PHYSICS II

The course is classified as one of the basic educational activities for the Bachelor Degree in Environmental Sciences. It is aimed first of all at acquiring the knowledge and the comprehension of the main physical phenomena related to the classical treatment of Electrostatic, Magnetic and Electromagnetic phenomena. The acquired skills are fundamental for the following part of the Degree, in particular the capability of using logical-deductive reasoning.

The instructional goals of the course are:
1) Development of the capability to solve classical Mechanics and Thermodynamic problems, by applying their main laws;
2) Stimulating the use of a correct logical-deductive reasoning in the resolution of problems and in general within the activities related to the learning;
3) Development of the capability to present, in oral and written form, concepts and scientific reasoning in a formal and rigorous way;
4) To improve the familiarity with data processing protocols, as well as with the writing of a scientific report using an appropriate language.

1. Knowledge and understanding
1.1. To know and understand the main physics laws concerning the classical treatment of electrostatic, magnetic and electromagnetic phenomena.
1.2. To improve the knowledge of the processes of acquisition and processing of experimental data.

2. Capability of applying knowledge and comprehension
2.1. To use the learned physical laws and concepts for the resolution of theoretical or practical problems, with a logical and deductive approach.
2.2. To know how the learned concepts may find application in the study of environmental systems.
2.3. To know how to collect experimental data, process them and to write a final written scientific report.

3. Judgment
3.1. To evaluate the logical consistency of the results arising from the application of the learned physical laws.
3.2. To critically evaluate and recognize the presence of mistakes, by a correct evaluation of the method used and of the numerical results.

4. Communication skills
4.1. To communicate both the knowledge and the effects of its applications using a proper scientific language.

5. Capability of learning
5.1. To take comprehensive and rigorous notes, giving each information the correct importance.
5.2. To properly select the bibliographic references for each arguments, with the help of the teacher.

Having achieved the learning objectives of the fundamental courses
“Mathematics and Exercises” and "Physics 1 and Laboratory".
In particular, the student is expected to be familiar with the mathematical concepts of a function, vectorial function, composition of vectors, operations in between vectors, limits, derivatives, integrals, trigonometry and simple differential equations. The physical concepts that are necessary to follow the course are those of motion of a particle, linear motion, acceleration, force, circular motion, kinetic energy, potential energy, mechanical energy, work, conservation laws and frames of references.

Part I: Theory

INTRODUCTION
Presentation of the course.

ELECTROSTATICS
Electric chage. Coulomb's law. Electric field and electric potential. Gauss' law.

ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS
Capacitors. Electric current, Ohm's law, resistors.

MAGNETOSTATICS
Magnetic field, Lorentz's force, Ampère's law.

RADIATION AND ONDULATORY PHENOMENA
Time-dependent fields. Maxwell's equations. Wave equation. Planar and Spherical waves. Harmonic waves. Sound waves. Electromagnetic waves. Intensity of waves. Geometric optics.

Part II: Practicals
LABORATORY SESSIONS
Guided experiments in the laboratory. Elements of treatment of errors. Functioning of the Galvanometer and multimeter. Measurement of an unknown resistor.

Any university-level physics textbook is suitable. Two examples are:

P. Mazzoldi, M.Nigro, C. Voci, “Elementi Fisica, Elettromagnetismo, Onde”, EdiSES, Napoli

Halliday D., Resnick R., Walker J., "Fondamenti di Fisica", Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, Milano

The method used to assess the acquired knowledge and skills consists of a written exam, with numerical and reasoning problems. An optional oral examination may be done to try to improve the final grade or to reach the minimum grade.
The written exam consists of a series of exercises, to be numerically solved justifying the used methods. The student has to demonstrate both to have acquired the concepts provided during the class and to be able to apply them coherently in the problems resolution. The duration of the written exam is 2 hours. During the written exam, the use of a scientific calculator and of a formulae sheet is allowed, but the use of notes, textbooks and electronic devices is prohibited.
The exam is passed with a minimum acceptable grade of 18/30 and a highest achievable grade of 30/30 (possibly cum laude).
The laboratory report will present the activity (performed or followed) in the laboratory, and must contain the description of the experimental set ups, of the adopted strategies, of the measurement protocols, of the data processing, as well as the final results, including the uncertainty evaluation. The report must be handed in within four months from the last laboratory lecture.

The teaching activity is organized as follows:
a) lecture-style presentations at the blackboard, integrated by 1 or 2 presentations about examples of physical application in the field of environmental sciences;
b) laboratory activity, to be organized depending on the number of students, in which the students attend or participate to an experimental activity, to acquire familiarity with some scientific instruments and to apply the Error Theory learned concepts. The students are required to attend at least half of the lessons given in the laboratory.
Furthermore, in the moodle platform of the University will be present the possible didactic material presented as well as powerpoint projections in the classroom, as well as solved examples of previous exams.

Italian

written and oral