500355 - PHYSICS

The fundamental concepts of Physics - necessarily limited in terms of time - are presented in their essential lines in a rigorous manner, while avoiding, as far as possible, heavy formalisms and details. Starting from brief introductory mathematical references (scientific notation, geometry, commonly used functions), we introduce scalar and vector quantities and the physical units in the MKS, cgs and other systems with emphasis on conversions among them. The main principles and laws of classical physics are then presented: kinematics (speed and acceleration, rectilinear motions, circular motion), dynamic and static (Newton's laws, conservation of energy and momentum, gravitational force and weight force, friction, translational and rotational equilibrium, power and efficiency), fluid mechanics (flow, pressure and hydrostatic pressure, continuity equation, Pascal and Archimede principles, laminar and turbulent motion, Bernoulli theorem), thermodynamics (temperature and heat, laws of perfect gases, principles of thermodynamics, heat transmission), electromagnetism (Coulomb force, potential and electric current, Ohm's laws, magnetic field, Lorentz force), waves (wave phenomena, wave propagation law, sound and light, electromagnetic spectrum, light propagation).
The explanations are accompanied, as far as possible, by examples and applications in the field of life sciences. The course is completed by laboratory exercises (density and viscosity of a fluid, Ohm's laws, spectroscope).