electric
field energy and energy density. Dielectrics. Polarization of dielectrics.
Capacitors with dielectrics.
Electric Current-
exercises
Current intensity
and current density. Classical model of conduction. Resistance and Ohm's law.
Resistance, resistivity, and temperature dependence. Electric energy and power.
Electromotive force. Kirchhoff's laws. RC circuit.
Magnetism- exercises
Magnetic field
lines. Lorentz force. Motion of charged particles in a magnetic field.
Cyclotron. Forces on current-carrying conductors. Torque on planar circuits.
Magnetic field generated by steady currents. Ampère's law. Gauss's law for
magnetism. Introduction to magnetic properties of matter.
Electromagnetic
Induction - exercises
Induced
electromotive force. Faraday's and Lenz's laws. Alternator. Self-induction and
mutual induction. Magnetic field energy and energy density. Alternating current
and series RLC circuits. Impedance. Power. Transformer.
Wave Phenomena - exercises
Review of
mechanics; simple, damped, and driven harmonic oscillators. Description of a
wave. Plane wave differential equation. Transverse and longitudinal waves.
Mechanical waves. Acoustic waves. Acoustic wave intensity and noise pollution.
Electromagnetic waves. Electromagnetic wave spectrum. Electromagnetic wave
intensity. Overview of electromagnetic pollution issues.
Introduction to
geometric optics - exercises
Speed of light and measurement methods. Laws of
reflection and refraction. Total internal reflection. Diffraction and
interference of light waves.
Textbook Information
Suggested: D. Halliday, R. Resnick, K.S. Krane, Fisica, vol II, IV edizione, CEA
Other texts: P. Mazzoldi, M. Nigro, C. Voci, Fisica, vol. II, II Edizione, EdiSES. R. A. Serway, Fisica per Scienze ed Ingegneria, vol. II, II edizione, EdiSES
Course Planning
| | Subjects | Text References |
|---|
| 1 | Wave physics | text 1 |
| 2 | Electrostatics | text 1 |
| 3 | Electric currents and circuits | text 1 |
| 4 | Magnetism | text 1 |
| 5 | Electromagnetic waves | text 1 |
| 6 | Optics, basic concepts | text 1 |
Learning Assessment
Learning Assessment Procedures
The exam consists
of a written test followed by an oral exam. The written test (lasting 2 hours)
involves solving four exercises, requiring clear justification and commentary.
Students who pass the written test (minimum score: 18/30) are eligible to take the
subsequent oral exam. The oral exam focuses on a review of the written test (if
applicable) and, above all, on the topics covered in the syllabus.
Written exam: 40%
of the final grade. Oral exam: 60% of the final grade.
Information for
students with disabilities and/or specific learning disorders (SLD)
To ensure equal
opportunities and compliance with current regulations, interested students may
request a personal meeting to arrange any necessary compensatory measures
and/or dispensations, based on educational objectives and specific needs.
Students may also
contact the Department’s designated representative for CInAP (Center for Active
and Participatory Integration – Services for Disabilities and/or SLD).
Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises
Gauss's Law –
examples of electrostatic effects due to the $1/r^2$ dependence of the field –
capacitance of a conductor – examples of capacitance calculations – definition
of electrostatic potential energy – curl and divergence theorems (without
proof) – properties of differential operators – polarization mechanisms –
dipoles in external fields – analogies between electric and magnetic dipoles –
Ohm's laws – Kirchhoff's laws – RC circuits – Biot-Savart law – magnetic field
calculations – Ampère's law – displacement current – Faraday's law – self-induction and RL circuits – mutual induction – Poynting vector – radiation pressure – measurements of c – Snell's laws – optical image construction for mirrors
and lenses – interference phenomena from two sources – diffraction minima
