ME 012, Spring 2010 

  
Particle and Rigid Body Dynamics

Lecturer: Mike Coleman, 211A Perkins, mcoleman@cems.uvm.edu
TA's: Auston Maynard, amaynard@cems.uvm.edu; Shawn Bonneau, sbonneau@cems.uvm.edu; Rebecca Risko, rrisko@uvm.edu, Rebecca German, rgerman@uvm.edu; Gabe Hebert, gabriel.hebert@uvm.edu.

Lecture C: 09:35 10:25 a.m., M W F, Kalkin 002
Lecture B: 10:40 11:30 a.m., M W F, Kalkin 003
Lecture A: 12:50 13:40 a.m., M W F, Votey 209

Optional Recitation 1: Time, Room TBD, TA: TBD
Optional Recitation 2: Time, Room TBD, TA: TBD
Optional Recitation 3: Time, Room TBD, TA: TBD

Office Hours, Mike: Thursdays, 8:30-10:30 p.m.,105 Votey.

Office Hours, TA's:
TBD.

General course information

General Objectives:This course introduces the Newtonian dynamics (kinematics and kinetics) of particles, systems of particles, and rigid bodies including impulse-momentum and energy concepts.

Specific Objectives: (1) to learn the fundamental principles of mechanics and be able to apply them to any mechanical system; (2) to learn that solving mechanics problems involves incorporating material behavior, the geometry of motion and deformation, and the laws of mechanics; (3) to learn to invoke mathematics tailored to mechanics; (4) to learn to communicate solutions correctly and clearly, both in writing and in pictures; and, (5) to learn to use mechanics 'heuristics' to validate and investigate solution behavior.

Relationship to ME Program Outcomes: To emphasize, in this course, we aim for each student to to achieve the following skills:

  • An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering to the analysis of mechanical engineering problems
  • An ability to identify, formulate, and solve mechanical engineering problems.

    Pre-requisites:

    Math: MATH 121 (Calculus III) is a pre-requisite; competence with material from these and earlier courses is needed, including vectors,1D calculua simple ODE's, basic matrix algebra (including eigenvectors), and 2D integrals.

    Mechanics: CE 001 (Statics) is a pre-requisite; competence at dynamics depends on competence at statics -- free body diagrams, action-reaction, equilibrium.

    Text: Introduction to Mechanics: Statics and Dynamics, by Ruina and Pratap.

    Handouts: 

    Dynamics Formulae Sheets

    Homework: weekly topics, reading, assignments and solutions.

    Exams and grading: coverage of prelims, rooms, dates, final grade formula.

    email to Mike Coleman <mcoleman@cems.uvm.edu>