Mechanics

Code:

FIS1013

Acronym:

FIS1013

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Physics

Instance: 2024/2025 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Physics and Astronomy
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor in Engineering Physics

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
L:B	1	Official Study Plan	3	-	6	54	162
L:CC	5	study plan from 2021/22	2	-	6	54	162
			3
L:EF	78	study plan from 2021/22	1	-	6	54	162
L:F	54	Official Study Plan	1	-	6	54	162
L:G	1	study plan from 2017/18	2	-	6	54	162
			3
L:IACD	0	study plan from 2021/22	3	-	6	54	162
L:M	19	Official Study Plan	2	-	6	54	162
			3
L:Q	0	study plan from 2016/17	3	-	6	54	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

This course aims to present the concepts and the basic principles of Classic Mechanics, and relativity, with emphasis on  understanding and application in the analysis of  real world situations . Students should have the ability to manipulate fundamental concepts and knowi how to apply them to solve problems. Students will be motivated to consider the principles of Mechanics in other areas of knowledge and in technology. Particular attention will be paid to training in problem solving by familiarizing students with heuristics and modes of thinking of experienced physicists.

Learning outcomes and competences

Students should demonstrate good understanding of fundamental mechanical concepts (description of motion, mass, force, linear and angular momentum, energy) and relativity (relativity of space and time, space-time diagrams  and relativistic momentum and energy) by correctly solving problems of direct application of these concepts, and by  modeling and analysing, in terms of mechanics concepts, real world situations.

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

Basic trigonometry, basic vector calculus, basic derivative of a function, elementary geometry.

Program

1. Static and vector calculus

1.1. Vectorial representation of force and torque. Cross product.

1.2. Balancing forces

1.3. Balancing torques

 

1. Describing the motion

2.1. Position and reference frame. Trajectory.

2.2. Displacement and mean velocity.

2.3. Velocity and graph velocity versus time. Interpretation of the area under the curve.

2.4. Changing velocity and acceleration. Graph velocity versus time and interpretation of the area under the curve.

2.5. Motion in a plane and polar coordinates. Components of the velocity and acceleration. Projectile motion. Circular motion.

 

1. The Newtonian program

3.1. Particle and body, Center of mass of a body.

3.2. Notion of mass and linear momentum.

3.3. Force laws. Examples: friction and drag forces, gravity and elastic forces.

3.4. Forces and acceleration. The Newton law of motion.

3.5. From forces to position: integration and initial conditions.

3.6. Falling under the action of drag forces. Limit velocity and graphs.

3.6. Oscillations and simple harmonic motion. Frequency and phase. Graphs position-time, velocity-time and acceleration-time.

3.7. Uniform circular motion as a superposition of two perpendicular simple harmonic motion. Phase relations.

 

1. Work and energy

4.1. Work – notion and interpretation.

4.2. Work as a way to transfer energy to a system.

4.3. Work and kinetic energy.

4.4. Conservative forces. Potential energy. Elastic and gravitational forces as conservative forces.

4.5. Conservation of the mechanical energy.

 

1. System of particles

5.1. Center of mass and its position. Center of mass referential frame.

5.2. Internal and external forces. Motion of the center of mass.

5.3. Linear momentum of the particle system and its relation with the linear momentum of center of mass.

5.4. Conservation of the linear momentum.

5.5. Energy and linear momentum of a particle system. Internal energy.

5.6. Collisions. Study of collisions in laboratory and center of mass referential frames.

 

1. Central forces and angular momentum

6.1. Angular momentum of a particle and a particle system.

6.2. Angular momentum and torque. Angular momentum of a particle system.

6.3. Moment of inertia of a particle and of a particle system. Calculating moments of inertia.

6.4. Conservation of the angular momentum. Collisions.

6.5. Gravity and Keppler laws.

 

1. Rotation of rigid bodies

7.1. Moment of inertia of pancake object in x-y plane and non-planar objects. Calculating the moment of inertia. Principal axes and inertial tensor.

7.2. Torque and angular momentum of a rigid body.

7.3. Rotation about fixed axes coinciding with principal inertial axes.

7.4. Energy of a rotation body about a fixed axis.

7.5. Roling without sliding.

 

1. Accelerated reference frames.

8.1. Relating the coordinates. Galileu transformations.

 8.2 The fictitious forces. Coriolis force and centripetal forces.

 8.3 Tides.

Mandatory literature

Marcelo Alonso; Fisica. ISBN: 84-03-20990-8 Conjunto 3 vols.
Feynman; The^Feynman Lectures on Physics. Vols. I

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theory classes (with oriented readings), problem solving classes.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Teste	100,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	99,00
Frequência das aulas	63,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

Attendance at least 3/4 of the theoretical-practical classes scheduled.

Calculation formula of final grade

The assessment of students' knowledge will be carried out through three tests, scheduled for:

1st October 25, 2024 at 2:00 p.m.

2nd test December 6, 2024 at 2:00 p.m.

3rd test will take place during the regular period, according to the calendar to be published by the Pedagogical Council.

Since the assessment for this academic year is different from previous years, there will be no transfer of the grade from the continuous assessment obtained in previous years.

Failure to attend one of the tests corresponds to a grade of 0 (zero).

Final grade = arithmetic mean of the grades of the three tests