Physics I (Mechanics)

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of this course is to give a deep understanding of the fundamental principles of mechanics, including kinematics, Newton’s laws, energy conservation, momentum and angular momentum conservation, the dynamics of rotational motion, central forces, oscillations, wave and fluid mechanics.

Upon successful completion of the course students will be able to:

• demonstrate a deep understanding of the theoretical foundations of classical Newtonian mechanics,
• interpret and critically evaluate the fundamental laws they must apply to deal with problems of classical mechanics,
• solve basic engineering problems through force analysis and application of appropriate laws and basic conservation principles,
• take laboratory measurements of physical quantities and explain the experimental results by connecting them with theory,
• collaborate with their fellow students for the preparation of an experimental project,
• apply the relevant laws to solve complex problems using the appropriate mathematical tools,
• evaluate the conditions under which the use of the theory of relativity is necessary,
• interpret the results of their calculations in relation to the subject of Surveying and the science of Geoinformatics.

 

General Competences

• Criticism and self-criticism
• Search for, analysis and synthesis of data and information,
• with the use of the necessary technology
• Adapting to new situations
• Working independently
• Team work
• Production of new research ideas

 

SYLLABUS

Theoretical part:

1. Classical mechanics (fundamental principles, forces and vectors, diagram design, units of measurement).
2. Kinematics in one dimension (displacement, time, average and instantaneous velocity and acceleration, motion with constant or variable acceleration, relative velocity, circular motion, velocity and position by integration).
3. Kinematics in two and three dimensions (vectors of position, velocity, acceleration, independence of motion, circular motion, relative velocity).
4. Newton’s laws (forces and interactions, force diagram, inertial and non-inertial frames, central forces, gravitational force).
5. Applications of Newton’s laws (body in equilibrium, particle dynamics, friction, circular motion dynamics).
6. Work and kinetic energy, work and energy of variable force, power. Conservative and non-conservative forces, forces and potential energy, gravitational potential energy, conservation of mechanical energy.
7. Momentum, impulse, collisions (impulse-momentum theorem, conservation of momentum, collisions, center of mass).
8. Rigid body rotation (angular velocity, angular acceleration, rotational kinetic energy, moment of inertia).
9. Dynamics of rotational motion (torque, angular momentum, work and power in rotational motion, principle of conservation of angular momentum).
10. Equilibrium and elasticity (equilibrium conditions, stress, strain, elastic modulus).
11. Periodic motion (study of simple harmonic oscillation through the solution of the 2nd order differential equation, damped and forced oscillations, resonance).
12. Fluid mechanics (hydrostatic pressure, continuity equation, Bernoulli’s equation).
13. Waves (harmonic mechanical waves, standing waves, normal modes, wave interference, sound waves, intensity, attenuation).
14. Limits of Newtonian mechanics, introduction to special and general theory of relativity.

 

Laboratory part:
Measurements – errors, graphs, measurement of lengths and radii of curvature, measurement of gravitational acceleration, calculation of spring constant, rigid body study, speed of sound measurement, calculation of solids and liquids density, coefficient of viscosity, determination of linear thermal expansion coefficient.

 

STUDENT PERFORMANCE EVALUATION

Assessment language: Greek (English for ERASMUS students upon request)
Performance evaluation method:
• Final Written Exam (60% of the final grade) of graded difficulty, which may include short-answer questions, open-ended questions and solving simple and complex problems.
• Evaluation of laboratory work (40% of the final grade) which includes written work, essay/report of laboratory measurements and oral examination during the measurements.

The evaluation criteria have been presented to the students before the final examination. Students can see their evaluation upon request and receive clarifications on their grades.

 

ATTACHED BIBLIOGRAPHY

– Suggested bibliography:
1. Young Hugh D, Freedman R, 2016, University Physics with Modern Physics, Pearson Education Ltd.
2. Halliday David, Resnick Robert, Walker Jearl, 2014 Fundamentals of Physics, John Wiley and Sons Inc.
3. Raymond A. Serway, John W. Jewett, 2012, Physics for Scientists and Engineers, CENGAGE Learning

– Related academic journals:
1. Nature, Macmillan Publishers Limited
2. Physical Review Letters, American Physical Society
3. Journal of Physics A,B,C,D, Institute of Physics
4. European Journal of Physics, Institute of Physics