There are many purposes for an engineering dynamics class, most of which are about increasing the depth of our understanding of Newtonian mechanics:
- Kinematics vs kinetics: If you think it’s tomato/tomahto, then you may be in for a surprise. Surprise!
- Newton #2: You are already quite familiar with Newton’s Second Law. You will be refreshing your skills by constructing free body diagrams and setting up familiar two-dimensional problems. Then you will be expanding your focus from particles to rigid bodies, from 2-d to 3-d situations, and to alternate coordinate systems/frames of reference.
- Work–Energy Theorem: What do you get when you combine your kinematics with kinetics? That’s right: work and energy. Again, we will take our existing understanding and expand it to include both particles and rigid bodies, and both 2- and 3-dimensional problems.
- Impulse–Momentum: What’s more fun than solving Newton #2 problems? Rewriting N#2 and combining it with N#3 so that we can crash things into other things. In three dimensions. While spinning.
- Free and Forced Vibrations: Because oscillating systems are not just relevant to Newtonian mechanics. Ask any acoustic or electrical engineer.
In addition to the engineering mechanics, the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) has multiple student outcomes listed as a necessary criteria for any engineering or applied science program. The ABET Criterion 3 student outcomes relevant to this course include an ability to:
- apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering;
- function on multidisciplinary teams;
- identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems;
- communicate effectively;
- use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.
