Course Overview

The course is designed for first-year bachelor students in engineering with basic mathematics skills, including algebra, trigonometry and vectors. It offers a modern introduction to classical mechanics based on the Matter and Interactions approach. Students describe motion in three dimensions, predict the behavior of physical systems with the momentum and energy principles, and build simple computational models.

Course Learning Goals

The main objective is to study classical mechanics, including kinematics, forces, momentum, energy, collisions and angular momentum, and to apply iterative computational methods to predict the motion of physical systems.

Course Learning Outcomes

1. Describe position, velocity and momentum in three dimensions using vectors and SI units.

2. Apply Newton's laws and the momentum principle to predict the future motion of a system.

3. Analyze fundamental and contact interactions, including gravitational, tension, normal and friction forces.

4. Relate the stiffness of interatomic bonds to stress, strain and Young's modulus.

5. Apply the conservation of energy to translational, rotational and vibrational motion of multiparticle systems.

6. Solve problems on elastic and inelastic collisions, angular momentum and torque.

7. Use iterative and analytical techniques, including simple computational models, to predict motion.

Course Topics

1. Describing Motion in 3D: Vectors, SI Units, Speed and Velocity

2. Newton's Laws of Motion: Predicting a New Position and Using Momentum to Update Position

3. The Momentum Principle: Iterative and Analytical Prediction of Motion

4. Fundamental Interactions: The Gravitational, Strong and Weak Forces

5. Contact Interactions: Tension, Compression, Stress, Strain and Young's Modulus

6. Applying Newton's Laws: Equilibrium, Friction and Circular Motion

7. The Energy Principle: Kinetic and Potential Energy, Conservation of Energy

8. Multiparticle Systems: Translational, Rotational and Vibrational Kinetic Energy

9. Collisions: Impulse, Momentum Conservation, Elastic and Inelastic Collisions

10. Angular Momentum, the Vector Product and Torque

Prerequisites

Math, trigonometry