Engineering Science & Intro to Physics - Module 1

Module 1: Introduction to Engineering Science & Introduction to Physics

• The course covers Engineering Science & Introduction to Physics, taught by Gideon Gouws, Petrik Galvosas, and team at Victoria University of Wellington.
• The course codes are ENGR 141 and Phys 101.
• The module covers housekeeping items like delivery, assessment, general comments and the content of the course at a glance.
• Chapter 1 of OSV1 addresses units and measurements, including units, Système international (SI), dimensional analysis, and significant figures.
• Find the course outlines at http://www.victoria.ac.nz/courses/engr/141/ and http://www.victoria.ac.nz/courses/phys/101/
• Lectures and tutorials are co-taught.
• Quizzes are after tutorials, typically on Fridays, and due on Mondays at 8am.
• There are lab sessions for ENGR 141.
• ENGR 141 has one less question per weekly assignment compared to PHYS 101, but students are encouraged to do all questions.
• Exam papers from past years are available on the library website, though they differ in 2023.
• Extensions of deadlines are given under exceptional circumstances with prior agreement with the Course Coordinator.
• The deadlines for withdrawing from courses should are noted.
• ENGR 141 includes 3 lectures and 1 tutorial per week (MTRF, 10am, MCLT103, HMLT104).
• There are 2-hour laboratories in LB203 during weeks 3, 5, 9, and 11, and sign-ups are via MyAllocator
• Lab sessions are on Mondays 3pm-5pm and Wednesdays 10am-12pm and 3pm-5pm in LB203.
• ENGR 141 has 10 assignments, set on Fridays and due the next Friday at midnight, submitted online via Canvas.
• A mid-term test will be held on April 11th, with regular class time and location to be confirmed (TBC).
• The final test is in the assessment period and centrally timetabled.
• There is a help desk on Fridays at 4pm in LB201, and on 04/04/25 at 5pm.
• The class representative is Shiyou Zhang (zhangsamu@myvuw.ac.nz).
• A Discord server is available at https://discord.gg/rwaGEKbnTd, and shared with PHYS101.
• PHYS 101 includes 3 lectures and 1 tutorial per week (MTRF, 10am, MCLT103, HMLT104).
• PHYS 101 will have 10 assignments set on Fridays, due at midnight the next Friday, and submitted online via Canvas, with one more question compared to ENGR 141.
• The midterm test is April 11th, with the exact time and location to be confirmed.
• The final test is in the assessment period and is centrally timetabled.
• Help desk hours are Fridays 4pm in LB201, and on 04/04/25 at 5pm.
• The class Representative is Jay Cavers (caversjaco@myvuw.ac.nz).
• A Discord server is available at https://discord.gg/rwaGEKbnTd, and it's shared with ENG141.
• The OpenStax textbook includes Mechanics (University Physics OSV1), Thermodynamics (University Physics OSV2), and Mathematics (Calculus OSV1).
• The course is divided into 8 modules, with 3 lectures and one tutorial a week.
• Handouts (slide templates) are available on Canvas before each lecture.
• Complete notes will be added after each lecture to a single, growing PDF file.
• Recordings are on VStream and made available via Canvas.
• The Zoom Room is open but non-interactive during lectures for streaming in the PHYS 101 room.
• ENGR 141 requires at least 50% of the marks for the practical work, completion of safety training sessions, and conducting practical work safely in the lab. PHYS 101 does not have these requirements.
• Assignments for both courses are due on Fridays, and assignments are worth 20% for ENGR 141 and 30% for PHYS 101.
• Quizzes are one per tutorial and make up 20% of the grade for ENGR 141 and 10% for PHYS 101.
• Labs are in weeks 3, 5, 9 and 11, accounting for 20% of the ENGR 141 grade but do not count toward the grade for PHYS 101.
• The test accounts for 20% of the final grade for both ENGR 141 and PHYS 101, and is scheduled for April 11th at 10:00am.
• The exam makes up 20% of ENGR 141's grade and 40% of PHYS 101's grade and takes place during the examination period.
• The midterm test is worth 50 minutes and will cover Thermodynamics (one question) and Mathematics (one question).
• The final test is 120 minutes and will cover Mechanics (4 questions).
• There are 3 common questions for both ENGR 141 and PHYS 101.
• There is one question about labs for ENGR 141 and one question about Gravitation for PHYS 101.
• All tests are in person and closed book.
• Students need to bring a calculator, ruler, pencil, and ball/fountain pen. A block of A4 paper is good "just in case".
• A single-sided, handwritten, A4 "cheat sheet" with formulas is permitted, and needs to be handed in with the test.
• For assignments, 10% of the full mark is deducted for each working day late, and no assignments will be marked more than 1 week late.
• The expected workload per week is approximately 10 hours: 4 hours of contact time, 2 hours of studying course material, 2-4 hours on assignments, 8 lab hours (ENGR 141), and 30 hours of study for the final test.
• Physics can be combined with MATH, SPCE, or CHEM.
• Mathematics serves as the language of physics
• Student success can come from class representatives, the course coordinator and/or programme director, and student success advisors (VUWSA).
• Robert welcomed everyone as HoS for SCPS,.
• Gideon pointed out the need to sign up for labs with MyAllocator, with one 2-hour session per lab week (8 hours in total).
• Alofa encouraged engagement with Āwhina and Pasifika support groups and reaching out to the student success advisor.
• No objection to the April 11th test date so far.
• The help desk is on Fridays 2pm or 5pm in LB201, and participation is not mandatory.
• Broad strokes of the course include: a brief introduction to Thermodynamics, Kinematics, Forces and Newton's laws, Energy and Momentum, Waves, and Gravitation.
• Mathematics will be introduced as a tool: Functions and graphs, Limits, and Derivatives. Integration is to be introduced in Trimester 2.

