Syllabus (PHYSICS)

Course Type: ME-1

Semester: 1

Course Code: BPHSMEA11C

Course Title: Mechanics

(L-P-Tu): 3-1-0

Credit: 4

Practical/Theory: Combined

Course Objective: This course aims to provide undergraduate students with a comprehensive understanding of classical (Newtonian) mechanics. Students will learn about the principles of motion, forces, and energy, applying Newton's laws to analyze particle and rigid body dynamics. They will comprehend the concepts of work, energy, momentum, and rotational motion, gaining practical problem-solving skills. The course will also cover topics like gravitation, oscillatory motion, and Elastic properties of material. By the end of the course, students will be equipped to analyze real-world physical phenomena, lay a strong foundation for further studies, and appreciate the role of mechanics in diverse fields like engineering, physics, and astronomy.

Learning Outcome: By the end of this course, undergrad students will: a. Demonstrate a solid understanding of classical mechanics principles, including motion, forces, and energy, and apply Newton's laws to analyze dynamic systems. b. Develop problem-solving skills in various mechanical scenarios, enhancing their critical thinking and analytical abilities. c. Gain practical knowledge of work, energy, momentum, and rotational motion, and apply them to real-world applications. d. Analyze complex physical phenomena, such as elastic properties of material and harmonic motion, using learned principles and mathematical tools. e. Lay a strong foundation for further studies in engineering, physics, and related disciplines, and appreciate the role of mechanics in understanding the natural world.

Theory:

Vectors: Vector algebra. Scalar and vector products. Derivatives of a vector with respect to a parameter. (4 Lectures)

Ordinary Differential Equations: 1st order homogeneous differential equations. 2nd order homogeneous differential equations with constant coefficients. (4 Lectures)

Laws of Motion: Frames of reference. Newton’s Laws of motion. Dynamics of a system of particles. Centre of Mass. (7 Lectures)

Momentum and Energy: Conservation of momentum. Work and energy. Conservation of energy. Motion of rockets. (5 Lectures)

Rotational Motion: Angular velocity and angular momentum. Torque. Conservation of angular momentum. (4 Lectures)

Gravitation: Newton’s Law of Gravitation. Motion of a particle in a central force field (motion is in a plane, angular momentum is conserved, areal velocity is constant). Kepler’s Laws (statement only). Satellite in circular orbit and applications. Geosynchronous orbits. Basic idea of global positioning system (GPS). Weightlessness. Physiological effects on astronauts. (7 Lectures)

Oscillations: Simple harmonic motion. Differential equation of SHM and its solutions. Kinetic and Potential Energy, Total Energy and their time averages. Damped oscillations. (4 Lectures)

Elasticity: Hooke’s law - Stress-strain diagram - Elastic moduli-Relation between elastic constants - Poisson’s Ratio-Expression for Poisson’s ratio in terms of elastic constants - Work done in stretching and work done in twisting a wire – Twisting couple on a cylinder - Determination of Rigidity modulus by static torsion – Torsional pendulum-Determination of Rigidity modulus and moment of inertia - q, η and  by Searles method. (5 Lectures)

Special Relativity: Constancy of speed of light. Postulates of Special Theory of Relativity. Length contraction. Time dilation. Relativistic addition of velocities. (5 Lectures)

List of Practicals (Any Three)

1. Measurements of length (or diameter) using vernier caliper, screw gauge and travelling microscope.

2. To determine the Height of a Building using a Sextant.

3. To determine the Moment of Inertia of a Flywheel.

4. To determine the Young's Modulus of a Wire by Optical Lever Method.

5. To determine the Modulus of Rigidity of a Wire by Maxwell’s needle.

6. To determine the Elastic Constants of a Wire by Searle’s method.

7. To determine g by Bar Pendulum.

8. To determine g by Kater’s Pendulum.

9. To study the Motion of a Spring and calculate (a) Spring Constant, (b) g.

Reading References:

Theory

1. Mathematical Physics, H. K. Dass and R. Verma, 8^th Ed. , S. Chand and Co..

2. Physics – R. Resnick, D. Halliday and K.S. Krane, (An Indian Adaptaion), Wiley.

3. University Physics. F.W. Sears, M.W. Semansky and H.D. Young, Pearson.

4. Mechanics (Berkeley Physics) : C. Kittel et al., McGraw-Hill.

5. Mechanics, V.S. Soni, 4^th Ed. Prentice Hall of India.

6. General Properties of Matter, Chatterjee & Sengupta, Central Publishers.

7. Special Theory of Relativity, S. Banerji and A. Banerjee, Prentice Hall of India.

8. University Physics, Ronald Lane Reese, Thomson Brooks/Cole.

9. College Physics, Vol. 1, A. B. Gupta, Books & Allied Pvt. Ltd.

Practical

1. An Advanced Course in Practical Physics, Chattopadhya & Rakshit.

2. B. Sc. Practical Physics, C.L. Arora, S Chand and Co..

3. Advanced practical physics/ by B. Ghosh and K. G. Mazumdar, Shreedhar Prakashani.

4. B. Sc. Practical Physics, G. Sanon, R. Chand & Co.