The University of Trinidad and Tobago

Course Descriptor

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COURSE TITLE - Mechanical Engineering Science

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COURSE CODE - MENG1003

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LEVEL - 1 CREDIT POINTS :- 4

Parent :
Programme - National Engineering Technician Diploma In Mechanical Engineering

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Type of Course - Lecture, Tutorials and Laboratory

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Date Validated - August 2012 Date Modified :- May 2018

TOTAL STUDENT WORKLOAD: 8 hours/week x 13 weeks = 104 hours

The normal weekly workload will be:
Lecture 3 hrs.
Tutorial 1 hr.
Laboratory 1 hr.
Directed and independent study 3 hrs.

PREREQUISITES
There are no prerequisites for this course.

DESCRIPTION
The purpose of this unit is to provide a foundation in scientific principles, which will enable learners to
solve simple engineering problems at technician level. This unit has been designed to act as the necessary
prerequisite for further study of the specialist engineering science units. By studying the unit, learners will
develop an understanding of statics, dynamics and electrical principles.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

1. Knowledge and Understanding

By the end of the course students will be able to:

 1. Solve graphically, a static force system that involves no more than three coplanar forces.
2. Determine experimentally stress and strain for given elastic materials.
3. Solve linear motion problems involving Newton’s laws.
4. Solve a linear motion problem using conservation of energy.
5. Solve dc circuits involving one voltage source and no more than three resistive loads components.

2. Cognitive skills

By the end of the course students will be able to:

1. Recognize the nature of static and dynamic forces that act on, or are produced by, stationary and
moving bodies
2. Use the electrical principles necessary for the solution of simple dc circuits and explain the
operating principles of basic electrical machines
3. Explore the nature of energy associated with mechanical, electrical and heat energy systems
4. Use and application of physical principles and law

3. Practical and Professional skills

By the end of the course students will be able to:

1. Solve analytically, a static force system that involves no more than three coplanar forces.
2. Solve an angular motion problem using Newton’s laws.
3. Select and justify the use of energy methods to solve motion problems.
4. Solve dc circuits involving one voltage source and parallel/series combinations of resistive loads
components.
5. Solve an engineering problem that involves the combination of linear motion, angular motion
and friction

4. Transferable and Key skills

By the end of the course students will be able to:

1. Apply physical principles to engineering problems that require an analytical approach for their
solution. Recognize the nature of static and dynamic forces that act on, or are produced by,
stationary and moving bodies
2. Use the electrical principles necessary for the solution of simple dc circuits and explain the
operating principles of basic electrical machines
3. Explore the nature of energy associated with mechanical, electrical and heat energy systems

AREA OF STUDY

1. Forces, Forces acting at a point

1.1 Definitions of: matter, mass, weight and force.
1.2 Define Scalar and vector quantities.
1.3 Solve problems on the vector representation of forces.
1.4 Solve problems on the balanced and unbalanced forces.
1.5 Study of the parallelogram and triangle of forces.
2. Motion
2.1 Define force, velocity and acceleration.
2.2 Define action and reaction.
2.3 Describe Newton’s laws of motion.
2.4 Define linear and angular motion and momentum.

3. Moment of a Force and Equilibrium

3.1 Define static equilibrium and write the conditions for an object in static equilibrium.
3.2 Solve statics problems by using the free-body diagrams and the conditions for static equilibrium
to determine the unknown reactions or supportive forces acting on the object.

4. Work, energy and power

4.1 Define work and calculate the work done by constant or variable forces.
4.2 Define energy, kinetic energy, potential energy and other forms of energy, and calculate the
mechanical kinetic and potential energies.
4.3 State the work-energy principle and the conservation law of energy in words.
4.4 Define and calculate power.

5. Friction and Friction on an Inclined Plane

5.1 State the Newton’s Laws of Motion in words.
5.2 Define and calculate the normal force, frictional force and the coefficients of static and kinetic
friction.
5.3 Draw free-body diagrams of objects on horizontal and inclined planes.
5.4 Solve translational motion problems on horizontal and inclined planes.

6. Stress and strain

6.1 Define direct stress and strain.
6.2 Define the modulus of elasticity.
6.3 Solve basic problems involving stress, strain and modulus.

7. Pressure Measurements – Manometers

7.1 Define and use the relationship between absolute pressure, gage pressure and atmospheric pressure.
7.2 Describe and use the degree of variation of atmospheric pressure near the earth's surface.
7.3 Describe the properties of air at standard atmospheric pressure.
7.4 Describe the properties of atmosphere at elevation and pressure in a fluid.
7.5 Define the relationship between a change in elevation and pressure in a Fluid.
7.6 Describe a manometer and how it is used to measure pressure.
7.7 Demonstrate an understanding of a U tube manometer and a differential manometer.

