Waves and Oscillations
A.Y. 2019/2020
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
At the end of the course, the student will have acquired the following abilities:
- Ability to describe the basic phenomenology of oscillations and wave propagation
- Ability to describe oscillations and waves with simple linearized models
- Ability to solve quantitatively problems on oscillations and waves
- Ability to describe the basic phenomenology of oscillations and wave propagation
- Ability to describe oscillations and waves with simple linearized models
- Ability to solve quantitatively problems on oscillations and waves
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
Course Syllabus
1 - Oscillations
- Harmonic oscillator
- Elements of differential equations
- Damped oscillator
- Introduction to complex numbers
- Forced-damped oscillator
2 - Mechanical waves: vibrating string
- Free string
- Derivation of D'Alembert equation and its properties
- Properties of the solutions, harmonic waves
- Bounded string and standing waves, normal modes
- 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
- Sound perception, music instruments
- Doppler effect
4 - Introduction to Fourier analysis
- Normal modes and the Fourier series
- Fourier coefficients, spectrum and examples
- Complex definition, the Fourier Transform
- Duality of configuration and Fourier spaces: principle of uncertainty
5 - Reflection and refraction of waves
- Snell-Descartes law
- Fermat's principle
- Total internal reflection
- Reflection and transmission coefficients
- Chromatic dispersion
6 - Interference and diffraction of light and sound waves
- Spectrum of electromagnetic waves; wave-particle duality
- Interference and beatings
- Huygens-Fresnel principle
- Fraunhofer diffraction by an aperture
- Double slit interference
- Rayleigh criterion
- Diffraction grating
- Interference by a thin film
- Michelson interferometer
7 - Geometrical optics
- Paraxial approximation; imaging
- Plane and curved mirror; diopters; thin lenses; lensmaker equation
- Systems of mirrors and lenses and optical instruments
1 - Oscillations
- Harmonic oscillator
- Elements of differential equations
- Damped oscillator
- Introduction to complex numbers
- Forced-damped oscillator
2 - Mechanical waves: vibrating string
- Free string
- Derivation of D'Alembert equation and its properties
- Properties of the solutions, harmonic waves
- Bounded string and standing waves, normal modes
- 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
- Sound perception, music instruments
- Doppler effect
4 - Introduction to Fourier analysis
- Normal modes and the Fourier series
- Fourier coefficients, spectrum and examples
- Complex definition, the Fourier Transform
- Duality of configuration and Fourier spaces: principle of uncertainty
5 - Reflection and refraction of waves
- Snell-Descartes law
- Fermat's principle
- Total internal reflection
- Reflection and transmission coefficients
- Chromatic dispersion
6 - Interference and diffraction of light and sound waves
- Spectrum of electromagnetic waves; wave-particle duality
- Interference and beatings
- Huygens-Fresnel principle
- Fraunhofer diffraction by an aperture
- Double slit interference
- Rayleigh criterion
- Diffraction grating
- Interference by a thin film
- Michelson interferometer
7 - Geometrical optics
- Paraxial approximation; imaging
- Plane and curved mirror; diopters; thin lenses; lensmaker equation
- Systems of mirrors and lenses and optical instruments
Prerequisites for admission
- calculus
- trigonometry
- elements of mechanics
- trigonometry
- elements of mechanics
Teaching methods
The course includes classroom lectures. The arguments are introduced starting from phenomenology, to arrive at formulating simple linear descriptive models. The phenomenological introduction is accompanied by experimental demonstrations, in order to allow students to visualize the phenomena illustrated. The lectures are supported by a part of exercises, during which quantitative problems are solved using the theoretical models formulated during the lectures.
Teaching Resources
Bibliography
- Teacher's notes
- Mazzoldi-Nigro-Voci, Fisica 2, Edises
- Fleisch - Kinnaman, A Student's Guide to Waves, Cambridge Univ. Press
Additional texts:
- Halliday-Resnick-Krane, Fisica vol 1 e 2, CEA
- Bettini, Le onde e la luce, Zanichelli
- Teacher's notes
- Mazzoldi-Nigro-Voci, Fisica 2, Edises
- Fleisch - Kinnaman, A Student's Guide to Waves, Cambridge Univ. Press
Additional texts:
- Halliday-Resnick-Krane, Fisica vol 1 e 2, CEA
- Bettini, Le onde e la luce, Zanichelli
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam includes a written test followed by an oral test. The written test includes some exercises of difficulty similar to that of the problems proposed during the exercises, to be carried out in two hours. The written test is valid for one calendar year. On the website of the teaching a collection of exam topics is available. Students taking the course have the opportunity to replace the written test with two on-going tests, which take place at mid-course and at the end of the course. To access the oral exam, students must have obtained the sufficiency in both the on-going tests. The tests consist of some exercises similar to those carried out during the course and of difficulty comparable with those of the written test. The oral exam lasts approximately twenty minutes and consists of answering questions about oscillations, mechanical and light waves. The ability to describe the phenomenology of the physical processes under discussion and the ability to correctly reproduce the related descriptive models are assessed. The critical reasoning ability to deal with new problems is also assessed.
