Learning outcomes of the course unit
This course is aimed at illustratingphysical measurement methods of interest for Mechanical Engineering.Key concepts are: error determination, coupling between instruments andphysical system under investigation, data acquisition and statisticalanalysis for the determination of a given phyisical quantity.
Prerequisites
Required credits in basic classical physics: mechanics, thermodynamics, electromagnetism and optics (foreignstudents, please contact in advance R. De Renzi for details)
Attendence from the first lecture is strictly required (see Contents for the minimal requirements).
Course contents summary
Numerical data analysis (lectures and info lab)
Significative digits
Statistical and systematic uncertainties
Plots.
Error distributions.i
Propagation of uncertaintiesi.
Linear regression.
Least squares and chi square (maximum likelihood).
Linear and polynomial minimization.
Numerical non linear minimization (MINUIT).
Numerical simulation with statistical errors.
Laboratory practice:
Matlab (or octave) in brief.
Electrical, optical and temperature measurements..
Instrumentsi: voltmeter, Bridge circuits, ADC, multifunction boards, oscilloscope. Acquisition chain with PC.
Sensors and actuatorsi. Stepper motor control.
Analysisof the behaviour of an instrument. Calibration, input and outputimpedence, Impedence matching. Dynamical behaviour of an instrument:stationary response, dynamic response window.Minimum:since foreign students often have additional Italian lectures toattend, which may interfere with the scheduled courses, here is thebare minimum which must be fulfilled sequentially:
- all the info lab activities
- all the physics lab activities.
Furthermore the 12 homework exercises must be sent in within the appropriate deadlines.
Ifthe minimum is not satisfied or the final exam is not passed, adetailed description of the partial fulfillment may be sent to theforeign tutor.
Recommended readings
Support materials
Bibliography:
R. Taylor INTRODUZIONE ALL'ANALISI DEGLI ERRORI Lo studio delle
incertezze nelle misure fisiche. Seconda edizione. Zanichelli editore.
(29 Euro). Of course the original, or its translation into other languages, do as well.
Philip R. Bevington, D. Keith Robinson DATA REDUCTION AND ERROR
ANALYSIS for the Physical Sciences - Mc Graw Hill Higher Ed. Boston and
Milan Third Edition (20 sterline)
Other material, partly in Italian, partly in English, is present on the serverhttp://corsi.unipr.it/courses/FISDMECC/index.php
Teaching methods
4 credits correspond to:
20 hours of lectures
14 hours of info lab class
11 physics lab seances (2 experiments)
12 homeworks
In order to pass the exam one must:
send in homeworks within deadlines;
attend all labs (info and physics);
elaborate a written report for each of the two experiments;
finally, discuss the reports and the homeworks.
