Hobart, semester 1 Covers the basic principles required in a first course of mechanics. The main objective is to give students the confidence to apply these principles in solving practical engineering problems.
Extensive use is made of vector methods.
The unit includes an introduction to both statics and dynamics. The statics portion covers the system of units used in mechanics, statics of particles, equilibrium of rigid bodies, centroids and centres of gravity, analysis of simple structures including beams and trusses. The dynamics portion covers kinematics and kinetics of single particles and system of particles using Newton's laws, energy and momentum methods. Required texts, etc. Beer FP and Johnston ER, Vector Mechanics for Engineers, 6th edn, McGraw Hill, 1997.