Academic management

The subject belongs to the Matter of Physics of the module of basic training and it is taught in the first semester of the first course.

It is advisable for students to have taken Physics in secondary school, andto have mathematical previous knowledge of vector calculus, trigonometry, derivation and integration of functions of a variable.

The aims of this subject are related to the following general competences:

CG3 Knowledge of basic matters and technologies, which qualify the student to learn new methods and technologies, as well as provide him/her with a great versatility to adapt to new situations.

CG4: Skills to solve problems with initiative, decision making, creativity, to report and transmit knowledge, and to understand the ethical and professional responsibility of his/her activity.

CG5: Ability to communicate knowledge and skills in the field of Industrial, Mechanical, Electrical or Chemical  Engineering, both orally and written, to any kind of audience.

CG14 Honesty, responsability, ethical compromise and supportive spirit.

CG15 Skills for team work.

Likewise, the student should acquire the following specific competences:

CB2 Comprehension and master the basic concepts concerning the general laws of the Mechanics and Thermodynamics and their application to the resolution of problems related to engineering.

The aforesaid competences must focus on the following learning results:

Knowledge (to know):

RAMT-1 To understand the physical-mathematical description of the motion of a particle and to know the magnitudes to quantify it.

RAMT-2 To understand the laws and theorems related to the motion of the particles to its causes.

RAMT-3 To understand the concepts and principles required to study the heat exchange processes in closed systems of ideal gases.

Skills (to be able to do):

RAMT-4 To handle properly the recommended physical notation, so much as for magnitudes as units.

RAMT-5 To learn and to carry out the strategies of resolution of problems related to the different contents of the subject.

RAMT-6 To acquire the skills related to laboratory work, data treatment and error theory.

Lesson 1. Physical magnitudes. Data treatment.

Physical quantities, units, and measurements. Types of magnitudes. Systems of units. Dimension of a magnitude. Adimensional magnitudes. Principle of homogeneity. Error theory.

 Lesson2. Kinematics of the particle.

Reference Systems. Position vector and path. Velocity. Acceleration. Intrinsic components of the velocity and the acceleration. Particular motions.

Lesson 3. Dynamics of the particle: Forces.

Newton's laws. Inertial reference systems. Conservation of the linear moment. Constraint and reaction forces. Friction. Elastic forces. Angular momentum theorem. Central forces.

Lesson 4. Dynamics of the particle: Work and energy.

Work. Power. Conservative forces. Work-energy theorem. Mechanical energy theorem.

Lesson 5. Introduction to the dynamics of the rigid body.

Center of mass. Moments of inertia. Steiner's theorem. Rigid body motion. Angular momentum. Dynamics of the rotation motion of the rigid body. General motion.

 Lesson 6. Thermometry and calorimetry. The first principle of Thermodynamics.

Zeroth law: thermal balance. Thermometric scales. Thermodynamic systems and equation of state. Types of systems and thermodynamic processes. Processes in closed systems of ideal gases. Work of expansion in quasistatic processes. Kinetic interpretation of the temperature: internal energy. Joule's experiment. First law of Thermodynamics. Specific heats of ideal gases. Polytropical processes. Changes of phase and latent heat.

 Topic 7. The second principle of thermodynamics.

Quasistatic processes. Reversible and irreversible processes. Carnot's theorem. Second law of Thermodynamics. Efficiency of engines and machines of inverse cycle. Entropy.

All the different activities are aimed at acquiring the general and specific abilities related to the subject.

The relation between the formative activities and the competences that the student must acquire in each activity is shown in the following table.

Exceptionally, if required by health conditions, non-attendance teaching activities may be included, in which case students will be informed of the changes made.

7.1. Ordinary assessment

Two evaluation systems are established:

1. Continuous evaluation: for those students who regularly attend the classes and participate in the proposed activities.
2. Final exam evaluation: for those students who do not attend the classes regularly  and/or do not participate in the proposed activities.

7.1.1. Continuous evaluation

The following table summarizes the continuous evaluation system:

(*) A minimum of 75% in the attendance and participation of all the activities included in (1), (3) and (4) is established in order to have access to the continuous evaluation system. If this participation is missing, the student will be evaluated by the final global exam. Those students who do not get at least 0.5 point in the evaluation of laboratory practices will have to do the final exam of laboratory practices.

The continuous evaluation comprises the following items:

• Classroom assessment CA, constituted by the grades obtained in (1) and (4) of the previous table: 4 points maximum.
• Laboratory assessment LA, which is the grade obtained in (3): 1.5 points maximum.
• Final assessment FA, corresponding to (2): maximum 8.5 points.

The final grade is calculated by the following formula:

Final grade = CA + FA*(8.5-CA)/8.5+LA

In order to get the subject passed the final grade must be equal or greater than 5 points with two conditions:

FA ≥ 3.0 points

LA ≥ 0.5 point

7.2. Extraordinary examination

If the student has been evaluated during the course by the continuous evaluation system, the grade obtained in CA and LA will be preserved. They will have to do the final assessment FA and the grade will be calculated as

Final grade = CA + FA*(8.5-CA)/8.5+LA

If the student has not got at least 0.5 point in the evaluation if the laboratory practices, they will have to do a laboratory assessment in order to get LA ≥ 0.5 point.

If the student has undertaken a final exam evaluation or has been never evaluated before, they will have to do the final assessment (FA) and the laboratory assessment (LA). The final grade will be calculated as:

Final grade = FA+LA

7.3. Additional considerations and conditions

In case of non-attendance to two laboratory practices, with official note of absence, one resit will be allowed, if personal and equipment are available, not to lose the right to the continuous evaluation.

In the ordinary examination those students who have not done a number of assessments enough to get 5 points will be considered non-presented. In the extraordinary examinations only those students who do the final assessments will be considered presented.

Exceptionally, if required by health conditions, non-attendance evaluation methods may be included, in which case students will be informed of the changes made.

Some textbooks are highly recommended for consultation:

W. Bauer and G. D. Westfall, University Physics with Modern Physics, McGraw-Hill, ISBN: 0072857366.

A. Rex and R. Wolfson, Essential College Physics, Addison-Wesley ISBN-10: 0321598547. ISBN-13: 9780321598547.

D. C. Giancoli, Physics for Scientists and Engineers with Modern Physics, Addison-Wesley ISBN-10: 0131495089; ISBN-13: 978-0131495081.

H. Young and R. Freedman. University Physics with Modern Physics, Addison-Wesley ISBN-10: 080532187X; ISBN-13: 978-0805321876.

Webpages which might be interesting for consultation:

http://www.howjsay.com/

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/

http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/podcasts.cfm?id=60-second-science

http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/physics/

Along the course, specific bibliographical material will be recommended for diverse thematic blocks. For the development of the laboratory practices, handouts about the practices will be available in the web (Campus Virtual).