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ENGR 2120 Engineering Statics

All Sections; Fall 2019

SYLLABUS
The course syllabus is a general plan for the course; deviations announced to the class by the instructor may be necessary.

Instructors: Lecturer: Ben Fahrman, PhD

My office is not in Driftmier. I am
201 Driftmier Engineering Center Annex
in a small office building at the
Email: fahrman@uga.edu (preferred)
back of the Driftmier parking lot.
Phone: 706-542-2271

Peer Learning Assistants (PLAs): TBD

Office Hours: Drop in:

Date/Time: TBD
Location: 201 Driftmier Engineering Annex
Alternatively, feel free to make an appointment. I am happy to find another time to meet with
you if you cannot attend my drop-in hours.

Email: The easiest way to contact me is via email. I check my email frequently between 8 am and 5
pm, Monday through Friday. I will respond to any inquiries within one business day.

I will send any official communications to your UGAMail account (MyID@uga.edu), please
make sure that you check your UGAMail daily.

Required print Engineering Mechanics: Statics; RC Hibbeler; 13th Ed., Note: this is an older
textbook: Pearson edition of the text.

Lecture Times: Monday / Wednesday Friday

CRN
Time Location Time Location
17594 12:20-1:10 pm 12:20-1:10 pm
30814 12:20-1:10 pm 8:00-8:50 am
30816 1:25-2:15 pm Physics (1003) 1:25-2:15 pm Aderhold (1060)
30821 1:25-2:15 pm Room 221 9:05-9:55 am Room 417
37121 2:30-3:20 pm 2:30-3:20 pm
38720 2:30-3:20 pm 3:35-4:25 pm

There is a Thursday evening time reserved in your schedule for statics. We will not regularly
meet on Thursday nights; that time is reserved for our three midterms.

Objectives: In this course, we will explore how a few simple tools can be used to perform complex
mechanical analyses. We will apply vector geometry and Newton’s Laws to analyze the
structural stability of various physical situations. This course is fundamental to several
subsequent courses in engineering, including but not limited to ENGR 2130 (Dynamics), ENGR
2140 (Strength of Materials), and ENGR 3160 (Fluid Mechanics). Upon successful completion
of this course, you will be able to perform a static analysis by integrating the following steps:
1. Determine the resultant force of a force-couple system.
2. Determine the resultant couple moment of a force-couple system.
3. Derive a set of equilibrium equations, which are consistent with Newton’s Second Law.
4. Construct a set of free-body diagram(s), which are consistent with Newton’s Third Law.
5. Produce an idealized mechanical model from a real-world scenario.
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Active Learning: The process of performing a static analysis cannot be learned well by memorizing a list of facts
or by passively listening to a lecture. By far the best way to master statics is to actively work
through the process repeatedly with your peers and with me, your instructor.

An active learning classroom is one where the students are given the opportunity and
responsibility to engage with the course content, the instructor, and their classmates as part of
the learning process and classroom experience.

To facilitate statics mastery, this course will be taught in a partially “flipped” format, with a
focus on peer instruction and group work. New material will be introduced outside of class
through assigned readings, short videos, or other online resources. Class time will be dedicated
to peer discussion for deeper understanding of the concepts, and to peer problem solving.

Weekly Quiz: There will be an online quiz due each week. To prepare for these quizzes, you will be asked to
read sections of the textbook, watch short videos, and/or explore other online resources.

Quizzes are administered on eLC. To find a list of required reading materials, look for the
“WeeklyQuizScedule” in the “Contents” section of our eLC site.

Quizzes will count for 10% of your final course grade. At the end of the semester, the two
lowest quiz grades will be dropped.

You can attempt each quiz only once. You can take the quiz up to two days late to receive up
to half credit.

Homework: Homework will be assigned at or before the end of each class and will be due at the beginning
of the next class. Late homework will be accepted up to one class period after it is due, but will
only be eligible for earning half credit. The lowest four homework grades will be dropped
before determining the final course grade.

Grades for the homework will be based primarily on the appropriateness of the process used to
solve the problem and on the clarity with which the solution is presented. Of secondary
importance is the numerical answer you endorse. Homework solutions will become available in
eLC after the due date.

