| CODE | FST0414 | ||||||||||||||||
| TITLE | Principles of Classical Mechanics, Waves and Optics | ||||||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 00 - Mod Pre-Tert, Foundation, Proficiency & DegreePlus | ||||||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Engineering and ICT | ||||||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit provides the fundamental theory of classical physics, waves and optics. The presented topics are dealt with in advanced detail, as explained in the list below. This study-unit also introduces the student to experimentation and formal lab report preparation through several lab sessions held throughout the duration of the semester. Topic 1 - Physical Quantities and SI units - Base quantities and Derived quantities - Base units and Derived units - Concept of SI units - SI Prefixes and Standard Form - Homogeneity of Equations Topic 2 - Scalar and Vector quantities - Definitions of Scalars and Vectors - The sign convention - Representing vectors - Finding the resultant of vectors - Resolving vectors - Free and Localized vectors Topic 3 - Newton鈥檚 Laws of Motion - Newton鈥檚 three laws of motion - Concept of equilibrium, and acceleration in a straight line - Definition of a particle - Conditions for equilibrium of particles - Free body-diagrams of a two-dimensional system - Characterizing Forces (weight, normal reaction, tension, solid surface friction, Archimedes鈥� upthrust, viscous friction, aerodynamic lift and drag) - Force problems involving particles Topic 4 - Forces and Moments - Concept of Moment - The rigid body - Conditions for equilibrium of rigid bodies - Free-body diagrams of rigid bodies - Degrees of Freedom and Constraints - Types of Support - Concept of Moment of Inertia - Introduction to Angular motion - Force and moment problems involving rigid bodies in two-dimensional systems Topic 5 - Energy, Work and Power - Definition of Work - Kinetic Energy and Potential Energy - Principle of Conservation of Energy - Definition of Power - Concept of Efficiency Topic 6 - Characterization of Material Mechanical Properties - Introduction to Ductile and Brittle materials - Definition of common terms; proportional limit, Young鈥檚 modulus, elastic limit, plastic region, yielding, ultimate tensile strength and necking - Stress and Strain - Hooke鈥檚 law - Force 鈥� extension and stress - strain graphs - Experimental determination of Young鈥檚 modulus - Elastic strain energy - Some material failure mechanisms Topic 7 - Dynamics - Linear Motion - Definition of common terms - Equations of uniformly accelerated motion - Velocity-time and Displacement-time graphs - Linear momentum and its conservation principle - Types of Collisions and Newton鈥檚 Law of Impact - Circular Motion - Definition of Angular distance, angular speed and angular acceleration - Frequency and time period - Centripetal force and Centripetal acceleration - Concept of Weightlessness - Curvilinear Motion - Definition of a projectile - Using equations of uniformly accelerated motion in two orthogonal directions of motion - Finding the maximum range of a projectile - Rigid Body Rotating about a Fixed Axis - Moment of Inertia - Rotational form of the equations of uniformly accelerated motion - Rotational form of Newton鈥檚 second law - Concept of torque - Angular momentum and its conservation principle - Rotational kinetic energy - Simple Harmonic Motion - Definition of SHM - Derivation from first principles of equations for displacement, velocity and acceleration with time - Angular phasing - Derivation of equation of velocity in terms of displacement - Practical applications of SHM - Energy in Simple Harmonic Motion - Damped vibrations - Free and Forced Oscillations - Resonance Topic 8 - Waves - Mechanical and Electromagnetic Waves - Progressive and Stationary Waves - Transverse and Longitudinal Waves - Huygens鈥� Principle - Refraction at a plane surface - Representation of a progressive wave with equations - Displacement 鈥� Position and Displacement 鈥� Time graphs - Speed of Waves - Diffraction of Waves - Plane polarization - Properties of Electromagnetic Waves - Wave intensity - Wave interference from two coherent point sources - Formation of Stationary Waves 9. Optics - Light incident on a boundary between two media: reflection, refraction and absorption - Laws of reflection - Difference between real and virtual images - Refraction - Refractive index - Total internal reflection: definition of critical angle, conditions for total internal reflection - Dispersion - Refraction of light by a single thin lens - Concept of light interference - Single slit diffraction experiment - Young鈥檚 Interference experiment - Resolving power of instruments - Rayleigh鈥檚 criterion Study-Unit Aims: - To provide students with an understanding of the fundamental principles of mechanics, waves, and optics; - To develop students' ability to think critically and to reason logically; - To show students how to utilize mathematics to model simple physics principles; - To explain how to apply the principles of mechanics, waves, and optics to real-world situations; - To show how these principles form the basis of modern technology and engineering; - To introduce the student to experimentation and lab report formulation. