Outline and Reading List for Mechanics and Heat (Physics 140)
Lecturer: Dr Tim St Pierre (Room 5.3)
Text: Physics: Principles with Applications (2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th Edition), D C Giancoli,
published by Prentice Hall (1985, 1991, 1995, 1998)
Lecture times: Tuesday 2pm, Wednesday noon, Thursday noon - Clews Lecture
Theatre
MECHANICS
(18 Lectures)
Introduction
Science and creativity; Physics and its relation to other fields;
Models, theories and laws; Measurement and uncertainty;
Units, standards, and the SI system; Order of magnitude: rapid estimating.
Kinematics in Two or Three Dimensions; Vectors
Addition of vectors - graphical methods; Subtraction of vectors and multiplication of
vector by scalar;
Analytic method for adding vectors: components; Relative velocity - vectors in problem
solving;
Projectile motion ; Solving problems involving projectile motion.
Applications: sport
Motion and Force: Dynamics
Force; Newton’s first law of motion; Mass; Newton’s second law of motion;
Laws or definitions; Newton’s third law of motion;
Weight - the force of gravity; and the normal force;
Solving problems with Newton’s laws: vector forces;
Problems involving friction, inclines; Problem solving - a general approach.
Applications: Forces on human body, friction and lubrication in joints.
Circular Motion and Gravitation
Kinematics of uniform circular motion; Dynamics of uniform circular motion;
Non uniform circular motion; Centrifugation;
Newton’s law of universal gravitation; Gravity near the Earth’s surface;
Satellites and “weightlessness”; Angular momentum, moments of inertia, torque.
Applications: sedimentation, laboratory centrifuge, centrifugation and density gradient
sedimentation, geophysical applications.
Work and Energy
Work done by a constant force; Work done by a varying force;
Kinetic energy and the work-energy theorem; Potential energy.
Fluids
Density and specific gravity; Pressure in fluids; Atmospheric pressure and gauge
pressure;
Pascal’s principle; Fluids in motion; Bernoulli’s principle; Viscosity, flow in tubes;
Surface tension and capillarity.
Applications: Blood flow, blood pressure, rise of fluids in trees, sedimentation
HEAT
(6 lectures)
Historical aspects, Temperature,
Expansion, Thermometers,
Zeroth Law.
Boyle's Law, Ideal Gas Law,
Kinetic Theory, Changes of Phase,
Dalton’s Law of partial pressures.
Heat Transfer:
Conduction, Convection, Radiation,
Mechanical and Thermal Energy.
First Law of Thermodynamics,
Specific Heat, Latent Heat.
Second Law of Thermodynamics,
Entropy, Approach to Equilibrium.
Applications: Human Body, Nutrition, Scuba diving, Osmosis, Weather, Thermal
properties of materials.
Reading List
In addition to the lectures, you are expected to study the following chapters in Giancoli.
NB the chapter numbers correspond to the fifth edition of Giancoli.
*
*
Chapter 1.
Chapter 2.
Chapter 3.
Chapter 4.
Chapter 5.
Chapter 6.
Chapter 7.
Chapter 8.
Chapter 10.
Chapter 13.
Chapter 14.
Chapter 15.
Introduction
Describing motion: kinematics in one dimension
Kinematics in two or three dimensions; vectors
Motion and Force: dynamics
Circular motion: gravitation
Work and energy
Linear momentum
Rotational motion
Fluids
Temperature and kinetic theory
Heat
The first and second laws of thermodynamics
Chapters marked with an asterisk will be covered in lectures if time permits.