Mechanical Science

Learning Outcomes

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Apply problem solving techniques to familiar and unfamiliar problems
• Apply mathematical methods to solve problems
• Manage your own learning

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• The ideas relevant to simple field theory, and common devices based on these principles
• The concept of a vector and how vectors can be used to solve problems in mechanics
• Newton's laws of motion and their application to systems in equilibrium, and to rigid bodies moving under the action of simple systems of forces.
• The concepts of momentum, work, energy and power

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Apply theoretical knowledge to model real-world systems and to solve simple practical problems in statics and in linear and rotational dynamics and simple field theory

Statics

• scalar and vector quantities
• addition, subtraction and resolution of coplanar vectors
• moments, torques and couples
• conditions for equilibrium of coplanar forces acting at a point and in simple structures
• tensile and compressive stresses and strains, Hooke’s law, Young’s modulus, plastic deformation, elastic strain energy, yield stress, ultimate tensile stress, work done in stretching
• centres of mass and centroids

Linear Dynamics

• Displacement, speed, velocity and acceleration; graphical representation of motion at i) constant speed ii) constant acceleration; use of equations of motion for constant acceleration
• independence of motion in two perpendicular directions
• force, mass and momentum
• Newton’s laws of motion
• systems with friction, limiting friction
• efficiency of processes and sources of energy loss
• conservation of momentum in two body collisions

Work, Energy and Power

• work = force × distance
• power as rate of doing work
• kinetic energy and change in gravitational potential energy
• the principle of conservation of energy

Rotational Dynamics

• circular motion at constant speed, centripetal acceleration
• angular displacement, speed, acceleration, frequency and period; rotational energy and momentum
• circular motion with constant acceleration
• moment of inertia

Electro-magnetism

• Electric charge, Coulomb’s Law, Electric Field E, Lines of Force – field due to spherically symmetric and planar charge distributions.

Electric Fields

• Electric Potential and Potential difference, Relation between E and V Charged conductors, screening of electric fields.
• Capacitors from first principles- capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor, qualitative description of material dielectrics

Magnetic Fields

• Definition of the B field in terms of the force on a moving charge. Magnetic flux
• Motion of charged particles in a magnetic field, force on a current carrying conductor – electric motor, loudspeakers.
• The magnetic field created by moving charges – Biot-Savart Law.

Learning activities include

• Individual work on examples, supported by tutorial/workshop sessions.
• Elements of the coursework module GENG0015, may support your learning in this module.

Teaching methods include

• Lectures, supported by example sheets.
• Tutorials/Workshops.
• Printed notes available through Blackboard and/or through your module lecturer.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.