Module Identifier PH01010  
Module Title INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL FORCES  
Academic Year 2006/2007  
Co-ordinator Mr Barry Henley  
Semester Semester 1  
Other staff Mr Barry Henley  
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.  
  Seminars / Tutorials   3 Hours. Tutorial.  
Assessment
Assessment TypeAssessment Length/DetailsProportion
Semester Exam2 Hours  80%
Semester Assessment Continuous Assessment: tests in weeks 6 and 1120%

Learning outcomes

After taking this module students should be able to:

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, kinetic theory of gases.

Content

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 0435686682

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 3