Northeastern State University

Mechanics (Dynamics) – EPhy 3213            Syllabus – Spring 2008

Instructor:

Dr. Brian Kaney, Associate Professor of Physics                       Office:  SC  LL054

Phone:  456‑5511 ext. 3834   (or 444-3834)                          E-mail: kaney@nsuok.edu

Official Course Location:  SC  156

Office Hours:

Mon     8:00 AM ‑ 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM               

Tues     1:00 PM ‑ 2:00 PM

Wed     9:00 AM ‑ 10:00 AM, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Thurs    9:00 AM ‑ 10:00 AM

Fri        12:00 PM ‑ 1:00 PM

            or by appointment or stop by

Instructional Materials:

The textbook is Vector Mechanics for Engineers by Beer, Johnston, Clausen

(8th edition)

Instructional Schedule:

Test 1              Feb 6 (Wed)                on Chapters 11, 12

Test 2              Mar 3 (Mon)                on Chapters 13, 14

Test 3              April 9 (Wed)               on Chapters 15, 16

Test 4              April 28 (Mon)             on Chapters 17, 18

Final Exam     May 7  (Wed 11-1)      Comprehensive

Unit 1:  This unit covers the kinematics and dynamics of particles in 1, 2 and 3 dimensions.  Components of velocity and acceleration vectors are described in Cartesian, polar and tangential to motion/normal to motion frames of reference.  Cases where the net force is a function of time, position or velocity are considered.  Central force problems will be treated.

Unit 2:  This unit extends the techniques of unit 1 to include momentum and energy techniques.  The impulse/momentum formulation of Newton’s 2^nd Law is considered along with problems of linear momentum conservation.  The coefficient of restitution is defined and applied to general 1-D and 2-D collisions.  Work/energy theorem techniques are used and energy conservation is considered, included a return to central force problems such as satellite orbit transfer.  

Chapter 14 introduces systems of multiple particles.  The dynamics of single particles is extended to arbitrary systems of particles, with the importance seen of the motion of the center of mass and motion relative to the center of mass.

Unit 3:  In this unit all the techniques so far are developed more fully for the case of a rigid body.  Translation, rotation about a fixed point, and general plane motion are investigated.  Instantaneous center of rotation is defined.  Velocity and Acceleration vectors for rotating coordinate systems are seen, for example the Coriolis acceleration for objects on the earth.

Unit 4:  Here we look at momentum and energy techniques for rigid bodies in plane motion and then in the full 3-D case.  We look at combined force impulse/torque impulse problems.  Conservation of angular momentum is applied.  In 3-D, the full moment of inertia tensor is considered.  We investigate the torque needed to spin asymmetric objects at constant angular velocity and the precession of symmetric objects being spun on an axis other than a principal axis.

Student Evaluation:

There will be a total of 600 points possible, broken down in the following way:

Test 1:              100

Test 2:              100

Test 3:              100

Test 4:              100

Final:                150

Homework:      50

The final letter grade is based on the scale of:

90% ‑ 100% = A

80% ‑ 90% = B

70% ‑ 80% = C

60% ‑ 70% = D

less than 60% = F

ADA Compliance:

If any member of the class feels that he/she has a disability and needs special accommodations of any nature whatsoever, the instructor will work with you and the University's Office of Student Affairs to provide reasonable accommodations to ensure that you have a fair opportunity to perform in this class.  Please advise the instructor of such disability and the desired accommodations at the first class attended.