Undulatory Phenomena

Code: FIS14150L

6 ECTS

Duration: 15 weeks/156 hours

Scientific Area: Physics

Teaching languages: Portuguese

Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese

Regime de Frequência: Presencial

Presentation

The student should acquire knowledge of the types of vibrations in physical systems, and qualitatively and quantitatively describe the propagation of perturbations (waves), both mechanic and electromagnetic.

Sustainable Development Goals

Educação de qualidade - Assegurar a educação inclusiva, e equitativa e de qualidade, e promover oportunidades de aprendizagem ao longo da vida para todos.

Learning Goals

To characterize the types of vibrations in physical systems. Qualitatively and quantitatively describe the propagation of perturbations (waves), both mechanic and electromagnetic.

Review on complex numbers. Harmonic oscillations and addition of oscillations; beating. Simple, damped and forced harmonic oscillator and their differential equations. Coupled oscillators; infinite chain of coupled oscillators, propagation of a wave. Wave equation. Propagation of waves: amplitude, frequency, wavelength, phase and group velocity. Propagation of energy in a wave. Electromagnetic waves: wave equation, polarization; Poynting vector. Diffraction of light. Geometrical optics: images from mirrors and lenses.
The experiments to be performed in the laboratory lessons should include at least the following: observation of superposition of oscillations and Lissajous figures with an oscilloscope; light diffraction through single and double slits; study of standing waves in a metallic rope; study the Doppler effect with ultrasound; study light interference using the Michelson interferometer.

Teaching Methods

Exposition of the syllabus in lectures, including problem solving. Realization of experiments (compulsory) in the laboratory (1 or 2 hours/week) and writing reports on those experiments (practical evaluation). EVALUATION: the final score is a weighted average between the practical component (30%) and the theoretical component (70%). The score on the theoretical component is the maximum between the following three: the average of two optional written tests, the optional normal epoch exam, and the optional final resource exam.