Fundamentals of Physics

A.Y. 2019/2020
6
Max ECTS
48
Overall hours
SSD
FIS/07
Language
Italian
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide students with the basic knowledge of physics, with particular regard to mechanics and fluid dynamics to provide them with the cultural prerequisites necessary to learn about the transformations to which food matrixes are subjected in food technology processes.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course the students will know the main physical quantities, their dimensions and units of measurement. The student will be able to recognize and solve formally and numerically simple physics problems, related to the technological and research practices mainly used in food technology.
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

Single session

Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
Physical measures
- Fundamental units of the International System, prefixes, derived units
- Scalars and vectors, scalar product and vector product (expressed analytically by components or geometrically).

kinematics
- Motion in one dimension: position and displacement, speed, acceleration, uniformly accelerated motion, free fall
- Motion in several dimensions: trajectory, uniformly accelerated motion, uniform circular motion, angular velocity and angular acceleration

Dynamics of the material point
- Newton's laws: concept of force and mass, equations of motion, action and reaction
- Inertial and non-inertial systems, changes of reference system, apparent forces
- Examples of forces: gravity and constant force g, elastic force, centrifugal force, static and dynamic friction force
- Work done by a force, conservative forces, potential and kinetic energy, energy conservation

Dynamics of extended systems
- Center of mass and calculation of the center of mass
- Newton's law for particle systems, momentum and associated conservation law
- Elastic and inelastic collisions in one dimension; notes on bumps in multiple dimensions

Rotary motion
- Moment of inertia: definition, calculation, and theorem of parallel axes, kinetic energy of a rotating body
- Newton's law for rotating rigid bodies, angular momentum and associated conservation law, torsion

Gravitation
- Law of universal gravitation
- Central forces and conservation of angular momentum
- Kepler's laws
- Gravitational force inside and outside of a spherical mass distribution

Fluid mechanics
- Definitions of density and pressure
- Stevin's law, Pascal's principle and Archimedes' principle
- Bernoulli equation
- Ideal and non-ideal fluids: viscosity, capillarity and surface tension

Electromagnetism
- Electric charge and Coulomb's law, electric field and field lines
- Electric current, resistance, Ohm's law
- Introduction to the magnetic field and Lorentz's law
Prerequisites for admission
Students will have to master the normal mathematics concepts learned in lower and middle schools. As an example, students are expected to know how to calculate the area and circumference of a circle, the volume of a cylinder, a cone, or a sphere, simple geometry theorems (Pythagora's, sum of internal angles of a triangle), the use simple trigonometric functions, and transformations between units of measurement.

It is also essential to have a minimum level of familiarity with algebra and literal calculus. Additionally, students must have followed the Mathematics course (and if possible taken the relative exam).
Teaching methods
Lectures.
Teaching Resources
Raymond A. Serway · John W. Jewett, Principi di Fisica, vol. 1, Casa Editrice Edises

David Halliday · Robert Resnick · Jearl Walker, Fondamenti di Fisica - Meccanica, Termologia, Elettrologia, Magnetismo, Ottica, Casa Editrice Ambrosiana

J. R. Gordon · R. V. McGrew · R. A. Serway · J. W. Jewett, Jr., Esercizi di Fisica, Casa Editrice Edises
Assessment methods and Criteria
During the course students will often be provided with self-assessment quizzes, so that everyone can check the level of learning achieved.

The written exam is divided into two parts. In the first, students will be provided with a questionnaire with 10 simple closed or open-ended questions. After 15 minutes the questionnaire will be withdrawn and the correct solutions provided immediately to the students. Students who have passed the questionnaire by correctly answering 6 or more questions can take the second part of the exam: this consists of some problems (more complex than the previous ones) on different topics carried out in the course, to be carried out in a longer time (generally an hour and a half). Throughout the examination, books or notes are not allowed. In the second part of the exam only, the use of the cheat sheet provided by the teacher is allowed.

Students who have passed the written exam can at their discretion take an oral exam or simply confirm the written mark.
FIS/07 - APPLIED PHYSICS - University credits: 6
Lessons: 48 hours
Shifts:
Professor(s)
Reception:
Wednesday, 14-15
Personal office at the Physics Department