Physics quantities and dimensions.Errors in physical measurements. Main characteristics of measurements intruments (precision, sensitivity, etc.). Statistical treatments of measurements results. Laboratory experiments in mechanics, thermodinamics, physics of liquids, geometrical and physical optics.
Introduzione all'analisi degli errori, J.R. Taylor, Zanichelli
Introduzione alla esperimentazione fisica, M. Severi, Zanichelli
Learning Objectives
Knowledge acquired:
Basics of physical quantity measurements and treatments of measurements uncertainties both i n direct and indirect measurements. Measurements methods of physical quantities in mechanics, theromodinamics, geometrical and physical optics.
Competence acquired
The main aim of this course is to give to students both theoretical and experimental basis to perform correct measurements of physical quantities.
Through simple measurements of lengths, time intervals, temperature, students acquire a critical view of the overall measurement process. These concepts are at the basis for the analysis of more complicated measurements problems. Moreover, the students learn how to present the outcome of a scientific experiment within the standard scientific method.
Skills acquired (at the end of the course):
Basic skills in the application of scientific intruments for precise measurements of length, time and temperature. Introduction to the use of spherometers for the measurement of radii of curvatures, and the use of optical benches for measurement of focal lengths of thin lenses.
Knowledge of instruments and basic technique for density measurements of liquids and solids and for various other interesting paramenters in liquids (surface tension and viscosity).
Prerequisites
Courses required: --
Courses recommmended: MATEMATICA I, FISICA I
Teaching Methods
CFU: 6
Total hours of the course (including the time spent in attending lectures, seminars, private study, examinations, etc...): 150
Hours reserved to private study and other indivual formative activities: 90
Contact hours for: Lectures (hours): 24
Contact hours for: Laboratory (hours):
Contact hours for: Laboratory-field/practice (hours): 36
Seminars (hours): 0
Stages: 0
Intermediate examinations: 0
Type of Assessment
Exam modality:
Written and oral exams. The written exam consists of written reports of laboratory experiments done during the course. The oral one is an open discussion on theoretical and experimental aspects of the measurements of physical quantities presented in the course.
Course program
Physics quantities and dimensions.Errors in physical measurements. Main characteristics of measurements intruments (precision, sensibility, etc.). Statistical treatments of measurements results and Gauss distribution of errors. Error propagation in indirect measurements. Laboratory experiments
Measurement of g through the study of the oscillatory motion of a ball in a spheric surface. Measurements of density. Experiments with calorimeters and measurement of cp constant for water.
Measurement of viscosity and liquid surface tension of a liquid. Measurement of thin lenses focal length with an optical bench. Measurements with spectrometers, and measurement of index of refraction of air with a Michelson interferometer.