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SESSION NUMBER 1380

FILLING THE GAP BETWEEN INTRODUCTORY PHYSICS AND APPLIED THERMODYNAMICS

Joao Vinhas and Joao Monney Paiva

Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Management Department Esc Sup Tec, Polytechnic of Viseu 3504-510 Portugal

Abstract: The present paper describes introductory physics curriculum revisions that have taken place in the Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Management Department during the last two years, particularly those undertaken in order to ensure a better understanding of basic thermody- namics concepts. Being traditionally focused towards Newtonian mechanics, introductory mechani- cal engineering physic courses tend to narrow first impressions about the roots of applied subjects to come. This results in loosing an important amount of first quality curiosity as well as induces some detachment from freshmen who may not be completely committed to this engineering course, thus reducing our ability to increase retention at a most crucial early stage of the course. Although nowadays success in engineering is becoming increasingly dependent on profi- ciency in skills that aren’t limited to technical ability, many students select engineering not because of the solid education it provides or even as a result of a strong interest in the technical aspects of common devices but mostly because they have expectations of potential interesting income. There have been important changes both in the role engineers play and also in the social and educational background of the student’s body entering engineering faculties. We now receive indi- viduals from all sections of society, who often have little knowledge of the way mechanical devices work as well as a lack of hands-on experience. This is particularly noticeable when heat-pressure- work concepts are introduced. Traditionally located in the second year of the curriculum, thermody- namics requires pre-teaching some basic concepts with the purpose of providing the basis for applied energy conversion through heat machines. The goal is, therefore, to ensure an appropriate coverage of a wider number of subjects, using a more diversified and stimulating program, which preserves the strong foundation in engineering sciences that characterized the previous syllabus.

Introduction

Since the seventies Portugal has been trying to keep the pace with the industrial western economy, but only in the eighties, after a marked political shift, was a major decision taken that would enforce the required transformations: the creation of the polytechnic system. As “it has long been recognised that the role of the Portuguese University has been limited, almost exclusively, to

Proceedings of the 2002 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright  2002, American Society for Engineering Education

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Vinhas, J., & Paiva, J. (2002, June), Filling The Gap Between Introductory Physics And Applied Thermodynamics Paper presented at 2002 Annual Conference, Montreal, Canada. 10.18260/1-2--11290