Kinematics:

• Kinematics describes how objects move through the world.
• Key mathematical concepts include: limits, differentiation, functions, graphs, vectors.
• Key concepts include: kinematic equations, calculus, and trajectories.

Energy & Forces:

• Energy and Forces describe how objects interact with the world.
• Includes: Laws of Thermodynamics and Newton's Laws
• Defines: Types of energy, and types of forces
• Key equations:
• K = 0.5 * mv^2 and Δp = FaveΔt
• Key mathematical concepts include: differentiation, functions, graphs, vectors

Waves:

• Waves describes how waves move through and interact with the world.
• Requires the application of trigonometric functions to understand how to define waves
• Important definitions:
• Superposition of waves
• Historical vs. geographic
• Need basic understanding of functions and graphs

Units and Measurements

• Units ensure clear and consistent communication of numerical values and provide a sanity check for formulas, and the failure to use units can lead to errors.
• The Mars Climate Orbiter incident from 1999 is an example of what can happen without agreed units
• Defining a meter:
• 1791: 1/10,000,000 of the distance from the equator to the North Pole.
• 1889: Distance between two engraved lines on a platinum-iridium bar.
• 1983: Distance light travels in vacuum in 1/299,792,458 of a second.

SI Base Units

• SI units are a standardized system of units for science and engineering to measure physical quantities with base units chosen for accuracy.
• Base units are commonly defined by employing natural constants like the speed of light (c) and the Planck constant (h).
• Base units include:
• Length: meter (m)
• Mass: kilogram (kg)
• Time: second (s)
• Electric current: Ampere (A)
• Thermodynamic temperature: Kelvin (K)
• Amount of substance: mole (mol)
• Luminous intensity: candela (cd)

Derived Units

• Derived units can be expressed as a combination of SI base units, and prefixes (e.g., kilo- (10³) or micro- (10⁻⁶)) simplify handling numerical values
• Force is measured in Newtons (N) where N = kg × m × s⁻²
• Energy is measured in Joules (J) where J = Nm = kg × m² × s⁻²
• Power is measured in Watts (W) where W = J/s = kg × m² × s⁻³

Dimensional Analysis

• Dimensional analysis is verifying the consistency of equations by analyzing the units of each term to ensure they match on both sides.
• Using "L" for length or "M" for mass is common, but utilizing units is simpler.
• In the equation F = mg, the units of g can be derived as [g] = [F]/[m] = (kg × m × s⁻²)/kg = m × s⁻².
• It's also important to sanity check the equations to ensure there's dimensional correctness of equations.
• If xf = xi + vit + 1/2at is not dimensionally correct, as [xf] = m, [xi] = m, [vit] = ms⁻¹ × s = m, but [1/2at] = ms⁻² × s = ms⁻¹
• Therefore, the last term is incorrect, so it should be 1/2at².

Accuracy and Precision

• Measurements always involve uncertainties and measurements can be accurate but not precise due to inherent randomness, or precise but not accurate due to systematic errors.
• Uncertainty expresses the scatter of the data, and high precision results in small uncertainties.
• Discrepancy expresses the deviation from the "true" value and high accuracy leads to small deviations.
• Numerical values should show uncertainty by the number of significant figures and the results should have same amount of significant figures as data.
• Physical constants or conversion factors are considered exact numbers.

