Are you interested in mechanical, aerospace, civil, or architectural engineering? Get a taste of college-level vector mechanics!
Locations: Palo Alto
Cost: $130/hr
Recommended hours: 6-30
Goals:
This course surveys of topics from engineering courses such as statics, dynamics, and mechanics of materials. It’s a great fit for someone considering an engineering major! Topics fall into three major categories: statics, dynamics, and mechanics of materials (see full descriptions below). We customize the course to students’ interests and background with math and physics, and we can explore as many or as few of these topics as desired.
Pre-requisites:
– Precalculus or above
– Physics or above
—
Statics
Forces and moments using vectors; equilibrium conditions for rigid bodies; structural supports and boundary conditions; support forces in two- and three-dimensional structures; two-force members; internal forces in trusses; method of joints; method of sections; load-bearing machines.
Dynamics
Kinematics with calculus; normal-tangential coordinates; polar coordinates; Newton’s Second Law; air resistance; work and energy; mechanical vibrations; impulse and momentum; coefficients of restitution; oblique impacts; rotational kinematics; mass moments of inertia; rigid-body rotation; general plane motion.
Mechanics of Materials
Material properties; Hooke’s Law, stress, and strain; elasticity and plasticity; strength and stiffness; axial, torsional, shearing, and bending loads; normal and shear stress; thermal expansion; shear and bending moments; deflections of beams; buckling of columns; combined loading; structural design.
Students who stay actively engaged in the learning process during the summer perform better during the school year.
