Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description

CODE IFS0430

 
TITLE Classical Mechanics for Aviation Maintenance

 
UM LEVEL 00 - Mod Pre-Tert, Foundation, Proficiency & DegreePlus

 
EQF/MQF LEVEL Not Applicable

 
ECTS CREDITS 5

 
DEPARTMENT International School for Foundation Studies

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit provides some of the fundamental theory of classical physics, namely scalars and vectors, Newton’s laws of motion, forces and moments, energy and power, statics, kinematics and kinetics. This unit also gives a very brief introduction to fundamental topics in Fluids and Thermodynamics. These topics are dealt with in moderate detail. Furthermore, the student is also introduced to experimentation and formal lab report preparation through several lab sessions held throughout the duration of the study-unit.

Topic 1 – Physical Quantities and SI Units
- Difference between base quantities and derived quantities
- Difference between base units and derived units
- Concept of SI units
- SI Prefixes and Standard Forms
- Homogeneity of Equations

Topic 2 – Scalars and Vectors
- Difference between scalars and vectors
- Representing vectors
- Finding the resultant of vectors
- Resolving vectors
- Free and Localized vectors

Topic 3 – Newton’s Laws of Motion
- Introducing Newton’s three laws of motion
- Difference between particle and rigid body
- Drawing of free body-diagrams of a 2D system
- Nature of Forces (weight, normal reaction, tension, solid surface friction,
Archimedes’ upthrust, viscous friction, aerodynamic lift and drag)
- Concept of equilibrium and acceleration in a straight line
- Concept of Inertia
- Force problems involving particles

Topic 4 – Forces and Moments
- Concept of Moment
- Concept of Degree of Freedom and Constraints
- Concept of Moment of Inertia
- Introduction to Angular motion
- Force and moment problems involving rigid bodies

Topic 5 – Energy, Work and Power
- Kinetic Energy
- Gravitational Potential Energy
- Principle of conservation of energy
- Concept of Power
- Concept of Efficiency

Topic 6 – Characterization of Mechanical Properties
- Tension/Compression, Torsion, Shear
- Ductile vs Brittle materials
- Drawing of stress-strain graphs
- Experimental determination of Young’s Modulus
- Work done in stretching a wire
- Concept of Elastic hysteresis
- Failure mechanisms: Fatigue and Creep

Topic 7 – Dynamics
- Linear Motion
o Definition of key terms
o Drawing of velocity-time graphs and displacement-time graphs
o Linear Momentum
o Concept of conservation of linear momentum
o Types of collision and Newton’s law of impact
- Circular Motion
o Definition of key terms
o Centripetal force and Centripetal Acceleration
o Derivation of centripetal acceleration formula
o Concept of Weightlessness
- Curvilinear Motion
o Questions on projectiles
o Derivation to find maximum range
- Rigid body rotating about a fixed axis
o Revisiting concept of moment of inertia in more detail
o Rotational form of Newton’s second law
o Angular momentum
o Translational vs Rotational KE
- Simple Harmonic Motion
o Definition of SHM and key terms
o Derivation of x(t)=a sin⁡(ωt) for a particular set of initial conditions
o Obtaining velocity and acceleration equations with respect to time from displacement equation
o Concept of phasing
o Derivation of equation of velocity with respect to displacement
o Proving the SHM behavior of several practical systems (mass on a spring, simple pendulum, etc)
o Energy in SHM
o Damped vibrations
o Concept of free and forced oscillations
o Resonance

Topic 8 – Fluids and Thermodynamics
- Classification of Matter
o Internal energy (potential & kinetic)
o Shape, volume and density
o Change between states
o Concept of pressure
o Concept of temperature
- Thermometry
- The Atom as a Building Block of Matter
- Introduction to Fluid Dynamics
o Concept of Specific Gravity
o Introduction to Viscosity, Fluid Resistance and Streamlining
o Compressibility of Fluids
o Static, Dynamic and Total Pressure
o Introduction to Bernoulli’s Theorem
o The Venturi Meter
- Heat Transfer
o Introduction to conduction, convection and radiation


Study-Unit Aims:

This study-unit aims to provide the student with intermediate-to-advanced knowledge that relates to classical mechanics, as well as introduce the student to experimentation and lab report formulation.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- Identify the difference between base and derived quantities.
- List SI units and describe them in their standard forms and prefixes.
- Check for homogeneity of equations.
- Differentiate between scalar and vector quantities.
- Describe Newton’s three laws of motion and apply them to problems involving particles and rigid bodies in two-dimensional systems that are in equilibrium and accelerating.
- Identify and characterize forces that act on systems.
- Identify degrees of freedom and constraints on a system of forces.
- Describe the concept of moment of inertia.
- Highlight basic concepts of angular motion required to solve problems on two-dimensional rigid body systems.
- Evaluate normal stress and strain.
- Describe shear and torsion.
- Find the Young’s Modulus of a Material through an experiment.
- Describe energy conversion through the concept of work done.
- Evaluate the power delivered or absorbed by a system and its relation to energy and work.
- Characterize problems involving linear motion.
- Draw and characterize displacement-time and velocity-time graphs.
- Distinguish between different types of impact.
- Distinguish between circular motion, projectiles, rotational motion and vibratory motion.
- Classify the three different types of matter based on their kinetic and potential energy components of their internal energy.
- Describe the differences in shape, volume and density for the three different types of matter.
- Describe the change between the different states of matter through the use of a phase diagram.
- Describe the concept of pressure and identify the difference between absolute and gauge pressure.
- Evaluate hydraulic pressure.
- Convert between the Celsius and Kelvin scales of temperature.
- State the Zeroth law of thermodynamics and explain the concept of thermal equilibrium.
- Describe the concept of fixed points and use them to set up a temperature scale.
- Explain in detail the principle of operation of the following thermometers: the liquid-in-glass, RTD (resistance temperature detector), thermocouple, thermistor and the constant volume gas thermometer.
- Describe the process of heat transfer by one-dimensional conduction in materials with a constant cross-sectional area and uniform thermal conductivity in steady-state conditions.
- Use Fourier’s law of one-dimensional conduction.
- Describe the difference between steady-state and transient heat transfer problems.
- Describe the process of heat transfer by convection and using Newton’s law of cooling.
- Distinguish between free and forced convection and relating this to the convection heat transfer coefficient.
- Describe the process of heat transfer by radiation, and quantify it using Stefan’s law.
- Discuss the spectral distribution of radiation heat transfer.
- Present the atomic structure
- Discuss the electrostatic and strong nuclear forces within the atom.
- Use and characterize the periodic table.
- Present and discuss the different types of primary interatomic bonding: ionic, covalent and metallic.

2. Skills:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- Work with scalar and vectors quantities.
- Identify the integrity of an equation.
- Conduct simple physics experiments.
- Distinguish between particles and rigid bodies and the limitations these assumptions impose on the solution of a real-world problem
- Work quantitative problems involving forces and moments, energy and power, and the various types of motion.
- Analyze a load applied on a material.
- Calibrate a temperature scale.
- Suggest the most ideal thermometer for a particular temperature measurement application.
- Estimate the quantity of heat transferred by conduction, convection and radiation.
- Distinguish between the different types of matter and their characteristics to explain different heat transfer phenomena.
- Analyze data obtained from experiments and prepare lab reports that formally document these experiments.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture, Practicum & Tutorial

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Assignment No 5%
Logbook No 15%
Progress Test Yes 15%
Examination (2 Hours) Yes 65%

 

 

 
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