Course syllabus for Mechanics

Course syllabus adopted 2019-02-12 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameMekanik
  • CodeFTF195
  • Credits6 Credits
  • OwnerTKBIO
  • Education cycleFirst-cycle
  • Main field of studyEngineering Physics
  • DepartmentPHYSICS
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language Swedish
  • Application code 48120
  • Maximum participants90
  • Open for exchange studentsNo
  • Only students with the course round in the programme overview.

Credit distribution

0102 Examination 6 c
Grading: TH		 6 c
  • 04 Jun 2021 am J
  • 10 Okt 2020 am J
  • 25 Aug 2021 am J

In programmes

Examiner

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Eligibility

General entry requirements for bachelor's level (first cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

The same as for the programme that owns the course.
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Course specific prerequisites

Calculus and linear algebra corresponding to MVE460, MVE465 and MVE470

Aim

The course gives basic knowledge in mechanics together with the possibility of training and developing a number of capabilities. An understanding of the historic role of mechanics as the first exact science is important for the foundation of quantum mechanics. Mechanics is furthermore a way of treating the motion of macroscopic bodies, but also molecular problems can sometimes be addressed. The course gives training in using mathematics as an exact language for the theoretical formulation of models, at the same time giving confidence in the laws and terminology of mechanics. Mechanics is also a way of communicating with other engineers since applied mechanics is a part of most areas of engineering. Throughout the course biological examples are being used, especially the human body. This gives ample opportunities to work on more complex systems, all the way down to the molecular level.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

After completion of the course the student should be able to

  • explain and apply the basic concepts and principles of Newtonian mechanics,
  • analyse a physical problem and translate it into a mathematical model,
  • analyse the mathematical model and translate the result back into the physical problem,
  • use simple physical models to analyze biological systems.
The basic concepts that the course aims to introduce and apply include the following:

The Force Concept: After completion of the course the student should be able to draw the forces that act on a body under different conditions and apply this knowledge on equilibrium problems.

Dynamics: After completion of the course the student should be able to set up and solve Newton's equation of motion in a general situation, including situations where the applied forces depend on time, position or velocity.

The Law of Conservation of Energy: After completion of the course the student should be able to explain under which conditions the principle of energy conservation is applicable to mechanical problems as well as apply it when these conditions are met. The concept of potential energy is a central ingredient in this part of the course.

Impulse and Momentum: After completion of the course the student should be able to explain the concepts of impulse and momentum as well as be able to apply them, among others, on collision problems in one or more dimensions.

Periodic Oscillatory Motion: After completion of the course the student should be able to explan the concept of "harmonic oscillator" and under which conditions a force gives rise to a periodic oscillatory motion, as well as be able to solve the one-dimensional equation of motion in this case.

Rotation Around a Fixed Axis: After completion of the course the student should be able to explain the concepts of angular momentum, torque, moment of inertia and rotational kinetic energy as well as be able to use them to describe the rotation of a rigid body around a fixed axis. The student should be able to set up and solve the equation of motion for the rotation of a rigid body around a fixed axis in the most common special cases.

Content

  • Dimensional Analysis
  • Forces and torque
  • Statics
  • Particle Kinematics
  • The Force Equation
  • The Law of Energy Conservation
  • The Impulse Equation
  • Oscillatory Motion
  • Angular Momentum
  • System of Particles
  • Rotation of a Rigid Body Around a Fixed Axis

Organisation

The course is composed of lectures, exercises and experimental sessions. The exercises consist partly of smaller-group classes, in which the students work on the problems with aid from teaching assistants, and partly of full-group demonstrations, in which model solutions to selected problems are demonstrated. Attendance to one experimental session is compulsory.

Literature

The course literature consists of the following two books:
  • Nyberg, C. (2014), "Mekanik - Statik", andra upplagan, Stockholm: Liber, ISBN 978-91-47-11442-9.
  • Nyberg, C. (2014), "Mekanik - Partikeldynamik", andra upplagan, Stockholm: Liber, ISBN 978-91-47-11443-6.

Examination including compulsory elements

Written exam together with a compulsory experimental session. Furthermore there will be a voluntary mid-course test.