Scribd
Upload
133 views7 pages

IN Physics For Engineers (PHYS 20034) : Prepared and Submitted By: Engr. Hannah Ledda B. Ferrer

This document provides an overview of Module 1 on Mechanics for a Physics for Engineers course, which covers concepts like vector algebra, kinematics, and curvilinear motion. It describes calculating normal and tangential components of acceleration for curvilinear motion. Examples are provided for problems involving curvilinear motion like a motorist braking on a curved highway and a motorboat accelerating around a circular path.

Uploaded by

Mikaela Rose Hernandez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
133 views7 pages

IN Physics For Engineers (PHYS 20034) : Prepared and Submitted By: Engr. Hannah Ledda B. Ferrer

This document provides an overview of Module 1 on Mechanics for a Physics for Engineers course, which covers concepts like vector algebra, kinematics, and curvilinear motion. It describes calculating normal and tangential components of acceleration for curvilinear motion. Examples are provided for problems involving curvilinear motion like a motorist braking on a curved highway and a motorboat accelerating around a circular path.

Uploaded by

Mikaela Rose Hernandez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 7

MODULE

IN
PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS
(PHYS 20034)

UNIT I:
MECHANICS

Prepared and Submitted by:


Engr. Hannah Ledda B. Ferrer
COURSE OVERVIEW:
This is a calculus-based course covering the basic laws and phenomena in mechanics,
electricity and magnetism, oscillation and waves, rotational mechanics and modern Physics. It
expands on selected areas Physics to reinforce and expand student understanding of the
fundamental concepts and their application to solving engineering problems.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the course, students should be able to:
• Understand basic concepts and principles of Physics;
• Develop problem-solving processes involving mathematics, which includes calculus, to
obtain quantitative solution in Physics;
• Demonstrate the ability to think critically in choosing appropriate Physics concepts to
analyze engineering problems.

MODULE 1: Mechanics

Overview:
Classical mechanics is about the motion of objects that are large relative to atom and move
at speeds much slower than the speed of light. It is sometimes referred to as Newtonian mechanics
or simply mechanics. Many principles and models used to understand mechanical systems,
especially engineering systems, retain their importance in the theories of other areas of physics
and can later be used to describe many natural phenomena. Therefore, classical mechanics is of
vital importance to students from all disciplines.

Objectives:
After successful completion of this module, you should be able to:

• Solve physical dimensions using vector algebra;


• Convert a verbal description of a physical situation involving displacement, velocity and
acceleration in one dimension into a mathematical description;
• Derive equations for motions involving uniformly accelerated rectilinear motion;
• Apply kinematic equations in solving rotational and curvilinear motion.
Lesson 5: Plane Curvilinear Motion
Course Materials
When a particle moves along a curved path, it is sometimes convenient to describe its
motion using coordinates other than Cartesian. When the path of motion is known, normal (n) and
tangential (t) coordinates are often used. In the n-t coordinate system, the origin is located on the
particle(the origin moves with the particle).

Tangential Component
t-axis is tangent to the path (curve) at the instant considered, positive in the direction of the
particle’s motion.

Normal Component
n-axis is perpendicular to the t-axis with the positive direction toward the center of curvature of
the curve.

The positive n and t directions are defined by the unit vectors


un and ut, respectively. The center of curvature, O’, always lies
on the concave side of the curve. The radius of curvature, ρ, is
defined as the perpendicular distance from the curve to the
center of curvature at that point. The position of the particle at
any instant is defined by the distance, s, along the curve from a
fixed reference point. The velocity vector is always tangent to
the path of motion (t-direction). Acceleration is the time rate of
change of velocity.

There are two components to the acceleration vector:


The tangential component is tangent to the curve and in the direction of increasing or decreasing
velocity.

The normal or centripetal component is always directed toward the center of curvature of the curve.

The magnitude of the acceleration vector is

SPECIAL CASES OF MOTION


• The particle moves along a straight line.

• The particle moves along a curve at constant speed.

• The tangential component of acceleration

• The particle moves along a path expressed as y = f(x).The radius of curvature, ρ, at any
point on the path can be calculated from

Examples:
1. A motorist is traveling on a curved section of highway
of radius 2500 ft at the speed of 60 mi/h. The motorist
suddenly applies the brakes, causing the automobile
to slow down at a constant rate. Knowing that after 8
s the speed has been reduced to 45 mi/h, determine the
acceleration of the automobile immediately after the
brakes have been applied.
Solution:

2. Starting from rest, a motorboat travels around a circular path of ρ= 50 m at a speed that
increases with time, v = (0.2 t2) m/s. Find the magnitudes of the boat’s velocity and
acceleration at the instant t = 3 s.

Solution:
v = 0.2t2 = 0.2(3)2 = 1.8 m/s
Tangential component: at = v = d(0.2t2)/dt = 0.4t m/s2
At t = 3s: at = 0.4t = 0.4(3) = 1.2 m/s2
Normal component: an = v2/r = (0.2t2)2/(ρ) m/s2
At t = 3s: an = [(0.2)(32)]2/(50) = 0.0648 m/s2
The magnitude of the acceleration is
a = [(at)2 + (an)2]0.5 = [(1.2)2 + (0.0648)2]0.5 = 1.20 m/s2

Reading Materials:

• Engineering Mechanics Dynamics by Mushrek A. Mahdi, retrieved from


http://www.uobabylon.edu.iq/eprints/publication_10_19286_6208.pdf
• Chapter 11 – Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Dynamics by F. Beer, E. Johnston and P.
Cornwell
Watch:
Curvilinear Motion: Normal and Tangential components by Question Solutions, retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwHy4Dewc7g

Activity/Assessment: (To be passed NEXT WEEK)


1. Consider a roller coaster loop. Are the roller coaster cars traveling through the loop in
uniform circular motion? Explain.
2. A train slows down as it rounds a sharp horizontal turn, slowing from 90.0 km/h to 50.0
km/h in the 15.0 s that it takes to round the bend. The radius of the curve is 150 m. Compute
the acceleration at the moment the train speed reaches 50.0 km/h. Assume it continues to
slow down at this time at the same rate.
3. If a particle moving in a circular path of radius 4.87 m has a velocity function v = 4t2 (units:
m/s), what is the magnitude of its total acceleration at t = 1 s?
4. A certain rocket maintains a horizontal
attitude of its axis during the powered phase
of its flight at high altitude. The thrust
imparts a horizontal component of
acceleration of 20 ft/sec2, and the downward
acceleration component is the acceleration
due to gravity at that altitude, which is g =
30 ft/sec. At the instant represented, the
velocity of the mass center G of the rocket
along 15o direction of its trajectory is 12,000 mi/hr. For this position, determine the radius
of curvature and the rate at which v is increasing.

You might also like

pFad - Phonifier reborn

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy

pFad Proxy

pFad v3 Proxy

pFad v4 Proxy