Lecturer: Antoniangelo Agnesi   Alessandra Tomaselli  

Course name: Physics 1
Course code: 500301
Degree course: Ingegneria Civile e Ambientale
Disciplinary field of science: FIS/01
University credits: CFU 12
Course website: http://www-1.unipv.it/fis/fisica1_ca/

Specific course objectives

The basic concepts of kinematics, dynamics of point masses and particle systems will be introduced in the first semester; the second semester deals with rigid bodies dynamics and statics, as well as thermodynamics. Students will be trained to problem solving with simple applicative exercises. The course emphasizes the importance of understanding basic principles, and encourages the students to affine their analytic and algebraic techniques for solving the proposed exercises.

Course programme

Modulo A (Prof. A. Agnesi, first semester)
Units and dimensions. Vectors. Kinematics. Forces and Newton’s laws. Work and energy. Angular momentum. Particles systems, momentum and collisions. Gravitation. Oscillations. Elasticity. Waves.

Modulo B (Prof. A. Tomaselli, second semester)
Rigid body. Moment of inertia. Rigid body dynamics. Equilibrium and statics. Introduction to the mechanics of continua. Temperature, heat and internal energy. Ideal gases and first principles of thermodynamics. Heat transport. Second principle of thermodynamics and the concept of entropy.

Course entry requirements

Those required for admission and for understanding basic notions of Calculus, Geometry and Algebra.

Course structure and teaching

Lectures (hours/year in lecture theatre): 60
Practical class (hours/year in lecture theatre): 60
Practicals / Workshops (hours/year in lecture theatre): 0

Suggested reading materials

Serway Beichner. "Fisica per Scienze e Ingegneria". EdiSES.

Mazzoldi Nigro Voci. "Elementi di Fisica - meccanica e termodinamica". EdiSES.

Halliday Resnick Walker. "Fondamenti di Fisica". Casa Editrice Ambrosiana.

Alonso Finn. "Fisica / Corso per l'Università". Masson.

A. Agnesi. Appunti delle lezioni (mod. A). Lectures notes freely available at http://www.unipv.it/fis/fisica1A_ca/appunti/sommario.html.

Testing and exams

Exam is both written and oral. Furthermore, an intermediate written exam at the end of each semesters is planned for 1st year students. Depending on their average score, the student can be admitted to a final oral exam in the July session. Participating to a normal written exam, the student automatically discards its intermediate tests. The first summer exam is open only to those who did not take part to the second intermediate written test. Students with “mathematics debt” pending can take part to exams but their score will be registered only when they regularize their position (please be aware).