Applied Mechanics

Course Description

ETI2851C – Applied Mechanics is a combined lecture and laboratory course within the Engineering Technologies > Industrial Systems Technology taxonomy of Florida's Statewide Course Numbering System (SCNS). This course introduces students to the fundamental principles of mechanics as applied to industrial and manufacturing systems. Topics span statics, dynamics, and introductory strength of materials, with an emphasis on practical problem-solving in industrial and mechanical technology contexts. Laboratory activities reinforce theoretical concepts through measurement, experimentation, and hands-on analysis of forces, motion, and material behavior. The course is designed to prepare students for technical careers in maintenance, manufacturing, industrial supervision, and related engineering technology fields.

This is a 4-credit, combined lecture/laboratory ("C") course meeting approximately 75 contact hours per semester. The "C" designation indicates that lecture and laboratory sections meet together in the same place at the same time.

Learning Outcomes

Required Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Apply the principles of vector analysis to resolve and compose forces in two and three dimensions.
• Construct accurate free body diagrams (FBDs) and apply equilibrium equations to analyze static systems.
• Calculate resultant forces and moments acting on particles and rigid bodies.
• Analyze support reactions for beams, frames, and trusses under various loading conditions.
• Determine centroids and area moments of inertia for standard and composite cross-sections.
• Analyze the effects of friction on bodies at rest and in motion, including wedge, belt, and screw applications.
• Describe and calculate the kinematics of particles and rigid bodies, including rectilinear and curvilinear motion.
• Apply Newton's Second Law and equations of motion to kinetics problems involving forces and acceleration.
• Use work-energy and impulse-momentum methods to solve dynamics problems.
• Define and calculate stress and strain in structural members subjected to axial, shear, and bending loads.
• Perform laboratory measurements using instruments such as force gauges, scales, and protractors, and record results accurately.

Optional Learning Outcomes

Depending on institutional emphasis and program focus, students may also:

• Apply Mohr's Circle to determine principal stresses and maximum shear stress.
• Analyze thin-walled pressure vessels under internal pressure.
• Evaluate column buckling using Euler's formula and identify critical loads.
• Use computer software (e.g., spreadsheets or simulation tools) to model and solve mechanics problems.
• Analyze machine elements such as gears, pulleys, and levers using mechanical advantage principles.
• Investigate vibration fundamentals, including natural frequency and resonance concepts in mechanical systems.

Major Topics

Required Topics

1. Introduction to Mechanics and Units
   • Definitions and scope of applied mechanics
   • SI and US customary unit systems; unit conversions
   • Scalar and vector quantities; Newton's Laws
2. Force Systems and Vectors
   • Vector addition and resolution (2D and 3D)
   • Resultant of concurrent force systems
   • Moments (torques) and couples
   • Varignon's Theorem
3. Equilibrium of Particles and Rigid Bodies
   • Free body diagrams (FBDs)
   • Conditions of static equilibrium (ΣF = 0, ΣM = 0)
   • Two-force and three-force body problems
   • Support reactions: pins, rollers, fixed supports
4. Structural Analysis
   • Analysis of trusses: method of joints, method of sections
   • Frames and machines: internal forces
   • Beam reactions and internal shear/bending moment diagrams
5. Centroids and Moments of Inertia
   • Centroids of areas and composite sections
   • Area moments of inertia (second moment of area)
   • Parallel-axis theorem
6. Friction
   • Dry (Coulomb) friction; coefficients of static and kinetic friction
   • Wedge and screw thread friction
   • Belt and rope friction
7. Kinematics of Particles
   • Rectilinear motion: position, velocity, acceleration
   • Uniformly accelerated motion; projectile motion
   • Curvilinear motion: normal and tangential components
8. Kinematics of Rigid Bodies
   • Rotation about a fixed axis; angular displacement, velocity, and acceleration
   • Relative motion; velocity and acceleration of a point on a rigid body
9. Kinetics: Force, Mass, and Acceleration
   • Newton's Second Law for particles and rigid bodies
   • Equations of motion in rectilinear and curvilinear coordinates
   • Rotation: relationship between torque, moment of inertia, and angular acceleration
10. Work, Energy, Power, and Efficiency
    • Work done by a force and a couple
    • Kinetic energy; work-energy theorem
    • Potential energy; conservation of energy
    • Power and mechanical efficiency
11. Impulse and Momentum
    • Linear impulse-momentum principle
    • Conservation of linear momentum; impact and collision
    • Angular impulse and momentum
12. Introduction to Strength of Materials
    • Axial stress and strain; Hooke's Law; modulus of elasticity
    • Shear stress and shear strain; modulus of rigidity
    • Poisson's ratio; thermal stresses
    • Factor of safety; allowable stress design
13. Laboratory Activities
    • Force measurement and vector resolution experiments
    • Beam reaction and equilibrium labs
    • Friction force measurement
    • Projectile motion or free-fall experiments
    • Stress-strain measurement and material testing

