ID:
SCC0103
Duration (hours):
72
CFU:
9
SSD:
FISICA TEORICA, MODELLI E METODI MATEMATICI
Year:
2025
Overview
Date/time interval
Primo Semestre (22/09/2025 - 16/01/2026)
Syllabus
Course Objectives
The aim of the course is to introduce students to the fundamental aspects of oscillatory phenomena and wave and geometrical optics. At the end of the course the student must be able to provide a precise mathematical description of these phenomena together with an understanding of their physical meaning.
The learning ability is stimulated through the deepening of particular advanced topics that require the use of techniques such as perturbation calculus and Fourier analysis that will be useful to students during their career.
The autonomy of judgment is expressed in the evaluation of teaching by filling in the prepared questionnaires.
Particular attention will be given to students' acquisition of the ability to exhibit the knowledge acquired through rigorous and precise language.
At the end of the course, the student will be able to describe oscillatory and wave phenomena, simple and complex, with the appropriate mathematical formalism.
The learning ability is stimulated through the deepening of particular advanced topics that require the use of techniques such as perturbation calculus and Fourier analysis that will be useful to students during their career.
The autonomy of judgment is expressed in the evaluation of teaching by filling in the prepared questionnaires.
Particular attention will be given to students' acquisition of the ability to exhibit the knowledge acquired through rigorous and precise language.
At the end of the course, the student will be able to describe oscillatory and wave phenomena, simple and complex, with the appropriate mathematical formalism.
Course Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of trigonometry and mathematical analysis (provided by the courses of Calculus) and mechanics (provided by the course of Point, systems and fluids mechanics). However, no preparatory qualifications are required.
Teaching Methods
The lessons, in which the theoretical concepts of the course are introduced, are frontal.
The teacher holds the lesson on the blackboard or on the electronic blackboard, introducing the different topics and carrying out calculations and demonstrations. Notes of the course are available on the e-learning platform.
The teacher holds the lesson on the blackboard or on the electronic blackboard, introducing the different topics and carrying out calculations and demonstrations. Notes of the course are available on the e-learning platform.
Assessment Methods
The exam is oral and is normally based on four questions related to: 1) basic oscillatory phenomena, 2) advanced oscillatory phenomena, 3) basic wave phenomena, 4) advanced wave phenomena.
The answers must consist of a general description of the physical phenomenon and the analytical derivation of formulas that describe the phenomenon from a mathematical point of view. In this way, the acquisition of technical skills and the rigor of the exhibition will be verified. The demonstration of basic knowledge related to questions 1) and 3) is sufficient for passing the exam with a good mark. The way in which the student answers questions 2) and 4) determines an increase in the score up to 30 cum laude if the student demonstrates mastery of all the topics, calculation techniques and excellent exhibition skills.
The answers must consist of a general description of the physical phenomenon and the analytical derivation of formulas that describe the phenomenon from a mathematical point of view. In this way, the acquisition of technical skills and the rigor of the exhibition will be verified. The demonstration of basic knowledge related to questions 1) and 3) is sufficient for passing the exam with a good mark. The way in which the student answers questions 2) and 4) determines an increase in the score up to 30 cum laude if the student demonstrates mastery of all the topics, calculation techniques and excellent exhibition skills.
Contents
OSCILLATIONS
Free, forced, forced and damped harmonic oscillations
Coupled oscillators
Inverted pendulum
Parametric oscillations
Nonlinear oscillations
ELASTIC WAVES
D’Alembert equation, plane waves and spherical waves, monochromatic plane waves, phase velocity, interference, beats, group velocity, dispersion
Transverse waves in a string with fixed ends, vibrational modes of the string, Fourier analysis
Longitudinal waves in a solid bar
Acoustic
Sea waves
WAVE OPTICS
Interference: Young, Michelson, Mach-Zehnder interferometers
Diffraction: Kirchoff integral, single slit, double slit, grating, circular opening, opaque disc.Light polarization. Stokes’ parameters and Poincarè’s sphere.
PHYSICAL OPTICS
Snell’s law. Fresnel’s laws. Total reflection. Total refraction. Lorentz-Drude model for the susceptibility.
Free, forced, forced and damped harmonic oscillations
Coupled oscillators
Inverted pendulum
Parametric oscillations
Nonlinear oscillations
ELASTIC WAVES
D’Alembert equation, plane waves and spherical waves, monochromatic plane waves, phase velocity, interference, beats, group velocity, dispersion
Transverse waves in a string with fixed ends, vibrational modes of the string, Fourier analysis
Longitudinal waves in a solid bar
Acoustic
Sea waves
WAVE OPTICS
Interference: Young, Michelson, Mach-Zehnder interferometers
Diffraction: Kirchoff integral, single slit, double slit, grating, circular opening, opaque disc.Light polarization. Stokes’ parameters and Poincarè’s sphere.
PHYSICAL OPTICS
Snell’s law. Fresnel’s laws. Total reflection. Total refraction. Lorentz-Drude model for the susceptibility.
Course Language
Italian
More information
The teacher receives the students by appointment by writing to franco.prati@uninsubria.it
Degrees
Degrees
Physics
Bachelor’s Degree
3 years
No Results Found
People
People
Docenti di ruolo di IIa fascia
No Results Found