6 ECTS credits
180 h study time

Offer 2 with catalog number 1010183ANR for all students in the 1st semester at a (A) Bachelor - preliminary level.

Semester
1st semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Taught in
Dutch
Faculty
Faculty of Sciences and Bioengineering Sciences
Department
Physics
Educational team
Alexandre Sevrin (course titular)
Activities and contact hours
26 contact hours Lecture
26 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
Course Content

This course aims at introducing starting students in physics and mathematics in mechanics. Notions – such as moment, forces, work and energy, … –  which are central in physics will be introduced and illustrated. Throughout the course the necessary mathematical tools will be developed.

In the first part of the course we limit ourselves to the study of a very simple but very instructive system: the mechanics of a point in one dimension. Position, velocity, acceleration and linear moment, Newton's laws and work and energy are introduced and developed.

In the second part of the course we generalize this to the realistic three dimensional situation. The movement of particles under the influence of gravity is treated in great detail.

The final part of the course gives a first introduction to the mechanics of many body systems and rigid bodies.

Throughout the course, where ever possible, connections are made with research topics in physics of current interest.

Course material
Course text (Required) : Een uitgebreide, rijk geïllustreerde syllabus met gedetaileerde collegenota's en opgaven van oefeningen vindt men op http://we.vub.ac.be/tena/sites/default/files/BA1_0.pdf ., Een eerste inleiding, Alexandere Sevrin, http://we.vub.ac.be/tena/sites/default/files/BA1_0.pdf
Additional info

Following both the lectures and the exercise sessions is mandatory.

Learning Outcomes

General competencies

Classical mechanics (together with electromagnetism) is one of the two pillars on which physics is built. The aim of this course is to introduce the basic concepts of physics and to learn how to use them in concrete problems.

During the course computational skills will be acquired and used to develop and integrate theoretical formalisms.

First steps will be made towards the development of analytical skills to identify a simple problem, to analyse it critically and to develop a strategy to solve it via modelling.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 100% of the final mark.

Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Mondeling met voorbereiding with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 100% of the final mark.

    Note: The exam consists of two questions: one about the theory and one exercise.

Additional info regarding evaluation

Not applicable.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Bachelor of Physics and Astronomy: Default track (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Mathematics and Data Science: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Teaching in Science and Technology: biologie (120 ECTS, Etterbeek) (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Teaching in Science and Technology: geografie (120 ECTS, Etterbeek) (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Teaching in Science and Technology: chemie (120 ECTS, Etterbeek) (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Teaching in Science and Technology: wiskunde (120 ECTS, Etterbeek) (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Teaching in Science and Technology: ingenieurswetenschappen (120 ECTS, Etterbeek) (only offered in Dutch)