8. Temperature and Kinetic Theory

8.1 Describe the atomic theory of matter and the kinetic theory of gases.
8.2 Find the coefficient of thermal expansion of matter and solve thermal expansion problems by
determining the change in length, area or volume of matter when its temperature changes.
8.3 State the gas laws in words and use them to solve the gas problems by determining the volume,
temperature and pressure.

9. Heat energy
9.1 Understand heat as transient energy and the difference between temperature, heat and internal
energy.
 9.2 Define specific heat capacity and find its value for the working substance.
9.3 State the heat principle in words and solve heat problems using this principle.
9.4 Define phases and latent heat of matter for phase change and find the values of latent heat for
fusion and vaporization.

10. Electricity
10.1 Electrical energy: electric charge, charged conductors, conductors and insulators, resistivity and
resistance, potential difference, electro-motive force, voltage, current
10.2 DC circuits: Ohm’s law, current, voltage and resistance in a simple circuit, series and parallel
circuits, combined series/parallel circuits, Kirchoff’s laws, elementary electrical power
formulae

LEARNING AND TEACHING STRATEGY

Mode of delivery:
 Overhead projector
 Classical Board – Writing
 Laboratory Sessions and Demonstrations
 Tutorials
 Assignments

Assessment:

Evaluation Component Percent

Quiz 15
Research Project 20
Lab Report 15
Final Examination 50
Total 100

ASSESSMENT

Assessment Element 1
weighting: 15%
assessment. type: Quiz
special facilities: Examination Conditions
time/duration: 2hrs.

Assessment Element 2
weighting: 20%
assessment. type: Research Report
special facilities: Group Work
time/duration: 10 hrs.

Assessment Element 3
weighting: 15%
assessment. type: Lab Report
 special facilities: Examination Conditions
time/duration: 5 hrs.

Assessment Element 4
weighting: 50%
assessment. type: Final Exam
special facilities: Examination Conditions
time/duration: 3 hrs.

ASSESSMENT STRATEGY
The overall assessments for this course would comprise an allocation of fifty percent (50%) towards in-
course and fifty percent (50%) toward the final examination:

In cases where attendance falls below 80% prior to add/drop deadline, students may be asked to
deregister from a course. Absence from classes after add/drop deadline has passed may result in the
student being debarred from writing the final examinations. In such cases the student may be
awarded a failing grade (F) on their transcript.

Aggregation and re-assessment Rules:

The assessment elements (Assignments/Tests and Final Test) will be aggregated to form a single overall
mark. To achieve an overall pass in the course, the student must pass the aggregate in-course
Assignments/Tests.

RECOMMENDED READING

Textbooks

 Bird, John Science for Engineering, 3rd Edition, Newnes

 Bolton W – Mechanical Science (Blackwell Scientific, 1993)
 Tooly M and Dingle L – Higher National Engineering (Butterworth-Heinemann, 1998)

Course Developed by : Date:

Natalie Moonan May 2018

Course Authors :- Natalie Moonan, Anand Gayadeen and Rasif Ali

Course modified by: N/A

Course Instructor :- TBD

Contact Information :- 642-8888

COURSE MAP

Hours
* Evaluation

Lecture

Tutoria
Week Areas of Study Learning Outcomes In Course

Lab
50%

Forces
1 Forces acting at a point 3 1 1

2 3 1 1
Motion

2. 1.
Moment of a Force and 1
5 5
3 Equilibrium Recognize the nature of
static and dynamic forces
that act on, or are
Work, energy and power produced by, stationary 2. 1. Quiz
4 1
and moving bodies. 5 5 = 15%

Friction and Friction on

5 3 1 1
an Inclined Plane
Lab
6 Stress and Strain 3 1 1
= 15 %

Pressure measurement- 2. 1.
7 1
Manometers 5 5

Temp. and Kinetic Explore the nature of Project Report

8 3 1 1
Theory energy associated with = 5%
mechanical, electrical
Heat energy 2. 1.
9 and heat energy systems. 1
5 5

10 Use the electrical

principles necessary for
Electricity the solution of simple dc
6 2 2
11 circuits and explain the
operating principles of
basic electrical machines.
Presentation
12 Presentations 4 0 0
= 15%
13 Review / Study Week
14 & Final Exam = 50%
15