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MECHANICS PH101
Lecture 1 Introduction

Class Policy and Academic Honesty

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I highly encourage you to ask questions

and participate in class discussion.
However, I expect that the work you
submit for this course will be original.
No cheating, falsification, multiple
submissions.
Please switch off/ put on silent your
mobile phones.
Adhere to the fixed date of
assignments/homework.

Marks Distribution
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Midterm 25% (after 8th week)

Finals 50% (after 15 week)
Quizzes 20% (best four out of 5)
Assignments/Homework 5%
th

Books for Fluid Mechanics

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Text
book:
1. R.Resnick, D.Halliday & K.S. Krane, Physics Volume-1, 5 th
Edition
Reference books:
2. Hugh D. Young & Roger A. Freedman, University Physics,
12th Edition
3. Frederick J.Keller,W.Edward Gettys & Malcolm J.Skove,
Physics: Classical and Modern
4. Raymond A. Serway and John W.Jewett, Physics for
Feynmann Lectures on Physics Volume 1 th
Scientists and Engineers, 6 Edition

Course Contents
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Introduction to engineering mechanics

problems
Motion in one, two and three dimensions
Newton Laws and its applications
Momentum
Rotational dynamics and kinematics
Energy
Gravitation

Aim/ Objective of this

course

To develop a basic understanding of

fundamental laws used in analysis and
design of engineered structures
To get an idea about the basic principle
and governing laws of motions

What is Physics?
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The most basic of all

sciences!
Physics:
The Mother of all
sciences!
Physics = The study of the behavior
of and the structure of matter and
energy and of the interaction
between matter and energy.

Remember these???
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MECHANICS PH101
Chapter 1 Introduction to Mechanics

Objectives
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In this chapter we shall introduce the

following concepts which will be used
throughout this semester (and beyond)

1. Measurements
2. Systems of units
2. Uncertainties in measurements

Introduction to Mechanics
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What is mechanics?

Mechanics is the science which describes and

predicts the conditions of rest or motion of bodies
Categories of Mechanics:
- Rigid bodies
- Statics
- Dynamics
- Deformable bodies
- Fluids
Mechanics is the foundation of most engineering sciences and is an
indispensable prerequisite to their study.

Physical Quantities
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Mass
Length
Time
Force
Speed
Density
Resistance
Temperature
Luminous intensity
Magnetic field
Strength

Measurement
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Measurement is used to measure

quantities.
Quantity is something that has
magnitude, size, or amount (volume).
In the late 18th century, scientists used
the metric system. The metric system is
a precursor to the SI System.
Scientists all over the world use a single
measurement system called Le Systeme
International dUnits, abbreviated SI.

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Being quantitative in Physics requires

measurements
How tall is Ming Yao? How about
his weight?
Height: 2.29 m (7 ft 6 in)
Weight: 141 kg (310 lb)

Number

Unit

thickness is 10. has no physical meaning

Both numbers and units necessary for
any meaningful physical quantities

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How do we define all other units?

Using an equation that connects the parameter whose
units we wish to define with other parameters whose
units are known.
LENGTH: Meter
MASS: Kilogram
TIME: Second

SI system of Units

This system was presented in 1960 by a General

Conference of Weights and Measures and has
both base units and derived units.

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SI Base and Derived

Quantities

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other systems of units

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CGS (centimeter-gram-second) system

Centimeter = 0.01 meter

Gram = 0.001 kilogram

British (foot-pound-second) system

Our everyday life system of units

Only used by USA and some third world countries.
Rest of world (including Britain!) uses SI system.
We will not use the British System in this course!
Conversions exist between the British & SI
systems. We will not use them in this course!

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SI
Standards

The Standard of Time

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The second is defined as the duration of the mean

solar day divided by 86400

earth

The mean solar day is the average time it takes

the earth to complete one revolution around its
axis
Where does the 86400 come from?
1 day = 24 hours
1 hour = 60 minutes
1 minute
= 60 seconds
Thus:

1 day 24 60 60 = 86400 s

Standard second. Newest definition time required for

9,192,631,770 oscillations of radiation emitted by cesium
atoms!

The Standard of Time

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Quartz Crystal Clocks

Quartz crystal clocks are based on electrically sustained
periodic vibrations of a quartz crystal

The Standard of Time

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Cesium Clocks
Definition of second based on the characteristic frequency of
radiation emitted by cesium atom

The Standard of Length

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A
earth

Historically meter was 1/10th of the

distance from north pole to the equator
along meridian line

C
equator B

1 yard = 0.9144meters
1 inch=2.54cm

1 meter AB/10

Current Definition of 1 Meter: the distance traveled by light in

vacuum during a time of 1/299,792,458 second.

The standard of Length

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Platinum iridium alloy (standard meter)

Length of standard meter compared with the wavelength of red
light emitted by the atoms of cadmium (1893 Albert Michleson)
Standard meter = 1553,163.5 of wavelengths

Atomic standard for meter

(1960)

Standard meter = 1650,763.73 wavelengths of light

Limitation: Length to a precision below 1 part in 109

Distance travelled by light wave in specified time Interval

Standard meter =length of the path traveled by a light
in vacuum during a time interval of 1/299,792,458 of a
second

(1983)

The Standard of Mass

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The kilogram (kg)

It is defined as the mass equal
to the mass of a cylinder made
of platinum-iridium made by
the International Bureau of
Weights and Measures.
All
other standards are made as
copies of this cylinder
Mass is a measure of the quantity of
matter. The standard unit for mass is
the kilogram (kg).
Mass is different from weight. Weight
is a measure of the gravitational pull
on matter (Newton). The weight of an
object increases as gravity acts on it.

Some measured Lengths, Time intervals

and Masses
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Precision and Significant

Figures

Precision
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Any difference between accuracy and

Precision a measure of how close
Accuracy
- a measure of how
precision?
close a measurement is to the
true value of the quantity being
measured.

a series of measurements are to

one another. A measure of how
exact a measurement is.

Who is more precise &

accurate when measuring the
same 17.0cm book?
Susan:
17.0cm, 16.0cm, 18.0cm,
15.0cm
Amy:
15.5cm, 15.0cm, 15.2cm,
15.3cm

Accurate Not
Precise

Not Accurate
, Precise

Accurate,

Significant Figures
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Few simple rules to follow in deciding how many

significant figures to keep

Rule 1:keep all digits up to first doubtful one

Rule 2: when multiplying or dividing the no. of significant figures in product
or quotient should be no greater than the number of significant
figures in the least precision factor.

Rule 3:In adding or subtracting, the least significant digit of the sum or

difference occupies the same relative positon as least significant

digit of quantities being added or removed
In 3rd case no. of significant figures is
not important, position matters

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Dimensional
Analysis

Dimensional Analysis
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Associated with every measured or calculated

quantity is a dimension
Mass length and time serve as a fundamental
dimension
MLT system
It helps in working out equations. Equation must be
dimensionally consistent for analyzing any problem

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End