| Module Identifier |
PH01010 |
| Module Title |
INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL FORCES |
| Academic Year |
2001/2002 |
| Co-ordinator |
Mr Barry Henley |
| Semester |
Semester 1 |
| Other staff |
Coleg Ceredigion Staff |
| Pre-Requisite |
GCSE Mathematics or equivalent |
| Mutually Exclusive |
Not available to students doing 3 year Physics BSc(Hon) or 4 year MPhys |
| Course delivery |
Lecture | 20 Hours |
| |
Seminar | 4 Hours |
| |
Tutorial | 3 Hours |
| Assessment |
Continuous assessment | Problems Sheets Deadlines in weeks 2,4,6,8 and 10 | 20% |
| |
Exam | 2 Hours | 80% |
Brief description
This module explores the success of Newtonian physics in explaining the world around us - from the behaviour of gases to the orbit of planets. Starting from the cornerstone of Newton's three laws, the module progresses to examine the interaction of forces and material objects and introduces the concept of a central force field. Topics covered include: conservation laws, rotational motion, gravitational fields and potential, projectiles and intermolecular forces.
Learning outcomes
After taking this module students should be able to:
-
Understand how Newtonian mechanics can be used to describe the behaviour of simple mechanical systems, and be able to apply that understanding to solve simple problems in this area.
Additional learning activities
Four workshops are to take place at appropriate intervals throughout the course to develop problem solving skills in this subject.
Outline syllabus
Outline Syllabus
(a) Newtonian Mechanics
Definitions of force, vector and scalar quantities addition of vectors,
Components of vectors, adding vectors by components.
Forces in equilibrium. Newton's three laws.
Newton's laws of motion. Motion under gravity. Projectiles.
Impulse. Conservation of momentum, elastic and inelastic collisions.
Work, energy and power.
Circular motion. Centripetal force and acceleration.
Rotation of solid bodies. Moment of inertia, angular momentum.
Couples, torques and angular acceleration.
Parallels between translational and rotational motion.
Kepler's laws of planetary motion. Newtonian gravitation.
Gravitational field, fields inside and outside the Earth.
Gravitational potential. The orbit of satellites, escape velocity.
Geosynchronous orbits
(b) The Kinetic Theory of Matter
Intermolecular force and potential energy,
Thermal expansion, the mole and Avogadro number.
The kinetic theory of matter. An ideal gas. Derivation
of pressure from consideration of molecular motions.
The concept of rms velocity
Derivation of gas laws from kinetic ideas
Degrees of freedom and mean free path
Reading Lists
Books
** Recommended Text
M. Nelkon and P.Parker.
Advanced Level Physics. Heinemann Educational 0 435 686682