PHY 211 Statics

Spring 2018

MWF 2:00 – 2:50, MLT 307-B

Instructor:     George Rutherford, MLT 308-A

                        438-2934         GHR - AT - ILSTU.EDU

                        Office Hours   Walk-in, or by apppointment

                        Lab:  MLT 304

Text:               Engineering Mechanics:  Statics, 13^th edition, by R. C. Hibbeler

Class Notes:

Links to class notes

	1-17	1-19
1-22	1-24	1-26
1-29	1-31	2-2
2-5	2-7	2-9
2-12	2-14	No class (exam)
2-19	2-21	2-23
2-26	2-28	3-2
3-5	3-7	No students
3-19	3-21	3-23
3-26	No class	3-30
4-2	4-4	No class
4-9	4-11	4-13
4-16	4-18	4-20
4-23	4-25	Went over exam
Strength of Materials	NX and FEA	Final review and course evaluation

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 211), and it uses the same text.  This will allow Engineering/Physics students to transfer smoothly into further courses 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.

            Chapter 2, all sections

            Chapter 3, all sections                   

            Chapter 4, all sections                       Exam 1 stops here:

            Chapter 5, all sections       

            Chapter 6, all sections

            Chapter 7, all sections                       Exam 2 stops here

            Chapter 8, Sections 1 and 2             

            Chapter 9, Sections 1, 2, and 5

            Chapter 10, Sections 1 – 5                Exam 3 stops here

            Chapter 11, Sections 1 – 3

            Extra material on hydrostatic pressure         

            Extra material on cables, if time permits

The exams will occur shortly after we finish the last topic covered by that exam.  The exact date will be announced in class and sent out to your university e-mail account.  The topics covered after Exam 3 will be tested on the Final Exam.  

The final exam will be comprehensive. The date and time will be available on iCampus later in the semester.

Practice Exam 1               Solution

Practice Exam 2               Solution

Practice Exam 3               Solution

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.