See the supplemental document regarding homework formatting requirements.

Exams: All exams will be closed book, no notes, and cumulative. You will be given a formula sheet for
each exam. The formula sheet will be available before the exam. If you think the formula sheet
is missing a relevant equation, let me know before or during the exam, and I’ll likely add it.

Exam Date Time Venue

Exam 1 Thursday, 12 Sep 6:00 – 8:00 PM

Exam 2 Thursday, 10 Oct 6:00 – 8:00 PM Pharmacy South – Room 201
Exam 3 Thursday, 7 Nov 6:00 – 8:00 PM
Final Wednesday, 11 Dec 7:00 – 10:00 PM TBD

Note that the tests are scheduled outside of class dates/times and the final exam date/time
is different from that specified in the UGA calendars.
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Any request for a change in the date/time of the final exam will be considered only if the criteria
specified in
http://www.curriculumsystems.uga.edu/FinalExamConflicts/FinalExamConflicts.html are met.

Etiquette: A discussion-based course works best when all participants, students and instructor alike,
establish a climate of mutual respect. This means remaining actively engaged in what is
happening in class (avoiding cell phone use and off-topic computer use), reviewing and
responding to your peers’ work with tact and generosity, and addressing conflict or
disagreement with your peers without hostility.

Group Work: You will be working in groups of four people all semester during class assignments. Why?
Because the act of exchanging reasoning and explaining your own understanding helps you
learn better and makes the class more fun.

To work effectively, however, every member of your group needs to contribute. Groups
dynamics can broadly be categorized as follows:
 Bickering: Ineffective groups don’t see eye to eye: one member dominates while
another member coasts on other’s work. It is critical that every member of the group
comes prepared and works equally.
 Cooperating: In these groups, everyone works together. They listen to each other and
don’t override everyone else to get their way. However, interactions are done to be
efficient, with each member separately completing their share of the work.
o These groups assign members different tasks but rarely give constructive
feedback. Instead, they just merge and submit the final assignment without
trying to improve it first. It feels to these group members that the others just
don’t really care.
 Collaborating: These group members actively engage in discussion, negotiation, and
consensus building. During group work in class they discuss the different answers and
the reasoning for their answer, and they work to make sure that everyone in the group
contributes.
o One example might be a group that studies for a test by assigning each member
a different section of material for that test, learning that material really, really
well, and taking turns teaching their section to the rest of the group during a
study session.

Statics Study There is no shame or embarrassment in asking for help, although it is common to feel anxious
Sessions in approaching one’s teacher. To enter my office is an act of bravery. To enter and chat about
nothing in particular often leads to new insight. Both are valuable. Both show you trust me. I
promise to respect you and earn that trust through compassionate listening and
understanding.—Adam Heidebrink-Bruno 2014. “Syllabus as Manifesto.”

Statics study sessions will be held every week during the semester. These study sessions are not
organized like our lecture times, but are instead free periods where you can work on any statics
problems you would like, collaboratively or by yourself. These study sessions are an extension
of the classroom, and I would highly recommend using these times for completing the
homework assignments, deepening your understanding of any tricky concepts, and preparing
for exams.

Grading Weights: Your final course grade will be calculated according to the following breakdown:
Weekly Quiz 5%
Homework 10 %
Attendance/Participation 10 %
Weekly Group Assignments 10 %
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Exam 1 10 %
Exam 2 15 %
Exam 3 20 %
Final Exam 20 %

Grading System: Final Course Letter

Grade (%) Grade
93-100 A
90-92.99 A-
87-89.99 B+
83-86.99 B
80-82.99 B-
77-89.99 C+
73-86.99 C
70-82.99 C-
50-69.99 D
<50 F

Course Webpage: An active course webpage will be maintained at UGA’s eLearning Commons (eLC)
https://elc.uga.edu. Weekly quizzes, homework assignments, announcements, solutions, grades
etc. will be made available through eLC. It is your responsibility to keep up-to-date with the
materials posted there – bookmark the page and visit it regularly. Accessibility information for
eLC is at https://documentation.brightspace.com/EN/le/-/learner/accessibility_for_learning.htm

Accommodations: Students who seek special accommodations due to a disability should contact me during the
first week of the semester or as soon as the need for the accommodation is discovered. I will
work with the Disability Resource Center (706-542-8719, http://drc.uga.edu/) to provide
appropriate accommodations.