Module 2: Thermodynamics

• Thermodynamics covers the following topics:
• Temperature and Heat (Ch.1): Introduction, Temperature, Thermal Equilibrium, Thermal Expansion (Linear and Volumetric), Heat, Heat Transfer (Specific Heat, Calorimetry), Phase Changes, Heat Transfer Mechanisms (Conduction)
• Kinetic Theory (Ch.2): Molecular model of ideal gas, Pressure, Temperature, and RMS Speed, Heat capacity and Equipartition of energy, More results
• 1st Law of Thermodynamics (Ch.3): Thermodynamic system, Work, heat, and internal energy, First Law of Thermodynamics
• Thermodynamics is the study of heat and temperature, how they link to work, energy and entropy; and the laws governing the flow of thermal energy.
• Temperature is operationally the quantity of what we measure with a thermometer and the measure of the internal energy of an object or system. It's assigned the SI unit Kelvin (K)
• Temperature is measured relative to a reference point, however it's absolute in itself
• Celsius freezing point of water is 0°C, boiling point is 100°C.
• Fahrenheit freezing point of water is 32°F, boiling point is 212°F.
• Kelvin is based on lowest possible temperature, where the average kinetic energy of molecules is zero (0K).
• If object A is in equilibrium with object B, and B is in equilibrium with object C, then A is in equilibrium with C
• When two objects are in thermal equilibrium, they have the same temperature
• Adding heat to a system results in: increasing temperature, phase changes (e.g., liquid to gas), and thermal expansion (linear, volumetric). Air expands when heated, becoming less dense and rising, providing lift.
• The relationship between the change of length (∆L) and temperature (∆T) which depends on the material in question is linear only at small changes in temperature
• In a first attempt, ∆L × α∆T
• Linear expansion is approximately the coefficient of linear expansion, α,
• The Golden Gate Bridge is a real world example of linear expansion

Volumetric Expansion:

• The change of volume (∆V) proportional to the change in temperature (∆T), the initial volume (V).
• AV a VAT where α is the coefficient of volumetric expansion. B(≈3a) is mostly constant at small changes in temperature
• Consider a 60.0l steel tank full of petrol being pumped, and expanding the volume of petrol to more than the thank
• AVt = BtVtAT
• AVp = BpVpAT with Vp = V = V
• Matter expands when heated, which decreases in density for most mater but not water. Water actually increases in density between 0°C and 4 °C

Heat:

• Heat is thermal energy transferred from temperature differences via Joules (J). It's expressed as:
  • Q = mcΔT
• Internal energy is a property of a system and includes the kinetic and potential energy of the particles, and is a scalar quantity.
• Internal energy can be increased by adding heat or doing work on the system.
• Specific heat is numerically equal to the amount of heat needed to change 1kg of mass of the material by 1°C.
  • c = 1/m * dQ/dT.

Calorimetry:

• Calorimetry is the study of heat transfer and the measurement of heat changes in a system without heat loss to the surroundings. This is achieved via an insulated container
• Calorimetry can find specific heat, given heat transfers, final tempratures, two or more systems, as well as latent heat of a substance

Phase Changes:

• Changes go into modifying the internal structure of our material, forcing it to change phase.
• This means breaking apart or forming new bonds between the molecules which make it up
• Some substances like helium do not have a solid phase in certain atmospheric pressures

Heat and Heat Transfer

• Conduction is heat transfer through stationary (fixed distance) matter (liquids, solids) via physical contact
• Convection is heat transfer by the macroscopic movement of a fluid
• Radiation is electromagnetic waves are emitted or absorbed, but does not need a physical medium in order to transfer heat

Ideal Gas Theory

• Assumes that properties are all in a similar way and can be approximated / thought of / modeled / understood as a so called "ideal gas"
  • Gases have less density than solids and liquids
  • Gases are monoatomic so molecules are typically "hard spheres" and no diameter
• Robert Boyle then used this to measure the relationship between volume of a gas as a function of pressure. In this experiment, volume is inversely proportional to pressure
• Boyle's Law Equation: V c. 1/p
• Jacques Charles similarly measured the relationship between volume of a gas as a function of temprature. In this relationship, the volume of a gas is proportional to tempurature
  • Charle's Law Equation: V c. T" Using these measurements, these relationships then form a universal "ideal gas law" using Boltzmann's constant
  • pV = NkBT OR N = N/NAkBT = 6.02 * 10^23
• The number of molecules are all related by calculating constant NA:
• Rewritten Eq:
  • P * V = -N/NA * KBT = nRT

Laws of Thermodynamics

• Internal energy is a summation of kinetic energy and pressure
• There should be no interactions between particles, so in "steady state"
• Each equilibrium state of a system is associated with its internal energy
  • The change in E is the change in the difference between Q and work
• First law is the conservation of energy, and that internal energy can be changed with either heat or work and the value depends on the pathway through the PV diagram.
• The thermodynamics sign to heat and work is that the head to a system is 0 or less, the work by a system is also positive and when it's acted upon then negative - and verse visa