ENG06027 2013 Engineering Physics

Be able to solve various exercises involving physics, such as heat transfer and thermal expansion using and manipulating the correct units of measurement 

Be able to explain the structure of atoms, balance simple chemical equations, and be able to explain natural radioactivity and solve exercises relating to radioactivity.

Be able to determine the efficiency of various simple machines, explain their operation and determine their mechanical advantage (force ratio) and velocity ratio (movement ratio)

Be able to explain properties such as temperature and pressure and be able to use the gas laws to determine values for properties which undergo change.

Be able to explain wave propagation, sound and light and be able to explain simple reflection, refraction, diffration, and interference of waves, plus use the doppler effect to solve for changes in perceived frequencies. 

This course is designed to be a mixture of continuous assessment, practical experimentation, and terminal examinations. There is a quiz each week on IT Sligo's learning management software, plus every week the students attend for a practical experiment. There is also the possibility to have minor assessments during the semester.

A terminal examination will be held at the end of the semester  and accounts 70% of the overall mark. 

Repeat assessment will be by way of sitting another examination on the subject. Alternatively, at the discretion of the lecturer, assignemnts covering the deficient areas of the course may be set.

• Explanation of the fundamental and derived units of measurements, difference between scalar and vector units.  Basic definitions of the fundamental properties used in Engineering Science.
• Definition of a vector. Graphical representation of vectors. Addition of vectors.
• Newtons laws. Equations of motion. Momentum, law of conservation of momentum, Impulse of a force.
• Modes of transfer of heat, conduction, convection, and radiation. Specific heat capacity, latent heat of steam, wet steam, power.
• Thermal expansion of solids - co-efficient of linear expansion, co-efficient of superficial  expansion, co-efficient of cubic expansion,
• Introduction to basic chemistry, structures of atoms, the periodic table, atomic mass and atomic number. Isotopes. The valence of an atom. Chemical bonding. Chemical formulae and equations.
• Introduction to radioactivity: half life. Practical uses. Modes of radioactive decay and properties of radioactive decay.  Nuclear fission and nuclear fusion. The binding energy of an atom. Safety.
• Introduction to fluid pressure: relationship between depth and pressure. Properties of fluid pressure. Gauge, absolute and atmospheric pressure. Pressure gauges, the bourdon pressure gauge, the manometer.
• The gas laws, Charles Law, Boyles Law, the Universal Gas Equation.
• Simple machines, what are they, mechanical advantage, velocity ratio, efficiency, law of the machine, and limiting efficiency
• Sound: sound waves, progressive and standing. Beats, Harmonics. Sound wave measurements, introduction to decibel scale, addition of sounds
• The doppler effect explained and examples of how to determine the observed frequency whent there is relative motion between a source of a frequency and an observer.
• Introduction to light. Photons, and electromagnetic wave. Reflection in plane, concave and convex mirrors. Refraction and Snell's Law. Diffraction and interference patterns.

Indicative Practicals for Engineering Science

• Lab safety procedures, report writing, and graph drawing.
• The simple pendulum
• Concurrent Coplanar force systems.
• Determination of centre of gravity.
• Principle of Moments.
• Friction and inclined plane.
• Simple machine. [Pulley system or screw jack]
• Verify Boyles law
• To verify that for a plane mirror, the angles of incidence and reflection are equal
• To investigate Snells law of refraction.
• Density, relative density, and Archimedes Principle
• To measure the relative density of a liquid using Hares apparatus
• To measure the coefficient of linear expansion for copper, steel and aluminium
• To measure the thermal conductivity of a substance.
• Real and apparent depth in a glass block
• Calculate the speed of sound in air (resonance tube).
• To investigate the relationship between wave velocity and the tension in a wire
• Spectrum of white light using Prism