Lecture notes given by the teachers
which could be downloaded from the
website:
http://hep.fi.infn.it/fisichetta1/dispensea.html
and something in:
``Introduzione all'analisi degli errori'' –
John R. Taylor - Zanichelli (Bo)
``Elementi di Fisica'' - M. Ageno –
Boringhieri (To)
``Esercizi di Fisica'' - M. Giovannozzi,
P. Sona
``Fondamenti di Fisica'' - D. Halliday, R. Resnick, J. Walker - CEA (Mi)
Learning Objectives
Knowledge acquired:
Introduction to the measure of physical quantities, both from the experimental point of view and from that of the analysis of the collected data.
Competence acquired:
Understanding the procedure to measure a physical quantity.
Error propagation. Best estimate of the true value and error associate to an indirectly measured physical quantity based on the directly measured quantities.
Skill in the use of the laboratory instruments for mechanical measurements (callipers, Palmers, electronic balance, time measuring
instruments etc)
Skills acquired (at the end of the
course):
Set-up, data acquisition and data analysis of a simple laboratory experiment.
Prerequisites
none
Teaching Methods
CFU: 9
Total hours of the course (including
the time spent in attending lectures,
seminars, private study, examinations,
etc...): 225
Contact hours for: Lectures (hours): 84
Contact hours for: Laboratory-field/
practice (hours): 24
Intermediate examinations: 4
Further information
Office hours
O.Adriani: Monday 3 pm - 5 pm or on
appointment (055-4572344 o 055-4572653)
P. Pietrini: Monday 2.30 pm - 4.30 pm at the “Astronomy Section” ((Largo E. Fermi 2, Firenze) or on appointment (0552055231; ppietrini@arcetri.astro.it) at the “Physics and Astronomy Department” (via Sansone 1, Sesto)
A.Stefanini: Monday 2.30 pm - 4.30 pm or on appointment (0554572269)
Website: http://hep.fi.infn.it/fisichetta1
Type of Assessment
Both for the first part and for the second one
there is the compulsory attendance,
accomplished with the presence in the
laboratory during the shifts assigned (one for the first part, at least four on five for the second one).
It’s possible to follow one of the different
procedures proposed below.
Standard procedure
To obtain 9 CFU and an associated valuation expressed in thirtieths, it’s necessary to pass a practical individual test (called practical standard test) and an individual oral test (standard oral), upon the 5 experiment done during the year and the arguments explained
in the course.
The examination appeals (2 for session) for these standard tests are in the sections of examinations following to the performance of the obligation of frequency.
To help the student in the acquisition of the credits (9 CFU) , an alternative procedure is possible:
Alternative procedure
This procedure allows the student to replace the standard procedure with a written test at the end of the first part of the course , the delivery of some reports (a part of which with an evaluation at least sufficient) of the courses and a final oral test. In practice this is concretized as follows:
The student has been valuated in the written test foreseen at the end of the first part (the valuation doesn’t have to be necessarily positive); the student belongs to a group that has delivered four or more reports of the lab
experiences within a week from the date of their execution and receives a positive
valuation (at least sufficient) at, at least, four of them.
If the conditions reported above have been satisfied for both part, the student is admitted at the oral test without the necessity of the practical individual test foreseen from the standard procedure. If the student fails for two times the oral test won’t be able to follow the alternative procedure and will have to follow the standard procedure. In any case, the student won’t be able to follow the alternative procedure after the last appeal of the exam session of September which immediately follows the performance of the
obligation of the course frequency.
Course program
first part
Operative definition of physical quantities. The concept of length; physical plan and physical ruler, measures of length. Measures
of a plain and a solid angle.
The concept of time interval.
The concept of mass and her measure.
Physical concept of forces, practical measure of forces. Primitive and derived physical quantities, dimensional equations.
Unit systems. Units, dimensions and
conversion factors of the physical mechanic and thermodynamic quantities.
Numerical representation of measures of
physical quantities.
Order of magnitude and meaningful figures.
Approximations and relative precision.
Meaningful figures in the numerical
operations. Approximate values of the
functions.
Charts and graphs.
Absolute measures, relative measures, with set instruments. Scales and indexes, the nonius. Characteristics of a tool (promptness, capacity, sensitivity, etc).
Systematic errors.
Calipers and palmer.
Best guess of the measured value and of the uncertainty of a measure.
Errors propagation for an indirect measure.
Graphic determination of the relation between physical quantities.
Random errors and their “empirical”
distribution. Representation with Gauss
function.
Medium value and standard deviation in a Gauss distribution and their meaning.
The “erf(x)”function.
Best guess of medium value and standard deviation of a set of measures.
Limit of confidence of a normal distribution.
Errors propagation for quantities affected by random errors.
Medium quadratic error.
Chauvenet criterion.
Binomial distribution.
Poisson distribution.
Method of the least squares. Covariance and correlation coefficient.
second part
Experiments of classical Mechanics:
- Rolling of a sphere on an inclined plan and measure of g.
- The pendulum as precise tool for the measure of g.
Electronic scales and measure of the relative density of a liquid and of a solid (method of the picnometer).
- “Catetometro”, measures of elastic
constants (bending of a bar, pendulum of torsion, elasticity, etc)
- Measurement of the inertia of a flywheel.