General Physics II

The specific objectives of the part of the course held by the teacher are the following:

·       Provide a methodical approach to the framing of physical problems concerning electromagnetism, optics and relativity;

·       Establish connections with similar problem solving strategies connected to other areas of physics;

·       To stimulate the student's curiosity towards the themes of modern physics through the signals of it already traceable in classical electromagnetism.

With reference to the so-called Dublin Descriptors, this course contributes to acquiring the following transversal skills:

Knowledge and understanding:

·       Inductive and deductive reasoning skills.

·       Ability to schematize a natural phenomenon in terms of scalar and vector physical quantities.

·       Ability to set up a problem using appropriate relationships between physical quantities (algebraic, integral or differential) and to solve it with analytical or numerical methods.

Ability to apply knowledge:

·       Ability to apply the knowledge acquired for the description of physical phenomena using rigorously the scientific method.

·       Ability to organize an exercise, also complex, concerning the themes of general physics II.

Autonomy of judgment:

·       Critical reasoning skills.

·       Ability to identify the most appropriate methods for framing and solving an exercise.

Communication skills:

·       Ability to rigorously expose all the physical, logical and mathematical steps necessary to solve a problem.

·       Ability to make rapid numerical estimates of expected results in a well-defined problem.

Differential and integral calculus of one-variable real functions. Vectors in physical space and main operations on vectors. Fundamental concepts of mechanics such as forces, conservative forces, work, kinetic energy, potential energy. Newton's laws and differential equation of motion.

The part of the course treated by the teacher will mainly focus on:

Exercises of Physics II

Problems and exercises on: electric fields - Gauss's law - electrostatic potential - general problems of electrostatics - calculations of capacitance - forces between conductors - effects due to dielectrics - energy considerations in electrostatics - method of image charges - Ohm's laws - Kichhoff's laws - RC circuits - magnetic fields: Laplace and Biot-Savart laws - Ampère-Maxwell law - magnetism in matter - applications of Faraday's law - self-induction - RL circuits - mutual induction - electromagnetic waves - Poynting vector - radiation pressure - physical optics - problems of relativistic kinematics and dynamics - problems of relativistic electromagnetism - complements of special relativity and magnetism in the matter

For tutorials:

F. Porto, G. Lanzalone, I. Lombardo, D. Dell'Aquila, Problems of General Physics, Electromagnetism, Optics, Relativity, II Edition, EdiSES

M. Bruno, M. D'Agostino, R. Santoro, Exercises in General Physics, CEA

For the theoretical part we recommend:

D. Griffiths, Introduction to Electrodynamics, Cambridge

P. Mazzoldi, M. Nigro, C. Voci, Fisica II, EdiSES

C. Mencuccini, V. Silvestrini, Fisica II, CEA

E. Amaldi, R. Bizzarri, G. Pizzella, Fisica Generale, Elettromagnetismo e ottica, Zanichelli

E.M. Purcell, La Fisica di Berkeley: Elettricità e Magnetismo, Zanichelli 

D. Halliday, R. Resnick, K.S. Krane, Fisica, vol. II (III o IV edizione), Ambrosiana