Optional Topics

• Mohr's Circle for plane stress analysis
• Beam deflection methods (integration, Macaulay's method)
• Torsion of circular shafts: shear stress and angle of twist
• Pressure vessels: thin-walled cylinders and spheres
• Column buckling: Euler's formula, slenderness ratio
• Introduction to vibration: natural frequency, free and forced oscillation
• Mechanical advantage: simple machines, gears, pulleys, levers
• Fluid statics basics: pressure, buoyancy (where program context requires)

Resources & Tools

Textbooks (Commonly Used)

• Hibbeler, R.C. – Engineering Mechanics: Statics & Dynamics (Pearson)
• Limbrunner & Spiegel – Applied Statics and Strength of Materials (Pearson Prentice Hall)
• Meriam & Kraige – Engineering Mechanics: Statics / Dynamics (Wiley)
• Beer, Johnston & DeWolf – Mechanics of Materials (McGraw-Hill)

Laboratory Equipment

• Force tables and vector boards
• Spring scales and load cells
• Beam and truss models with reaction supports
• Inclined plane and friction block sets
• Tensile/compression testing apparatus
• Protractors, rulers, and measuring tapes

Software & Technology

• Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets (for calculations and graphing)
• Free body diagram drawing tools (e.g., draw.io)
• Engineering calculator (TI-36X Pro or equivalent)
• Optional: MATLAB, SimScale, or ANSYS Student for simulation

Career Pathways

Completion of ETI2851C supports entry into and advancement within a wide range of technical and industrial careers, including:

• Industrial Maintenance Technician – Apply statics and dynamics to troubleshoot mechanical systems and machinery.
• Manufacturing Technologist – Use applied mechanics principles in production planning and equipment setup.
• Quality Control / Inspection Technician – Evaluate structural integrity and material performance using stress/strain concepts.
• Plant Engineering Technician – Support engineers in analyzing loads, forces, and material selection for industrial equipment.
• Mechanical Design Technician / Drafter – Use mechanics fundamentals to assist in component design and analysis.
• Construction and Infrastructure Inspector – Apply structural analysis knowledge to field inspections.
• Engineering Technology Transfer – This course supports transfer pathways into AS or BS degree programs in Industrial, Mechanical, or Manufacturing Engineering Technology at Florida universities and colleges.

Special Information

Program Context

ETI2851C is typically a core requirement within the Industrial Systems Technology (ETI) program at Florida colleges offering AS degrees or college credit certificates in industrial, manufacturing, or mechanical technology. It serves as a foundational bridge between general physics or technical mathematics and advanced technology courses such as machine design, hydraulics/pneumatics, and industrial automation.

Certification Relevance

• NIMS (National Institute for Metalworking Skills) – Mechanics principles underpin NIMS certifications in machining and manufacturing operations.
• MSSC (Manufacturing Skill Standards Council) CPT – Applied mechanics concepts align with the Safety and Mechanical Systems domains of the Certified Production Technician credential.
• EETC (Electronics and Electrical Technician) and SME Certifications – Statics and strength of materials content supports broader electromechanical and manufacturing technician credentials.

Lab Safety

Students working in the laboratory component must follow all applicable OSHA safety guidelines and institutional laboratory safety policies, including the use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) during material testing and structural experiments.