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Recognize the significance of basic quantities and SI units; - Identify the difference between base and derived quantities; - Work with SI units, their standard forms and prefixes; - Check for homogeneity of equations; - Work with both scalar and vector quantities;- Describe Newton鈥檚 three laws of motion and apply them to problems involving particles and rigid bodies in two-dimensional systems; - Characterize forces and moments, and model them mathematically; - Represent real force systems with free body diagrams; - Identify degrees of freedom and constraints on a system of forces; - Use basic concepts of angular motion required to solve problems on two-dimensional rigid body systems; - Describe the concept of moment of inertia; - Discuss the laws of energy and how they are applied to real systems; - Describe energy conversion through the concept of work done; - Evaluate the power delivered or absorbed by a system and its relation to energy and work; - Describe qualitatively and graphically the difference between ductile and brittle materials; - Describe Hooke鈥檚 law and its applications to mechanical components and engineering materials; - Use equations to find the stress, strain and Young鈥檚 modulus of a material; - Conduct an experiment that enables the determination of the Young鈥檚 modulus of a material; - Work problems involving linear motion and linear momentum; - Characterize different types of collisions; - Work problems involving circular motion; - Describe qualitatively and mathematically the concept of weightlessness; - Work questions that deal with projectiles; - Derive the maximum range possible of a projectile; - Work problems that relate to angular motion and angular momentum; - Define qualitatively and mathematically Simple Harmonic Motion, and systems that oscillate as such; - Derive equations for displacement, velocity and acceleration as a function of time and angular phasing; - Prove that certain practical systems oscillate with SHM; - Characterize the degree of damping in a system oscillating with SHM; - Describe resonance; - Distinguish between different types of waves; - Identify the characteristics of a progressive wave; - Explain qualitatively and mathematically refraction at a plane surface; - Represent mathematically and graphically a progressive wave; - Describe the concept of plane polarization; - Identify properties of electromagnetic waves; - Explain superposition of waves and how this is important in obtaining a standing wave; - Explain wave diffraction; - Outline the laws of optics; - Describe the image obtained from a single thin lens; - Describe the conditions of total internal reflection; - Explain the phenomena observed from the single slit and Young鈥檚 interference experiments. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Identify the integrity of an equation; - Work with scalar and vector quantities; - Describe qualitatively and in detail principles outlined in the above-mentioned topics; - Use mathematics to derive, model and solve physics questions; - Follow simple engineering-oriented real-world problems; - Relate fundamental physics theory to current technological artefacts; - Conduct simple physics experiments; - Analyze data obtained from experiments and prepare lab reports that formally document these experiments. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - Notes provided by lecturer. Supplementary Readings: - M. Farrell (2015). Advanced Level Physics Q&A Vol II. Miller Publications. ISBN: 9789995752217. - M. Farrell (2007). Advanced Level Physics Q&A. Miller Publications. ISBN: 9789993286158. - A. C. Xuereb (2012). Sixth Form College Physics, second edition. Merlin Publishers Ltd. ISBN: 978999091410-8. - R. Muncaster (2014). A-Level Physics Fourth Edition. Nelson Thornes. ISBN: 9780748715848. - T. Duncan (2000). A-Level Physics Fifth Edition. Hodder Murray. ISBN: 9780719576690. |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | This study-unit is offered only to the Certificate in Foundation Studies students. Please note that a pass in the Examination component is obligatory for an overall pass mark to be awarded. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Independent Study, Lecture, Practical & Tutorials | ||||||||||||||||
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| LECTURER/S | Carl Caruana |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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