F5200 Automotive Physics

Faculty of Science
Autumn 2010 - only for the accreditation
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 1 credit(s) (plus extra credits for completion). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
RNDr. Pavel Konečný, CSc. (lecturer)
doc. RNDr. Zdeněk Bochníček, Dr. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. RNDr. Mirko Černák, CSc.
Department of Plasma Physics and Technology – Physics Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: RNDr. Pavel Konečný, CSc.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course is devoted to students of physics teaching. Absolving the course a student obtains following abilities and skills: Ability to apply physical and mathematical tools to simply real technical problems. Ability to explain how selected technical apparatuses work.
Syllabus
  • Brief history of the automobile.
  • Physics of the car crash:
  • Work and mechanical energy; momentum and angular momentum, momentum laws and conservation laws.
  • Elastic and inelastic collision.
  • Motion of rigid bodies.
  • Dissipation of energy. Elasticity and stiffness.
  • Heat engines on the introductory university course level.
  • Reversible non-reversible cycles; maximum efficiency of any heat engine; efficiency at non zero output; Curzon - Ahlborn Efficiency.
  • Ideal heat engine cycles Carnot cycle; Stirling cycle; Ideal internal combustion engine cycles; Otto Cycle; Diesel Cycle; Atkinson Cycle.
  • Reciprocating engine.
  • The way of intake and exhaust: Two stroke engine; four stroke engines valve timing.
  • Gasoline engine reciprocating engine; the mixing of a combustible liquid fuel in a predetermined proportion with air.
  • Diesel reciprocating engine; fuel injection system.
  • Charged engine; turbocharger.
  • Real efficiency; efficiency as the function of the load; Otto cycle engines versus Diesel cycle engines in the partial load operation.
  • Kinematics and dynamics of reciprocating engines; harmonics analysis of the piston movement; engines balancing.
  • Myths around internal combustion engines; the world's biggest combustion engine and the smallest one.
  • Mechanical power transmission:
  • Static and kinetic dry friction; fluid friction; viscosity of liquids; lubrication.
  • Gear; gearbox; automatic transmission; clutch; differential; drive shaft.
  • The automotive chassis.
  • Vehicle suspension; oscillations on the spring; spring rate of the spring; damped and driven oscillations; unharmonics oscillations.
  • Coil spring; leaf spring; torsion bars; gas spring; rubber band.
  • Suspension elements; sprung mass; unsprung mass; independent suspension; rigid axle suspension.
  • Instant centre; roll centre; front diving; rear squatting; anti-dive and anti-squat.
  • Toe angle; camber angle; caster angle; scrub radius; Ackermann steering geometry.
  • Tyres rolling resistance.
  • Braking systems.
  • Automotive aerodynamics;
  • Euler's Equations of Inviscid Motion; Navier-Stokes equations; Bernoulli equations; Reynolds number.
  • Aerodynamics forces; drag; drag reduction; lift; lift reduction.
  • Stability and cross wind.
  • Underhood ventilation.
  • Ventilation.
  • Aerodynamics noise.
  • The electric system of a car:
  • Direct current motors; starter Automotive batteries;
  • Charging system; generator- principle of operation; generator design.
  • Ignition systems;
  • Electrical accessories; lighting circuits; headlights
Literature
  • HALLIDAY, David, Robert RESNICK and Jearl WALKER. Fyzika (Physics). 1st ed. Brno, Praha: Vutium, Prometheus, 2001. ISBN 80-214-1868-0. info
Teaching methods
Lectures, class discussion, demonstration experiments.
Assessment methods
Final oral colloquium.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2007 - for the purpose of the accreditation, Autumn 2007, Autumn 2008, Autumn 2009, Autumn 2010, Autumn 2011, Autumn 2011 - acreditation, spring 2012 - acreditation, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024.