FT500: Mechanics and thermodynamics

1. is a constitutive part of your program 
2. is specifically recommended as an elective ECTS in the recommended study plan 
3. is part of a defined transition arrangement for a course you have not yet completed  

None

• Describe translational motion in 1, 2, and 3 dimensions using kinematic equations and be familiar with types of motion such as projectile motion and circular motion. 
• Explain Newton’s three laws and the influence of forces on simple mechanical systems. 
• Explain the interrelationships between kinetic energy, potential energy, and mechanical energy, and describe their connection to the work done by forces (work-energy theorem). 
• Describe the momentum of bodies and the effect of force impulses on momentum. 
• Determine the center of mass for a collection of particles and extended bodies. 
• Describe the rotational motion of rigid bodies based on their moment of inertia and the kinematic equations for rotation. 
• Explain Newton’s third law for rotation, including the influence of applied torques. 
• Describe the angular momentum of bodies, the effect of torques on it, and the motion of precession. 
• Formulate the principles of conservation of momentum, angular momentum, and mechanical energy. 
• Describe undamped, damped, and driven harmonic motion, including systems such as a simple pendulum, a physical pendulum, and a mass-spring system. 
• Explain transverse and longitudinal mechanical waves, their propagation speed, wave interference, standing waves, and resonance phenomena. 
• Explain the definition of temperature and the effects of thermal expansion. 
• Describe the molecular properties of gases, including the ideal gas laws, molecular velocity distributions, and the state equations for gases. 
• Formulate the first law of thermodynamics, define the concept of heat, and describe the influence of heat conduction. 
• Explain adiabatic, isochoric, isobaric, and isothermal processes. 
• Formulate the second law of thermodynamics and describe states and processes using thermodynamic state variables, including entropy. 
• Explain reversible and irreversible processes as well as cyclic processes. 

• Develop mathematical models of physical systems and use these models to describe the behavior of the systems. 
• Identify forces, sketch force diagrams, perform free-body analysis, and apply Newton’s laws to determine the translational and rotational motion of simple mechanical systems. 
• Calculate the work and impulse of a force and apply the work-energy theorem to simple mechanical systems. 
• Apply the center of mass theorem and angular momentum theorem to simple mechanical systems consisting of particles and rigid bodies. 
• Apply conservation of momentum, angular momentum, and energy to simple mechanical systems to determine their dynamic behavior. 
• Formulate the equations of motion for an oscillating system undergoing harmonic motion (with and without damping) and solve the resulting second-order differential equation describing the system’s dynamic behavior. 
• Derive the non-dispersive wave equation for a transverse wave on an extended string and calculate the wave’s propagation speed and energy content. 
• Apply the superposition principle and boundary conditions to calculate the properties of standing waves. 
• Use state equations, including the ideal gas law, to perform calculations of pressure, temperature, volume, amount of substance, and work done, as well as conduct simple calculations of microscopic molecular properties. 
• Perform calorimetric calculations and determine thermodynamic parameters in adiabatic, isothermal, isochoric, and isobaric processes as well as cyclic processes. 
• Construct, modify, and measure a physical setup, including planning and conducting experimental procedures. 

• Analyze simple physical systems, develop mathematical models based on known physical laws, and use model calculations to determine system behavior. 
• Analyze experimental results, assess uncertainties in experimental values, and compare measured values with theoretical predictions. 
• Evaluate the conditions for conducting experiments and identify possible sources of error and their impact on the experimental results. 
• Present theoretical analysis, experimental results, and assessment of obtained results in a concise, clear, and unambiguous format. 
• Collaborate in planning and conducting laboratory experiments in groups.

• Motion in 1, 2, and 3 dimensions 
• Forces and Newton’s laws 
• Applications of Newton’s laws 
• Work and kinetic energy 
• Potential energy 
• Conservation of energy 
• Momentum 
• Systems of particles 
• Rotation 
• Angular momentum 
• Gravitation 
• Oscillations and harmonic motion 
• Mechanical waves 
• The first law of thermodynamics, calorimetry, and ideal gases 
• The second law of thermodynamics, entropy, and cyclic processes