Department of Mechanical Engineering

Faculty of Engineering, University of Moratuwa

B.Sc. Engineering Semester 1 2010

ME1032 Mechanics (DYNAMICS) Handout No.1

Learning Outcomes :

Ability to
Determine the geometry of motion of rigid bodies and to calculate the forces on rigid bodies in motion.
Perform simple experiments in mechanics.
Understand the basic concepts of dynamics
Model systems and solve basic problems in dynamics.

Course outline

Fundamentals of dynamics
Kinematics of particles (rectilinear and curvilinear motion, relative motion, general motion in 2D) and rigid
bodies (relative motion between two points in a rigid body, velocities in 2D link mechanisms, instantaneous
centre of rotation method, introduction to acceleration)
Kinetics of particles and rigid bodies (force, torque, work, energy and power, linear momentum, angular
momentum)
Mechanical vibrations
Free vibrations (undamped and damped) of single degree of freedom systems.

Recommended Text Books and References

Mechanics of Machines: Elementary Theory and Examples, Fourth Edition, John Hannah & R.C. Stephens
Publisher- Edward Arnold
Vector Mechanics for Engineers DYNAMICS, Second Edition, Ferdinand P. Beer and E. Russell Johnston Jr.
Publisher- McGraw-Hill Book Company
Engineering Mechanics-DYNAMICS, Seventh Edition, R.C. Hibbeler
Publisher- Prentice Hall

Scheme of assessment
Final Examination
02-hour written examination paper - 80%
Continuous Assessment
laboratory classes and midterm quizzes - 20%

Lecturers:
Dr Ranjan Perera ranjan@mech.mrt.ac.lk Mr. M. Saman Chandrasiri saman@mech.mrt.ac.lk

Coordinators:
Mr. M. Saman Chandrasiri (Course) Mr Singith Abeysiriwardane (Laboratory)
I. FUNDAMENTALS OF DYNAMICS
Introduction
Dynamics is that branch of mechanics, which deals with the motion of bodies with accelerations. The study of
dynamics in engineering usually follows the study of statics, which is concerned with the equilibrium of bodies
at rest or moving with constant velocity. Dynamics has two distinct parts; Kinematics and Kinetics.
Kinematics is the study of motion without reference to the forces which cause the motion and treats only the
geometric aspects of motion. Kinetics is the analysis of the forces which cause the motion.

Students of engineering will find that a thorough comprehension of dynamics will provide one of
their most useful and powerful tools for analysis in engineering.

Brief history
Historically, dynamics is a relatively recent subject compared to statics. The beginning of a rational
understanding of dynamics is credited to Galileo (1564-1642), who made careful observations concerning
bodies in free fall, motion on an inclined plane, and motion of the pendulum. He was largely responsible for
bringing a scientific approach to the investigation of physical problems. Further significant developments in
dynamics awaited the invention of the pendulum clock by Huygens in 1657.

Newton (1642-1727), guided by Galileos work, was able to make an accurate formulation of the laws of motion
and, hence, to place dynamics on a sound basis. Newtons famous work was published in the first edition of his
Principia, which is generally recognized as one of the greatest of all recorded contributions to knowledge. In
addition to stating the laws governing the motion of a particle, Newton was the first to correctly formulate the
law of universal gravitation.
After Newton, important contributions to mechanics were made by Euler, DAlembert, Lagrange, Laplace,
Poinsot, Coriolis, Einstein, and others.

Modern applications
Only since machines and structures have operated with high speeds and appreciable accelerations, has it been
necessary to make calculations based on the principles of dynamics rather than on principles of statics. The rapid
technological developments of the present day require increasing application of the principles of mechanics,
particularly dynamics.
These principles are basic to the analysis and design of moving structures, to fixed structures subject to
shock loads, to robotic devices, to automatic control systems, to rockets, missiles, and spacecraft, to ground
and air transportation vehicles, to electron ballistics of electrical devices, and to machinery of all types such
as turbines, pumps, internal combustion (reciprocating and rotary) engines, hoists, machine tools, etc

Students whose interests lead them in to one or more of these and many other activities will find a
constant need to apply the fundamentals of dynamics.