Ateneo - UPO

The basics of electromagnetism.

McGrawHill
J. Kane, M. Sternheim, "Fisica Applicata", EMSI
D. Scannicchio, "Fisica Biomedica", EdiSES

The course aims at describing the basic concepts of electromagnetism.
The student will be able to analyze and resolve physics problems of medium/easy level. The student will have to communicate in an effective and appropriate way his knowledge.

The contents of the Physics course (1st semester)

The course is offered in the traditional way, with lectures and collective exercises. Slides, and occasionally videos are used to assist the lectures. Adequate time is devoted to problem solving.
Lectures offered in video/remote in case of COVID-19 emergency.

Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/services-students-physical-or-learning-disabilities

Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects.

Written examination, with 3 exercises and 3 questions on theory, open or multiple choice, covering all the topics of the course, and aiming at assessing the degree of understanding of
the subject. The written exam is to be completed in about 40 min.
Final oral examination, bound to scoring at least 15/30 in the written test.
The grade is the arithmetic average of the notes obtained in the tests performed.

Electric charge, Coulomb’s law, electric field, electrostatic potential energy, potential; electron volt. Relation between field and potential difference. Electric dipole: field lines and behaviour in an electric field.

Conductors and insulators. Polarisation of a dielectric. Electric capacity; capacitor; effect of a dielectric. Relative dielectric constant. Energy stored in a capacitor. Capacitors in series and parallel.

Electric current. Drift velocity of the charge carriers. Electric resistance; resistivity. Ohm’s law. Resistors in series and parallel. Electric circuits. Power in electric circuits, Joule’s law. Ohmic and non-ohmic conductors. RC circuits.

Direct and alternating current circuits.

Effects of current through the human body.

Magnetic field. Lorentz’s force; force on a current-carrying wire. Biot-Savart law. Field generated by a wire, field generated by a circular current loop and a solenoid. Magnetic dipoles; magnetic dipole moment; behaviour of a magnetic dipole in a magnetic field. Ferromagnetic materials, permanent magnets.

Magnetic field flux. Faraday’s law. Electric generators, transformers.

Electromagnetic waves and their spectrum. Antennas. The photon.

Understanding of basic electromagnetism.