Elements of physics : mechanics

Duration

15h Th, 10h Pr

Number of credits

Lecturer

Matthieu Verstraete

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

This course aims to give students an understanding the basis of the fundamental laws which govern the physical phenomena which surround us: The laws of classical mechanics, which give a systematic, mathematic, and universal approach to problems (in physics or elsewhere)

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

One central outcome is to learn to model processes in a mathematical, algorithmic, and efficient manner.
The second step is to solve problems by reasoning either in:

• a reductionist fashion (e.g. division of a system into components and integration of the equations of motion) or
• a global fashion (using conservation laws, e.g. of energy).

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Basic mathematics, including trigonometry, vectors, projections and geometry... Refreshers are organized during classes.
No prerequisite course module.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

10 hours of practical sessions divided as 5 x 2 hours of problem questions on point and solid object mechanics.
A mid-term test will be organized beginning of November, to give each student a reference point for her/his own level of understanding, and the difficulty of the exam in January. The test will be followed by a correction by the teaching assistant, with explanations of important points and difficulties - these remedial sessions are obligatory for students whose grade is lower than 8/20.
At the end of each semester, a question and answer session is held, in view of preparing for exams. Timetables are established at the beginning of each year.

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

All courses and problem sessions are in face-to-face format. Due to the COVID19 pandemic, some classes will be taught to only 1 group of students, alternating weekly (G1 or G2 according to your last name) if the lecture theater is not big enough. The remote group will have access to a podcast of the course.
Depending on the risk code (orange or red) the course will go fully remote with podcasts followed by question and answer sessions online.
Information concerning the organization of the lectures and practical sessions will be communicated through myULiège and the web site of the Faculty of Applied Sciences.

Organisational adjustments related to the current health context

If the session is in person (most probable scenario for June 2021), the exam will follow the habitual format: written exam of maximum 3 hours, with a multiple choice section, an extended theory question and exercise questions to solve (similar to those in practical sessions)
If the session is remote, the exam will be held online via the e-campus platform, in the form of multiple choice or numerical single answer questions, or of longer questions to be solved in writing, then photographed and uploaded on the exam web site. Students should acquaint themselves with the platform and mechanisms, in particular through practice multiple choice and practice exams which can be orgnianized before the session.

Recommended or required readings

All slides for ex cathedra classes are on MyULiège
Reference textbook: Kane&Sternheim Physique (1986) Dunod ed. ISBN 2 10 007169 6
French translation by Ph. Ghosez, M. Hoebeke, et G. Llabres
 
Other references: * Physics Eugene Hecht ISBN-10: 2744500186
* University Physics, Harris Benson ISBN-10: 0471006890
* Fundamentals of Physics, Halliday & Resnick ISBN-10: 0470469110

Assessment methods and criteria

Below you will find information on the evaluation methods planned for in-person and remote exams as well as those planned for hybrid sessions. Depending on how the health crisis evolves, the chosen method will be communicated to you no later than one month before the start of the exam session.

January: written exam on mechanics containing

• 1 multiple choice section with short questions on all of the material
• open questions on the theory and concepts seen in class
• problem questions similar to those in the book by Kane and Sternheim, and in the problem sets with the TA

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

Contacts

Matthieu Verstraete Université de Liège Département de Physique, Bât. B5a, 3/07
Allée du 6 Août, 19 B- 4000 Sart Tilman, Liège Belgium
Phone : +32 4 366 90 17 Mail : matthieu.verstraete@uliege.be
Teaching assistant: Fabio Ricci Phone : +32 4 366 36 36 Mail: fabio.ricci@uliege.be

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