Lecturer: Luca Tartara  

Course name: Principles of physics
Course code: 500119
Degree course: Ingegneria Edile-Architettura
Disciplinary field of science: FIS/01
L'insegnamento costituisce attività di base per: Ingegneria Edile-Architettura
University credits: ECTS 6
Course website: n.d.

Specific course objectives

The course covers all the areas of classical physics from Newton’s mechanics to thermodynamics along with an outline of electromagnetics. The aim is firstly to provide the theoretical background about the fundamental principles of physics that are required in the field of architectural engineering. Just in view of technological applications the final goal is to develop the skill of students to deal with easy but real technical problems and to solve them in a strict and quantitative manner.

Course programme

Introduction
Measurements. International system of units. Scalars and vectors. Vector Algebra.

Kinematics
Position, displacement, velocity, and acceleration. Motion with constant acceleration. Freely falling body. Curvilinear motion.

Dynamics
Newton's laws of motion. Application of Newton's laws. Work, energy, and power.

Rotation and rolling
Centre of mass. Angular quantities. Rotation. Combined translational and rotational motion.

Statics and elasticity
Conditions of static equilibrium of bodies. Elastic properties of materials.

Oscillatory motion
Simple harmonic motion. Dumped and forced oscillations, resonance.

Waves
Transeverse and longitudinal travelling waves. Interference and stationary waves. Sound.

Mechanics of fluids
Stevino's law. Pascal's law. Archimede's principle. Flow and equation of continuity. Bernoulli's theorem.

Thermodynamics
Temperature. Heat and dilatation. Heat transmission. First law of thermodynamics. Heat engines, refrigerators, and heat pumps. Carnot's theorem and second law of thermodynamics. Entropy.

Electromagnetism
Coulomb's law. Electric potential. Electric current. Ohm's law. Kirchhoff's circuit laws. Electromagnetic waves.

Course entry requirements

Basic knowledge of algebra, geometry, and calculus.

Course structure and teaching

Lectures (hours/year in lecture theatre): 80
Practical class (hours/year in lecture theatre): 0
Practicals / Workshops (hours/year in lecture theatre): 0

Suggested reading materials

D. Halliday, R. Resnick, J. Walker. Physics. Wiley.

Testing and exams

The examination is both written and oral.