FIS/01 - EXPERIMENTAL PHYSICS - University credits: 7
Practicals: 20 hours
Lessons: 40 hours
Lessons: 40 hours
Professor:
Guzzo Luigi
Shifts:
-
Professor:
Guzzo LuigiCORSO 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
4- Reflection and refraction of waves
- Snell-Descartes law
- Fermat's principle
- Total internal reflection
- Reflection and transmission coefficients
- Chromatic dispersion
5- Interference and diffraction of light and sound waves
- Spectrum of electromagnetic waves; wave-particle duality
- Interference and beatings
- Huygens-Fresnel principle
- Fraunhofer diffraction by an aperture
- Double slit interference
- Rayleigh criterion
- Diffraction grating
- Interference by a thin film
- Michelson interferometer
6 - Geometrical optics
- Paraxial approximation; imaging
- Plane and curved mirror; diopters; thin lenses; lensmaker equation
- Systems of mirrors and lenses and optical instruments
- 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
4- Reflection and refraction of waves
- Snell-Descartes law
- Fermat's principle
- Total internal reflection
- Reflection and transmission coefficients
- Chromatic dispersion
5- Interference and diffraction of light and sound waves
- Spectrum of electromagnetic waves; wave-particle duality
- Interference and beatings
- Huygens-Fresnel principle
- Fraunhofer diffraction by an aperture
- Double slit interference
- Rayleigh criterion
- Diffraction grating
- Interference by a thin film
- Michelson interferometer
6 - Geometrical optics
- Paraxial approximation; imaging
- Plane and curved mirror; diopters; thin lenses; lensmaker equation
- Systems of mirrors and lenses and optical instruments
- Polarization of light
Prerequisites for admission
- integral and differential calculus
- trigonometry
- elements of mechanics
- trigonometry
- elements of mechanics
Teaching methods
The course includes classroom lectures. The arguments are introduced starting from phenomenology, to arrive at formulating simple linear descriptive models. The phenomenological introduction is accompanied by experimental demonstrations, in order to allow students to visualize the phenomena illustrated. The lectures are supported by a part of exercises, during which quantitative problems are solved using the theoretical models formulated during the lectures.
Teaching Resources
- Mazzoldi-Nigro-Voci, Fisica 2, Edises
Additional texts:
- Halliday-Resnick-Krane, Fisica vol 1 e 2, CEA
- Jewett & Serway, Principi di Fisica, vol 1, Edises
- Bettini, Le onde e la luce, Zanichelli
Additional texts:
- Halliday-Resnick-Krane, Fisica vol 1 e 2, CEA
- Jewett & Serway, Principi di Fisica, vol 1, Edises
- Bettini, Le onde e la luce, Zanichelli
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam includes a written test followed by an oral test. The written test includes some exercises of difficulty similar to that of the problems proposed during the exercises, to be carried out in two hours. The written test is valid for one calendar year. On the website of the teaching a collection of exam topics is available. Students taking the course have the opportunity to replace the written test with two on-going tests, which take place at mid-course and at the end of the course. To access the oral exam, students must have obtained the sufficiency in both the on-going tests. The tests consist of some exercises similar to those carried out during the course and of difficulty comparable with those of the written test. The oral exam lasts approximately twenty minutes and consists of answering questions about oscillations, mechanical and light waves. The ability to describe the phenomenology of the physical processes under discussion and the ability to correctly reproduce the related descriptive models are assessed. The critical reasoning ability to deal with new problems is also assessed.
FIS/01 - EXPERIMENTAL PHYSICS - University credits: 7
Practicals: 20 hours
Lessons: 40 hours
Lessons: 40 hours
Professor:
Vailati Alberto
Shifts:
-
Professor:
Vailati AlbertoProfessor(s)
Reception:
Upon email appointment
To be defined (either at the Department or via Zoom teleconference)