Course Outline: Lectures Lectures

Chpt Topic Chpt Topic
(approx) (approx)
1 General Principles 2 6 Structural Analysis 7
2 Force Vectors 4 7 Internal Forces 3
4 Moments 6 8 Friction 4
3&5 Free-Body Diagrams 3 9&10 Moments of the Area 3
5 Rigid Body Equilibrium 6 4 Equivalent Systems 1

Pre/Co-requisites: (MATH 2500 or ENGG 2145) and (ENGR 1120 or ENVE 1110 or ENVE 1020 or CSEE 2210 or
ELEE 1030) and (ENGR 1140 or CSCI 1301-1301L or ELEE 2040).

Pre-requisites: (PHYS 1211-1211L or PHYS 1251) and (MATH 2210 or MATH 2260).

Expected 1. Trigonometric functions (sine, cosine, tangent)

background 2. Similar triangles
knowledge: 3. Solution of linear and quadratic equations, including simultaneous equations.
4. Calculus: Differentiation and Integration of basic functions.
5. Basic programming with MATLAB
6. Engineering drawing fundamentals and basic usage of AutoCAD

Note: if you feel you need to review items 1-4 in the above list, see Appendix A of our
textbook. Appendix A of the text exists in the “Course Info” Folder of our eLC as
ExpectedBackgroundKnowledge.pdf
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Academic As a University of Georgia student, you have agreed to abide by the University’s academic
Integrity: honesty policy, “A Culture of Honesty,” and the Student Honor Code. All academic work must
meet the standards described in “A Culture of Honesty” found at: https://ovpi.uga.edu/academic-
honesty/academic-honesty-policy. Lack of knowledge of the academic honesty policy is not a
reasonable explanation for a violation. Questions related to course assignments and the academic
honesty policy should be directed to the instructor.

You are encouraged to seek advice from your text, your peers, your instructor, and other online
resources—in that order—for completing homework assignments. Transcribing a solution,
whether from a colleague, a solution manual, or from an online repository, is not considered
advice. Transcribing another’s solution is a harmful shortcut, and it should be avoided.
Homework problems are meant to be difficult, and they are meant to prepare you for the exams.
Copying a solution to a homework problem and expecting to succeed on an exam is like
watching someone else play violin and hoping to succeed in a recital—it will not help you.

Weekly quizzes are meant to be individual efforts.

Electronic in-class responses sometimes follow group work, and are sometimes meant to be
individual. Listen to prompts from the instructor to know whether group work is appropriate.

Exams are entirely solitary. Giving or receiving any unauthorized information related to
questions or answers on any exam is prohibited.

ABET: The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) is a non-profit, non-
governmental organization that accredits post-secondary education programs in applied and
natural sciences, computing, engineering and engineering technology.

More information on the ABET accreditation areas related to Statics can be found in the
supplemental .
 STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES Table for ENGR2120 Syllabi
Student Learning Outcomes
1. an ability to identify, formulate,
and solve complex engineering
problems by applying principles of
engineering, science, and
mathematics
Assessment Criteria Assessment Method
-Identify forces and couples in 2D and 3D
-Midterm Tests
-Calculate the moments produced by forces -Final Exam
and couples in 2D and 3D
-Calculate components of forces and
couple moments in 2D and 3D
-Determine the resultants of 2D and 3D
force/couple systems
-Draw free body diagrams of rigid
structures with various kinds of supports in
2D and 3D
-Calculate the external reactions exerted by
various supports on rigid structures
(trusses, frames, and machines)
-Calculate the internal forces (axial, shear,
and bending moment) in rigid structures
(trusses, frames, and machines)
-Draw shear and bending moment
diagrams for horizontal beams
-Calculate centroid of simple and
composite areas
-Calculate area moments of inertia for
simple and composite areas
-Determine frictional forces between rough
surfaces of contact
-Calculate forces for impending motion in
the presence of friction