Física I

The following basic knowledge is recommended:

• Secondary school physics (10th and 11th grades);
• Introductory concepts of Differential and Integral Calculus.

The Curricular Unit (CU) consists of 3 types of classes:

1. Theoretical classes, in which the contents of the CU program are exposed.
2. Problem solving classes, in which exercises are solved by applying the knowledge exposed in the theoretical classes.
3. Laboratory classes, in which experiments are carried out within the scope of the CU syllabus.

Inappropriate behavior that in any way compromises the normal functioning of the class is not permitted, the use of cell phones in any typology of classes, and the use of tablets and computers is not permitted in theoretical and theoretical-practical classes. Students who use, or attempt to use, any of the aforementioned devices, or who in any way disrupt the normal functioning of classes, will be expelled from classes and will be marked as an unjustifiable absence.

The Physics I Curricular Unit (CU) aims to provide students with basic knowledge of Physics in the field of Classical Mechanics that is relevant to Engineering in general and essential for a proper understanding of many practical engineering solutions. It also aims to provide students with the fundamental knowledge and tools required to understand subjects such as Solid Mechanics, which are taught in other curricular units.

In view of the stated objectives, and considering that this is an introductory Physics curricular unit at higher education level, the teaching methodology must focus on consolidating the theoretical concepts and principles of Physics. This is well suited to an expository approach to teaching the theory, supported, whenever necessary, by the solution of exercises illustrating practical situations and complemented by practical laboratory work.

1. Vector Calculus
1.1. Scalars and vectors;
1.2. Graphical representation of vectors;
1.3. Bound, sliding and free vectors;
1.4. Graphical operations with free vectors: multiplication by a scalar, addition and subtraction;
1.5. Unit vectors;
1.6. Projection of a vector along an arbitrary direction;
1.7. Cartesian representation of vectors: components of a vector, position vector, module of a vector, directing cosines;
1.8. Analytical operations with vectors: multiplication of a vector by a scalar, addition and subtraction of vectors, dot product, cross product, scalar triple product, and derivative of a vector.

2. Particle kinematics
2.1. Inertial referentials
2.2. Position, velocity and acceleration vectors
2.3. One dimension movement: motion laws
2.4. Circular motion
2.5. Projectiles motion
2.6. Tridimensional motion

3. Particle and rigid bocy dynamics
3.1. Particle momentum
3.2. Momentum conservation
3.3. Newton laws
3.4. Force impulse
3.5. Applied, connection and friction forces
3.6. Particle angular momentum
3.7. Force momentum regarding a point and an axis
3.8. Rigid body momentum
3.9. Moment of inertia
3.10. Rigid body dynamics
3.11. Momentum conservation

4. Work and Energy
4.1. Work done by a force
4.2. Power
4.3. Kinetic energy of a particle and rotational and translational kinetic energy of a rigid body
4.4. Kinetic energy theorem
4.5. Conservative forces: potential energy
4.6. Collisions

5. Particle and rigid body statics
5.1. Particle equilibrium
5.2. Rigid body equilibrium
5.3. Structures equilibrium analysis

The assessment consists of three components:

• Four laboratory practical assignments, carried out throughout the semester, each worth 1.00 point, for a total of 4.00 points, with a minimum of 2.00 points;
• Written tests, worth a total of 16 points, with a minimum of 7.00 points;
• A maximum attendance bonus of 1.0 point.

1. Laboratory Practical Assignments

• Students must enrol in groups (two or three students) by the end of the first laboratory class.
• Four practical assignments will be carried out, each worth 1.00 point:
  1. Experimental determination of the acceleration of an object on a frictionless inclined plane, using an air track;
  2. Calibration of a dynamometer and experimental setup of a system of concurrent forces in equilibrium using two masses, a dynamometer, and a graduated scale for measuring angles;
  3. Experimental determination of the acceleration due to gravity using a simple pendulum;
  4. Experimental determination of the moment of inertia of a rotational device, of point masses, and of a cylinder.
• Submission of a pre-report is a necessary condition for being allowed to carry out the laboratory work. (Note: the pre-report is available in the supporting materials on the course page on ISEC’s Moodle.) Questions regarding the laboratory work to be carried out, in particular regarding the preparation of the pre-report, must be clarified in advance and in due time with the instructor responsible for the laboratory classes.

Achieving a minimum of 2.00 points in the laboratory component is a necessary condition to pass the course unit.

Note 1.1: Repeat students who obtained at least 2.00 points in the laboratory component in either of the two previous academic years are exempt from completing the laboratory component. For laboratory grading purposes, the highest grade obtained in those academic years will be considered.

Note 1.2: Students covered by regulations or statutes that explicitly grant exemption from class attendance (such as the Working Student legal regime, set out in Articles 89 to 96 of the Labour Code, approved by Law no. 7/2009 of 12 February), who are unable to attend the laboratory practical classes at the regular timetable, must inform the laboratory instructor by the end of the 2nd week of classes. They must also submit a document issued and signed by the entity for which the student works, proving that the work schedule prevents attendance at the laboratory classes at the regular timetable. Failure to comply with the above deadline and to submit the required document implies that the exceptional assessment described in Note 1.3 will not apply.

Note 1.3: Students covered by Note 1.2 must complete two practical assessments, corresponding to two of the four practical assignments, during the two laboratory classes allocated to making up missed assignments, which will take place in the final two weeks of classes. For these assessments, students must prepare and submit the preliminary reports for all four assignments by the deadline set by the lecturer responsible for the laboratory classes. At each assessment session, one of the four assignments will be selected at random, with no assignment being selected more than once. Each of the two assignments will be worth 2.00 points, and each assessment will have the same duration as a laboratory class.

