Course detail
Physics I
FSI-2F Acad. year: 2025/2026 Summer semester
Fundamental laws and theories of classical amd modern physics that are the basis of engineering disciplines.
Classical mechanics. Particle motion (velocity, acceleration). Dynamics of a particle, Newton's laws. Work and energy, conservative and non-conservative forces, potential. Dynamics of a system of particles and rigid body, dynamics of a rotating body. Gravitational field. Oscillations and waves, harmonic oscillator, traveling and standing wave, wave equation, interference of waves. Thermodynamics, heat, the kinetic theory of gases, entropy, engines.
Language of instruction
Czech
Number of ECTS credits
7
Supervisor
Department
Entry knowledge
Secondary school knowledge of mathematics and physics. Fundamentals of vector, differential and integral calculus.
Rules for evaluation and completion of the course
Final classification reflects the result of continuous check in the form of tests in the seminars. The final examination consists of the obligatory written test and facultative oral part.
Details on the server physics.fme.vutbr.cz
Attendance at seminars and labs which are stated in the timetable is checked by the teacher. Absence may be compensated for by the agreement with the teacher.
Aims
The goal of the course is to inform students about the fundamental laws and theories of classical and modern physics and to train them to apply this knowledge to simple physical systems, to explain and predict the behaviour of such systems. Further goal is to expose physics to students as the theoretical basis and fundament of engineering disciplines.
Knowledge of the fundaments of classical and modern physics on the university level in the field of classical mechanics, oscillations and waves, gravitational field and thermodynamics. Comprehension of general physical principles and capability to apply them to specific physical systems. Ability to carry out physical calculations by means of application of vector, differential and integral calculus.
The study programmes with the given course
Programme B-MAI-P: Mathematical Engineering, Bachelor's, compulsory
Programme B-MET-P: Mechatronics, Bachelor's, compulsory
Programme B-ENE-P: Energy, Bachelor's, compulsory
Programme B-ZSI-P: Fundamentals of Mechanical Engineering, Bachelor's
specialization MTI: Materials Engineering, compulsory
Programme B-ZSI-P: Fundamentals of Mechanical Engineering, Bachelor's
specialization STI: Fundamentals of Mechanical Engineering, compulsory
Type of course unit
Lecture
39 hours, optionally
Syllabus
Measurement. The international system of units, changing units. Motion along a straight line. Graphical integration in motion analysis. Vectors, adding vectors, multiplying vectors.
Motion in two and three dimensions, velocity and acceleration, uniform circular motion. Relative motions.
Force and motion. Newtonian mechanics. Inertial reference frames. Newton’s first, second and third laws. Some particular forces. Applying Newton’s laws.
Work and kinetic energy. Work-kinetic energy theorem. Work done by gravitational force. Work done by spring force. Work done by general variable force. Power.
Potential energy and conservation of energy. Conservative and nonconservative forces. Determining gravitational and elastic potential energy values. Work done by external and nonconservative forces.
System of particles. Center of mass. Momentum. Newton’s second law for a system of particles. Collisions.
Rotation and rolling. The rotational variables. Rotational inertia. Torque. Angular momentum. Newton’s second law in angular form. Conservation of angular momentum.
Equilibrium and elasticity. The center of gravity. Tension and compression, shearing, hydraulic stress.
Gravitation. Newton’s law of gravitation. Principe of superposition. Gravitational potential energy. Planets and satellites, Kepler’s laws.
Fluids. Pressure. Pascal’s principle. Archimedes’ principle. The equation of continuity. Bernoulli’s equation.
Oscillations. Simple harmonic motion, the force law, energy. An angular simple harmonic oscillator. Pendulums. Damped simple harmonic motion. Forced oscillations and resonance.
Waves. Type of waves. Transverse and longitudinal waves. Traveling sinusoidal wave. The wave equation. The principle of superposition for waves. Interference of waves. Standing waves and resonance. Sound waves. Beats. The Doppler effect.
Thermodynamics. The zeroth law of thermodynamics and temperature. Work and heat. The internal energy and the first law of thermodynamics, applications. Ideal gas law, molar heats. The second law of thermodynamics and entropy. Reversible and irreversible processes. Heat engines, refrigerators and heat pumps. Carnot engine efficiency.
Laboratory exercise
13 hours, compulsory
Syllabus
Evaluation of the calculated and measured quantity: the oscillation period of the spring.
Numerical solution of equation of motion: Torque oscillations.
Physical modelling: Waves in tubes.
Numerical and graphical solution: Heat transfer.
Exercise
26 hours, compulsory
Syllabus
The following exercises and problems (Ú) are from the textbook [1];
1. Vectors
2. Particle motion
3. Force and motion
4. Work and energy
5. Systems of particles
6. Rotation and rolling
7. Gravitation
8. Oscillations
9. Waves
10. Thermodynamics