Waves and Oscillations
A.Y. 2018/2019
Learning objectives
The aim of the course is to introduce the students to the physics of oscillation and waves. Whenever possible the introduction of the topics of the course will involve an experimental demonstration of the investigated phenomenon in the classroom. The phenomenological introduction will be sided by the formulation of simple descriptive models, with the aim of showing how oscillations and waves of different nature can be dealt with by means of a unitary theoretical description.
Expected learning outcomes
Undefined
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
CORSO A
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
1 - Oscillations
- harmonic oscillator
- Damped oscillator
- Forced-damped oscillator
2 - Mechanical waves: vibrating string
- Free string; wave equation
- Wave equation
- Properties of the wave function
- Bounded string and standing waves
- Harmonic waves
- Introduction to Fourier analysis
- Power transferred by a wave
- Transmission and reflection of waves
3 - Mechanical waves: acoustics
- Pressure, density and temperature of a gas
- Equation of state and thermodynamic transformations for an ideal gas
- Acoustic waves in an ideal gas
- Speed of sound
- Standing waves in pipes
- Power transferred by an acoustic wave
- Plane waves and spherical waves; wave function
- Phonometry; sound level; geometrical attenuation and absorption
- Doppler effect
4-- Reflection and refraction of sound and light waves
- Spectrum of the electromagnetic radiation; speed of light; wave-particle duality
- Snell-Descartes law
- Fermat's principle
- Total internal reflection
- Fresnel coefficients
- Chromatic dispersion
5-- Interference and diffraction of sound and light waves
- Interference and beatings
- Huygens-Fresnel principle
- Fraunhofer diffraction
- Interference from a double slit
- Rayleigh's criterion
- Diffraction grating
- Interference from a thin film
- Michelson interferometer
6-- Geometrical Optics
- Paraxial approximation and imaging
- Plane and curved mirrors; diopters; thin lenses; lens maker equation
- Optical instruments
- Polarization of light
- harmonic oscillator
- Damped oscillator
- Forced-damped oscillator
2 - Mechanical waves: vibrating string
- Free string; wave equation
- Wave equation
- Properties of the wave function
- Bounded string and standing waves
- Harmonic waves
- Introduction to Fourier analysis
- Power transferred by a wave
- Transmission and reflection of waves
3 - Mechanical waves: acoustics
- Pressure, density and temperature of a gas
- Equation of state and thermodynamic transformations for an ideal gas
- Acoustic waves in an ideal gas
- Speed of sound
- Standing waves in pipes
- Power transferred by an acoustic wave
- Plane waves and spherical waves; wave function
- Phonometry; sound level; geometrical attenuation and absorption
- Doppler effect
4-- Reflection and refraction of sound and light waves
- Spectrum of the electromagnetic radiation; speed of light; wave-particle duality
- Snell-Descartes law
- Fermat's principle
- Total internal reflection
- Fresnel coefficients
- Chromatic dispersion
5-- Interference and diffraction of sound and light waves
- Interference and beatings
- Huygens-Fresnel principle
- Fraunhofer diffraction
- Interference from a double slit
- Rayleigh's criterion
- Diffraction grating
- Interference from a thin film
- Michelson interferometer
6-- Geometrical Optics
- Paraxial approximation and imaging
- Plane and curved mirrors; diopters; thin lenses; lens maker equation
- Optical instruments
- Polarization of light
FIS/01 - EXPERIMENTAL PHYSICS - University credits: 7
Practicals: 20 hours
Lessons: 40 hours
Lessons: 40 hours
Professor:
Guzzo Luigi
CORSO B
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
1 - Oscillations
- harmonic oscillator
- Damped oscillator
- Forced-damped oscillator
2 - Mechanical waves: vibrating string
- Free string; wave equation
- Bounded string; normal modes;
- Interference and standing waves
- Harmonic waves
- Power transferred by a wave
- Transmission and reflection of waves
3 - Mechanical waves: acoustics
- Pressure, density and temperature of a gas
- Equation of state and thermodynamic transformations for an ideal gas
- Acoustic waves in an ideal gas; equation of motion
- Speed of sound; isothermal and adiabatic models
- Standing waves in pipes; normal modes
- Power transferred by an acoustic wave
- Plane waves and spherical waves; wave function
- Phonometry; sound level; geometrical attenuation and absorption
- Doppler effect
- Interference and beatings
4 - Geometrical and Physical Optics
- Spectrum of the electromagnetic radiation; speed of light; wave-particle duality
- Spectrum of a black body
- Huygens-Fresnel principle; Fermat's principle
- Reflection and refraction;
- Fresnel coefficients
- Chromatic dispersion
- Paraxial approximation and imaging
- Plane and curved mirrors; dioptres; thin lenses; lens maker equation
- Optical instruments
- Fraunhofer diffraction; Rayleigh criterion
- Interference from a double slit; interference from a thin film; Michelson interferometer
- Diffraction grating
- Polarization of light
- harmonic oscillator
- Damped oscillator
- Forced-damped oscillator
2 - Mechanical waves: vibrating string
- Free string; wave equation
- Bounded string; normal modes;
- Interference and standing waves
- Harmonic waves
- Power transferred by a wave
- Transmission and reflection of waves
3 - Mechanical waves: acoustics
- Pressure, density and temperature of a gas
- Equation of state and thermodynamic transformations for an ideal gas
- Acoustic waves in an ideal gas; equation of motion
- Speed of sound; isothermal and adiabatic models
- Standing waves in pipes; normal modes
- Power transferred by an acoustic wave
- Plane waves and spherical waves; wave function
- Phonometry; sound level; geometrical attenuation and absorption
- Doppler effect
- Interference and beatings
4 - Geometrical and Physical Optics
- Spectrum of the electromagnetic radiation; speed of light; wave-particle duality
- Spectrum of a black body
- Huygens-Fresnel principle; Fermat's principle
- Reflection and refraction;
- Fresnel coefficients
- Chromatic dispersion
- Paraxial approximation and imaging
- Plane and curved mirrors; dioptres; thin lenses; lens maker equation
- Optical instruments
- Fraunhofer diffraction; Rayleigh criterion
- Interference from a double slit; interference from a thin film; Michelson interferometer
- Diffraction grating
- Polarization of light
FIS/01 - EXPERIMENTAL PHYSICS - University credits: 7
Practicals: 20 hours
Lessons: 40 hours
Lessons: 40 hours
Professor:
Vailati Alberto
Professor(s)
Reception:
Upon email appointment
To be defined (either at the Department or via Zoom teleconference)