MATH20502 - 2008/2009

 

Unit specification

Aims

Brief description

The primary aim of this course unit is to provide students with a first introduction to continuum mechanics in general and theoretical fluid mechanics in particular. The material provides the student with an essential background to many third and fourth level courses on physical applied mathematics.

Fluid mechanics is concerned with understanding, and hence predicting, the properties (pressure, density, velocity etc.) of liquids and gases under external forces. This subject provides one of the major modern areas for the successful practical application of mathematics. Water, blood, air are all examples of fluids; of the many diverse fields where an understanding of the motion of fluids is important, one can mention oceanography and meteorology (in particular the dynamics of ocean circulation and weather forecasting), biological fluid dynamics (for example, blood flows through arteries), and aerodynamics.

The main physical focus is to calculate the lift forces on a body moving in a fluid, e.g. an aeroplane wing, and it is demonstrated briefly how such forces lead to the behaviour of footballs, cricket balls, golf balls, frisbees, aerobies, boomerangs, etc.

Intended learning outcomes

Future topics requiring this course unit

Third and fourth level course units in Fluid Mechanics.

Syllabus

Textbooks

Learning and teaching processes

Two lectures and one examples class each week. In addition students should expect to do at least four hours private study for this course unit.

Assessment

Coursework; Weighting within unit 20%

2 hours end of semester examination; Weighting within unit 80%

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Arrangements