. – General Physics
PROF. STEFANIA PAGLIARA
COURSE AIMS
To present the basic principles and a set of relevant applications of classical
Newtonian mechanics, both of the point particle and particle systems, and of
thermology and thermodynamics.
COURSE CONTENT
POINT PARTICLE MECHANICS
Vector and scalar quantities. Vector sum and difference. Decomposition of a
vector. Dot and cross products. Derivative of a vector. Vector integration.
Point kinematics: Definition of trajectory. Definition of velocity. Definition of
acceleration. Uniform motion. Uniformly accelerated motion. Circular motion.
Parabolic motion. Simple harmonic motion. Motion in space.
Point particle dynamics: Principle of inertia and inertial frames of reference.
Newton's laws of motion. Momentum and impulse. Resultant force and
equilibrium. Reaction forces. Classification of forces. Dynamic action of forces.
Weight. Sliding friction force. Elastic force. Viscous friction force. Simple
pendulum.
Work. Power. Kinetic energy. Work of a weight. Work of an elastic force. Work of
a sliding friction force. Conservative forces. Potential energy. Conservation of
mechanical energy. Angular momentum. Moment of force.
Relative motions: Frames of reference. Velocity and relative accelerations.
Galilean invariance. Linear motion. Uniform rotary motion.
Oscillations: Properties of the harmonic oscillator differential equations. Harmonic
oscillator energy. Complex harmonic motion. Damped harmonic oscillator. Forced
harmonic oscillator. Coupled oscillators.
Gravitation: Central forces. Gravitational force. Inertial mass and gravitational
mass. Gravitational field. Gravitational potential energy.
MECHANICS OF SYSTEMS OF PARTICLES.
Dynamics of systems of particles. Centre of mass. Theorem of momentum for a
system of particles. Theorem of angular momentum for a system of particles.
Kinetic energy theorem for a system of particles. Theorems of centre of mass and
momentum, angular momentum and kinetic energy. Cases of conservative forces.
Isolated systems and conservation laws. Symmetries and conservation laws.
Impulse phenomena. Elastic and inelastic collisions. Fixed observer with respect to
the laboratory and with respect to the centre of mass. Classification of collisions.
Explosions.
Two-body problem and reduced mass. Case of the gravitational problem. Exact
solutions of the equations of motion for the two-body problem with gravitational
interaction. Gauss' theorem. Rigid body. Rigid body kinematics and dynamics.
Moment of inertia.
Properties of moments of inertia. Poinsot’s theorem. Inertia tensor.
Precession. Nutation. Rotational and translational kinetic energy of a rigid body.
Gyroscopic motion. Static equilibrium of a rigid body.
THERMOLOGY AND THERMODYNAMICS
Thermodynamic systems and states. Thermodynamic equilibrium. Principle of
thermal equilibrium. Temperature and thermal expansion. Laws of the expansion
of bodies. Thermometric characteristics, fixed points and temperature scales.
Adiabatic systems. Joule's experiments. Heat. First law of thermodynamics.
Internal energy.
Thermodynamic processes. Heat and work. Calorimetry. Heat capacity and specific
heat. Isothermal processes. Phase transitions. Heat transfer. Thermal expansion of
solids and liquids.
Ideal and real gases in equilibrium. Boyle's law and Gay-Lussac's law. Equation of
state of ideal gases. Real gases and their behaviour.
Van der Waals equation
Kinetic theory of gases. Molecular basis of pressure. Joule-Clausius equation.
Boltzmann constant. Internal energy. Molecular velocity and mean free path.
Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution.
The second law of thermodynamics. Reversibility and irreversibility. Kelvin's
statement and Clausius' statement and their equivalence. Carnot engine. Carnot's
theorem. Absolute thermodynamic temperature.
Cyclic processes of a thermodynamic system. Heat engines and refrigerators.
Thermodynamic cycles.
Entropy state function. Clausius' theorem. Entropy of systems, the environment
and the universe. Principle of increasing entropy. Entropy of an ideal gas.
Unusable energy. Microscopic interpretation of entropy.
Thermodynamic potentials. Enthalpy. Helmholtz free energy. Gibbs free energy.
Changes of state. Thermodynamic systems and PVT phase diagrams. Phase
transitions. Latent heats. Clausius-Clapeyron equation. Gibbs phase rule.
READING LIST
P. MAZZOLDI - M. NIGRO - C. VOCI, Elementi di Fisica, EdiSES, Naples.
J.M. KNUDSEN - P.G. HJORTH, Elements of Newtonian mechanics, Springer, Berlin.
D. SETTE - A. ALIPPI, Lezioni di Fisica – Meccanica e Termodinamica, Masson, Milan.
C. MENCUCCINI - V. SILVESTRINI, Meccanica e Termodinamica, Liguori.
R.P. FEYNMAN - R.B. LEYGHTON - M. SANDS, La Fisica di Feynman, vol. 1 Zanichelli, Bologna.
E. FERMI, Termodinamica, Ed. Boringhieri.
M.W. ZEMANSKY, Calore e Termodinamica, vol. 1, Zanichelli, Bologna.
TEACHING METHOD
Lectures and class exercises.
ASSESSMENT METHOD
Written and oral examination.
NOTES
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