2. Written Tests

The written tests consist entirely of multiple-choice questions, with 5 answer options per question, each worth 1.00 point. Correct answers are awarded 1.00 point, incorrect answers are awarded -0.25 points, and unanswered questions are awarded 0.00 points.

The following general rules apply to the written tests:

• Students may consult a single A4 sheet (two sides), prepared entirely by the student; no formula sheet will be provided by the instructors. This sheet must be handed in together with the test, must be handwritten, and may not contain exercise statements or solved exercises; otherwise, the test will be annulled.
• The use of simple calculators is allowed, as well as scientific and graphical calculators, provided that the latter allow (and have activated) exam mode.
• Students may not have in their possession computers, tablets, mobile phones, so-called smartwatches, glasses with integrated electronic devices, or any other electronic device other than a calculator and a simple watch. Students must ensure that any non-permitted devices are handed to the invigilators before the start of the test.
• Any infringement of the above rules entails the immediate annulment of the written test, formal reporting for disciplinary proceedings due to fraud, and the non-award of a grade for the course unit. (See Article 31 of the Academic Regulations of the 1st Cycle of Studies of IPC - Dispatch no. 9859/2022, of 9 August.)

For the written assessment component, students may choose one of two modalities: A) Continuous Assessment, or B) Final Exam Assessment.

A) Continuous Assessment

Continuous assessment consists of three tests carried out throughout the semester, with no minimum in each test, but with an overall minimum of 7.00 points as the sum of the three test grades, according to the following schedule:

• The first test, worth 6 points, covers Chapters 1 (Vector Calculus), 2 (Kinematics), and 3 (Dynamics, only up to Section 3.5, corresponding to Linear Dynamics), and takes place between the 6th and 8th week of classes;
• The second test, worth 6 points, covers Chapter 3 (Dynamics, the entire chapter) and Chapter 4 (Work and Energy), and takes place between the 11th and 13th week of classes;
• The third test, worth 4 points, covers Chapters 5 (Statics), and takes place simultaneously with the Normal Exam.

Note 2.A.1: The grade for each test is the arithmetic sum of the marks obtained, with a minimum of 0.00 points.

Note 2.A.2: To pass through continuous assessment, students must attend at least 80.00% of the possible classes of each of the Theoretical and Theoretical-Practical class types, and at least 70.00% of the scheduled classes of each type. Absences duly justified by the Course Coordinator are not counted as absences, nor as possible classes for the purpose of the 80.00% attendance requirement, but they are counted as scheduled possible classes for the calculation of the 70.00% requirement.

B) Assessment by Final Exam

This consists of the exams provided for in the regulations in force at ISEC, structured in three parts, each with the same structure and weighting as the corresponding test.

Note 2.B.1: The final exam grade is the arithmetic sum of the marks obtained, with a minimum of 0.00 points.

Note 2.B.2: Students who choose continuous assessment may, if they wish, and by providing a written and signed indication on the first page of the exam paper, sit the Normal Exam for the full value of the written component (16 points). In this case, the grades obtained in the 1st and 2nd tests are automatically annulled, and only the exam grade is considered, regardless of whether it is higher, equal to, or lower than the grades obtained in the tests.

Note 2.B.3: In the regular and resit examination periods, students who opt for continuous assessment may, if they so wish and provided that they give a written and signed indication on the first page of the examination paper, complete Part 3 of the examination, corresponding to Test 3, together with one of the other two parts. In this case, the mark obtained in each part will be considered without the reduction to 0.00 points described in Note 2.A.1.

Note 2.B.4: To be eligible for assessment by final examination, students must have attended at least 70.00% of the classes taken into account in each class type-Theoretical and Theoretical-Practical. Absences accepted as duly justified by the Programme Coordinator will neither be counted as absences nor included in the total number of classes used to calculate that percentage. This attendance requirement does not apply to examinations taken during the special and extraordinary examination periods when passing the Curricular Unit enables the student to complete the degree programme.

Note 2.B.5: Students covered by regulations or statutes that explicitly grant exemption from class attendance (such as the Working Student legal regime, Articles 89 to 96 of the Labour Code, approved by Law no. 7/2009 of 12 February), who are unable to attend the theoretical and theoretical-practical classes, are exempt from the attendance requirement for exam assessment. The inability to attend the theoretical and theoretical-practical classes must be communicated by the end of the 2nd week of classes, accompanied by a document issued and signed by the entity for which the student works, proving that the work schedule prevents attendance at the laboratory practical classes at the regular timetable. Failure to comply with the above deadline and to submit the required document implies that the exemption from compulsory attendance will not apply.

3. Attendance Bonus

Students who, in each of the theoretical and theoretical-practical class types, attended:

• At least 75% of the scheduled classes are awarded a 0.50-point bonus in the final grade;
• The full 100% of the scheduled classes are awarded an additional 0.5-point bonus in the final grade.

Final Grade

Students who meet the attendance requirements established above for each assessment modality, as well as the minimum requirements in the laboratory assignments and written tests, will pass if C = E + P + B ≥ 9.50, where E is the written assessment grade (0 to 16 points), P is the laboratory grade (0 to 4 points), and B is the total attendance bonus (0.00, 0.50, or 1.00 points).

Students who do not meet any of the established requirements will receive no grade, and the record will show NRC (Does Not Meet Requirements).

Final Note

Students who invoke the clause in:

• Note 1.2 and nevertheless have regular attendance in classes that overlap with the laboratory classes lose the right to invoke that clause and to be assessed in the laboratory component using the method described in Note 1.3, and therefore also being unable to complete any practical assignments that may already have taken place;
• Note 2.B.5 and nevertheless have regular attendance in classes that overlap with the theoretical and theoretical-practical classes lose the right to invoke that clause, and will instead be subject to the minimum attendance requirement set out in Note 2.B.4.

NAO