PHY 152 Statics

Spring 2008

MWF 3:00 – 3:50, MLT 215

Instructor:     George Rutherford, MLT 308-A

                        438-2934         GHR - AT - ILSTU.EDU

                        Office Hours   Walk in, or by appointment

                        Lab:  SLB 029-A   438-5718

Text:               Engineering Mechanics:  Statics, 4^th edition, by McGill and King

                        Available from Tichenor Publishing

Overview:

            This course is designed to give you an introduction to engineering mechanics in static systems.  You will make use of the classical mechanics you learned in PHY 110 as well as the mathematical principles from the MAT 145 – 147 sequence.  Statics deals with two- and three-dimensional systems of particles and rigid bodies in static equilibrium.  Additional topics include concentrated and distributed forces, centers of gravity and centroids, and moments of inertia.  Special attention is devoted to forces in frames, structures, beams, and cables.  For many of you, this will be your first engineering course.  In fields such as mechanical or civil engineering, statics is indispensable in the design and analysis of structures that must hold their shape while bearing a load or performing a task where dynamic forces (forces arising from acceleration of the system) are absent or negligible.

This course is explicitly designed to follow as closely as possible the topics covered in the corresponding course at UIUC (TAM 210/211), and it uses the same text.  This will allow Engineering/Physics students to transfer smoothly into the dynamics course there.

Objectives:

• To understand the physical principles required for static equilibrium
• To become skillful with the mathematical and graphical techniques of vector analysis
• To be able to apply these principles and techniques to rigid structures of importance in engineering

Student Expectations:

• Be on-time for all classes. 
• Be on your best behavior – polite, respectful, and ready to learn
• Keep up with class topics and read at least two sections in the text ahead of the current lecture.  Statics isn’t the toughest topic in engineering, but it will bite you if you don’t keep up.  And since later topics build on earlier ones, it won’t let go easily after it bites you.
• Work all homework problems and turn in selected ones for a grade
• Come to my office if you have problems.  Try to work things out by yourself or by talking to your fellow students, but if you truly get stuck, don’t let another day go by before you come see me and get things straightened out.  If you can’t find me in the office or around the department, try the lab.

Schedule of Topics, Exams, etc:

            Here are the sections from the text that I hope to cover, in the order we will cover them.  Remember to read ahead.  Exam coverage is also indicated.

            Appendix A

            Chapter 1, Sections 1 – 5

            Chapter 2, Sections 1 – 4

            Chapter 3, Sections 1 – 9                    Exam 1 stops here:

            Chapter 4, Sections 1 – 4

            Chapter 5, Sections 1 – 6, 8 – 10        Exam 2 stops here:

            Chapter 6, Sections 1 – 2

            Chapter 7, Sections 1 – 4

            Chapter 8, Sections 1 – 7                    Exam 3 stops here

            Chapter 5, Section 11

            Chapter 9, Sections 1 – 3

The exams will occur about one week after we finish the last topic covered by that exam.  The exact date will be announced in class, sent out to your university e-mail account, and posted on the class web page.  The topics covered after Exam 3 will be tested on the Final Exam.  The final exam will be held Wednesday, May 7 at 1:00.  

Homework:  Follow this link for due dates

            Homework problems will be assigned on a regular basis, and the due date will be announced when a group of problems is assigned.  The assignments and due dates will also be posted on the course webpage; follow the link above.  You should work all the problems in a group (working a few more for practice is strongly recommended), with each problem worked on a separate sheet of paper.  Your work should be neat, legible, and organized.  Please restate the problem clearly, including diagrams, before showing the solution.  On the due date, we will determine which problem to turn in via some random algorithm, such as rolling a die.  That problem will be graded and returned at the next class period.

Make-up Policy:

            Make-up exams are given only for unavoidable absences due to personal illness or death in your immediate family.  Appropriate documentation is required.  Exams missed for other reasons will receive a grade of zero.  Late homework will not be accepted, so make sure your homework is brought to class by a friend or classmate if you cannot attend.  Your lowest homework grade will be dropped before I calculate your homework average.

Grading:

            Your grade will be determined by the following breakdown of assignments:

            3 Exams, 15% each                 45%

            Final Exam                              25%

            Homework                              30%

Letter grades are determined by the usual 90/80/70/60 scale.  Exam grades may be curved.  Course averages that just miss a letter grade cutoff may be adjusted upward depending on class participation, behavior, punctuality, etc.

You may view your grades online at this secure site.