Physics

Knowledge of Physics: at the level of secondary education.
Mathematical knowledge: integral and differential calculus.

In the theoretical-practical classes, a theoretical exposition of each subject is made, which is immediately complemented by the resolution of exercises to apply the acquired knowledge.

There is also a laboratory component in which 4 practical assignments (Surface Tension, Static, Fluid Dynamics, and Rotation Dynamics) are carried out, in groups of 2 students, with delivery of a group report.

Objectives:

• To acquire knowledge to be able to analyze rigid body equilibrium as well as its translation and rotation motions under the action of systems of forces and couples;
• Understanding of concepts, principles and fundamental laws in Fluid Mechanics field.

Generics skills:

• Ability to perform scientific decisions and judgments associated both with the theoretical and practical knowledge acquired;
• Practising the interchanging of ideas and the discussion of problems and solutions and developing a professional attitude in his relation to work;
• Developing self-knowledge acquisition habits.

Specific skills:

• Understanding and ability to manipulate the physical entities and units covered;
• Ability to make the application of acquired knowledge in specific practical situations;
• Ability to make the interpretation and the discussion of the numerical expression and the physical meaning of data from laboratorial experiments.

1. Unit Systems:

• Magnitudes and SI base and derived units;
• Equations of dimensions and principle of dimensional homogeneity;
• SI units used in Engineering;
• Change of system of units.

2. Vector Calculus:

• Scalars and vectors;
• Graphical representation of vectors;
• Bound, sliding and free vectors;
• Graphical operations with free vectors: multiplication by a scalar, addition and subtraction;
• Unit vectors;
• Projection of a vector along an arbitrary direction;
• Cartesian representation of vectors: components of a vector, position vector, module of a vector, directing cosines;
• 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.

3. Systems of Forces:

• Newton’s laws;
• Types of forces;
• Torque of a force with respect to a point and an axis;
• Resultant force and resultant torque;
• Force couple and torque of a force couple;
• Equivalent systems of forces;
• Reduction of a system of forces to a minimum system: concurrent forces (Varignon’s Theorem), coplanar forces and parallel forces;
• Central axis of a system of forces.

4. Introduction to Statics:

• Free body diagram;
• Systems of forces in equilibrium.

5. Rotation Dynamics:

• Angular momentum of a particle: motion in a surface, circular motion; angular momentum conservation theorem;
• Angular momentum of a rigid body;
• Moment of inertia: principal axis of inertia and Steiner’s theorem;
• Derivation of the equation of the rotational dynamics of the rigid body;
• Kinetic energy of a rigid body: translational and rotational kinetic energy.

6. Fluid Mechanics:

• The concept of fluid, density and pressure;
• Pressure in a fluid (fundamental principle of hydrostatics), equilibrium of a fluid element and pressure and hydrostatic forces;
• Equilibrium of a fluid element and pressure in a fluid (fundamental principle of hydrostatics);
• Pressure gauges;
• Buoyancy (Arquimedes’ principle);
• Pascal’s law and hydraulic press;
• Current lines and flow regimes: laminar and turbulent;
• Mass and volume flow: continuity equation;
• Bernoulli’s equation (ideal fluids);
• Viscosity (real fluids), Poiseuille’s Law and Stokes’ Law;
• Reynolds’s number;
• Surface tension.

NAO

• Bedford, A., Fowler, W. (2008). Engineering Mechanics: Statics (5th Edition). Singapore [etc.] : Prentice Hall, Cop.
  ISBN: 978-981-06-7939-2. Cota da Biblioteca: 5-5-59 (ISEC) V.1º v. – 15236; 5-5-60 (ISEC) V.2º v. – 15237; 5-5-60CD (ISEC) V.CD-ROM – 15236CD.
• Bedford, A., Fowler, W. (2008). Engineering Mechanics: Dynamics (5th Edition). Singapore [etc.] : Prentice Hall, Cop.
  ISBN: 978-981-06-7939-2. Cota da Biblioteca: 5-5-57 (ISEC) V.1º v. – 15234; 5-5-58 (ISEC) V.2º v. – 15235; 5-5-58CD (ISEC) V.CD-ROM – 15234CD.
• White, F. M. (2002). Mecânica dos Fluidos (4th Edition). Rio de Janeiro [etc.] : McGrawHill, Cop.
  ISBN: 85-86804-24-X. Cota da Biblioteca: 6A-1-102 (ISEC) – 17055.