Applied Physics is one of the basic subjects in the 1st year of the Degree of Technical Architecture. It is included in the module called Scientific Foundations.



In the field of building engineering, one of the most important questions is the structural stability of the buildings, whose elements suffer different forces and tensions. In this subject, the physical foundations of Statics are studied, with their subsequent application in simple structures. This is compulsory to be able to understand structures that are more complex in the future.



As a prerequisite, it is important the student’s knowledge about basic issues such as unities, orders of magnitude and scale, or the concept of density. Furthermore, the student should be very familiar with the operations with vectors to apply Newton’s equations, sketching force diagrams and solve different questions on basic statics.

Competences of the subject:



C1. Apply the vectorial calculus for the solving of problems of statics of structural systems, be they by analytical methods or graphical methods.



C2. Apply the physical concepts related to internal stresses of the body, analyzing and solving basic problems on triangular structures and beams.



C3. Use simple experimental devices. Discuss and analyze results obtained experimentally, being able to interpret these results in the conceptual context developed in the subject.



In addition to this, the following cross-competences will be developed (these competences, common to different subjects, are worked in the subject of Applied Physics along with the specific competences of the subject).



T1. Problems solving. Employ coherently the procedimental knowledge associated to the scientific methodology for the solving of problematic situations in basic physics; perform quantitative analysis, express hypothesis, prepare alternative strategies, resolve and analyze results.



T2. Working in group. In order to face with mates cooperative tasks in the context of physics: propose strategies, analyze the contributions of others, discuss ideas and execute the corresponding actions.



T3. Written communication: reports. Work with information related to processes of basic physics, analyze and express correctly ideas, using for this different systems of symbols or forms of representation: text, formulae, tables, graphs and diagrams.

The chapters that will be developed along the year are the following:



1. Vectorial magnitudes. Operations with vectors

2. Particle statics

3. Forces applied on the rigid body

4. Statics of the rigid body

5. Equivalent force-systems

6. Centres of gravity. Distributed forces

7. Isostatic triangular structures on the plane

8. Internal forces of isostatic beams





Along the year, several practice sessions will be conducted in the lab, in which the concepts of force decomposition, the static or kinetic nature of frictional forces, the axial forces in a triangular structure, as well as the importance of considering and estimating experimental errors will be analyzed experimentally.

Along the year, several practice sessions will be conducted in the lab, in which the concepts of force decomposition, the static or kinetic nature of frictional forces, the axial forces in a triangular structure, as well as the importance of considering and estimating experimental errors will be analyzed experimentally.



With the proposed methodology, we try to foster the continuous work of the student, in such a way that he/she acquires the competences and assimilates the concepts in a progressive way. We will follow a textbook in the majority of the chapters of the subject. In each chapter, the student will know which points are going to be analyzed in class thanks to guide-sheets, uploaded in the virtual platform eGela. The concepts are explained in class, and after an open problem related to the explained concepts is proposed. The students work on this problem individually or in pairs, and they deliver the task at the end of the class (sometimes it will be homework). The different solving strategies are commented, in addition to the errors that may have been detected. These tasks contribute to the continuous evaluation.



Furthermore, in order that the student have a realistic valuation of his/her own progress, three controls will be stablished along the semester, each of which contributes to the final score. The content of each control as well as its weighting in the evaluation increases gradually. Moreover, the student must attend practice sessions and elaborate the corresponding reports, which also contribute to the final score.

• Final Assessment System
• Tools and qualification percentages:
  • Written test to be taken (%): 80
  • Realization of Practical Work (exercises, cases or problems) (%): 10
  • Laboratory practices (%): 10

There exist two possibilities to be evaluated: (1) follow the continuous evaluation (2) choose a final exam. The student that wants to withdraw from the examination and choose the final exam must let the professor know by writing before the 11th week of the semester. He/she must fill the corresponding form available in eGela.



In the evaluation, a maximum score of 100 points can be obtained; if the student achieves 50 points and fulfills the requirements mentioned below, he/she will pass the subject. The evaluation will be carried out by means of the following activities:



(1) CONTINUOUS EVALUATION METHOD:



• Evaluation activity: additional tasks, problems, etc. (along the semester)

Points: 10% of the final mark.

Observations: Not to fill the tasks before the fixed date without any justification implies a zero in this task. Part of the tasks will be on-site. This task will be carried out when the professor considers. To pass the subject with a continuous evaluation, a minimum of 10/25 of the tasks is required. Otherwise, the student will fail and he/she will have to attend the extraordinary exam.



• Evaluation activity: laboratory practices (along the semester)

Points: 10% of the final mark

Observations: It is necessary tom pass them. For that, the assistance is compulsory, and the corresponding reports must be delivered correctly (more details in the eGela platform).



• Evaluation activity: 1st control (approximately the first 5 weeks of classes)

Points: 15% of the final mark

Observations: No contents can be compensated after.



• Evaluation activity: 2nd control (approximately the first 10 weeks of classes)

Points: 25% of the final mark

Observations: No contents can be compensated after.



• Evaluation activity: 3rd control (at the final of the semester)

Points: 40% of the final mark

Observations: all the content of the semester. It is necessary to achieve 3.5 out of 10 points to have the rest of the activities taken into account in the continuous evaluation.



NOTES AND REQUISITES:



It is compulsory to pass the laboratory practices to pass the subject. For that, the assistance is also compulsory and all the reports must be delivered correctly. For those who do not pass the laboratory practices, an exam that assess the competences will be carried out in the extraordinary exam.



(2) FINAL EXAM EVALUATION METHOD



In case of doing a final exam the same date of the 3rd control of the continuous evaluation, both exams will be different. The final grade will be obtained as follows:



- 10% laboratory practices (minimum 5 out of 10)

- 90% Individual written exam



In case the student does not attend the exam in the official date, it will be considered as “not presented”.

- 10% laboratory practices (minimum 5 out of 10)

- 90% Individual written exam



The evaluation is performed by means of a final exam. Those students that have not passed the laboratory practices will have the opportunity to do a practice the same day of the exam (its weight will be 10% of the final mark). All these students will do the practice part in groups, like during the semester.



For the students who have follow the continuous evaluation, it is possible to maintain the grade obtained in the different activities (tasks, controls 1 and 2 and laboratory practices) so that in the extraordinary exam the same criteria and percentages are applied (60% continuous evaluation, 40% control over all the contents). For this, they will have to let the professor know at least 10 days before the official date of the exam.



No es necesario renunciar a la convocatoria extraordinaria si no se quiere que corra convocatoria, basta con no presentarse al examen.

Material for drawing in the chapter of graphical statistics

Basic bibliography

1. Vector mechanics for engineers : statics and dynamics / Ferdinand P. Beer, E. Russell Johnston. McGraw-Hill (1997)

2. Engineering mechanics / J.L. Meriam, L.G. Kraige. John Wiley & Sons (1992 - 1993)

3. Estabilidad e isostaticidad como introducción al análisis de estructuras en Arquitectura, 4. Sánchez Beitia, Ed. Netbiblo (2008).

5. Statics and mechanics of materials / R.C. Hibbeler. Macmillan (1993)

In-depth bibliography

- Estática. J.I. Meriam, Ed. Reverté (1999)

Web addresses

http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/architecture/4-440-basic-structural-design-spring-2009/

http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/mechanical-engineering/2-001-mechanics-materials-i-fall-2006/index.htm

http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/civil-and-environmental-engineering/1-050-solid-mechanics-fall-2004/