Wonders of mechanics

Weekender
TECHNOLOGY

By MICHAEL JOHN UGLO
WELCOME on board for the lecture on mechanics and technology in perspective. People want to create moving objects and that may be a wonder and captivating. Such a pursuit was the same in the ancient world as it is today. This is all looked at in mechanics and in technology is an application of this notion.
Mechanics in principle is the movement or motion seen in an object. This object is called a body and it can be a particle, a spacecraft, a part of a machine, projectile or anything that can be rigid, semi-rigid or fluid.
In mechanics, we are looking at the study of inertia, velocity, acceleration and momentum. It is all derived from an object to undergo motion as a result of an applied force that results in a displacement which is the distance moved or displaced from its environment relative to the size or the magnitude of the applied force.
Aristotle and Archimedes in the ancient times brought to light the curiosity that is entangled in mechanics. We had the English mathematician and physicist Isaac Newton who formulated the three laws of motion to lay the foundation on mechanics. Other equal pioneers had been Kepler and Galileo who also contributed significantly to this and the field of science in general.

Essential physics for Newtonian physics. – Picture from onlinecoursebay.com

Applicability of technology and mechanics
In technology, we are looking deeper into the motion of particles and its application to other rigid and non-rigid bodies as well as those in between as semi-rigid bodies. This is calculated in kinematics as in motion and the forces known concurrently as the dynamics as in classical physics.
Now, to our knowledge and at this juncture, both the classical physics that are based on Newtonian mechanics and the modern mechanics field in the quantum mechanics are acceptable to work as a unified body of knowledge. In this instance, the Newtonian mechanics is finite in scope and is seen to constitute a part of the overall quantum mechanics field. Objects that are considered and calculations made in Newtonian mechanics are seen to operate at a macro scale. It is an equivalent approximation in that so much time and computation would have been done to do quantum computations.
Thus, the above uniting factor was seen as the quantum mechanics area of study advanced to this modern stage. Two important contributors to these achievements have been the German physicist Max Planck and the Jewish-German born American Albert Einstein. It has been the Postulate about particles’ computation giving rise to Planck’s constant and the photoelectric effect of Einstein respectively that revolutionised the field of mechanics in Physics.
The dual uniting factor is the field theory that is associated with mechanics. The field can be in electromagnetic as well as the gravitation. Therefore, any object that is moving can be a source of that field. So it is taken that in quantum mechanics, the microscopic particles are the fields themselves.
This distinction really makes it more pronounced particularly at the atomic level of mechanics. Such is seen to disrepute in the degrees of freedom of particles with the application of the formula of the second law of motion in Newtonian mechanics. There is a factor called a Lorenz factor (λ ) that holds when any object that commands a speed that is approaching the speed of light that is travelling. It can be a projectile or a travelling agent of a missile guidance system or whatever. The formula, Force equals mass times acceleration (F = m x a) as given by the second law of motion by Isaac Newton does not hold true when the value of one (1) accorded to the Lorenz factor is increased with increasing speed of a body.
Thus, the formula in this instance to work effectively is, Force equals to lambda times mass times acceleration (and that is F = λ x m x a). This provides one of the basis that outruns Newtonian classical mechanics at the atomic level.
Furthermore, the quantum mechanics also gives effect in complementing the co-existence and continuum of the two mechanic model of studies to the fact that, in the absence of any external resistive force such as the air resistance, any object will fall known as a free fall with a uniform acceleration as fuelled by the inertia (the proclivity of the of the object to move unabated) of the object.
In elasticity, plasticity, electrodynamics with thermodynamics and fluid dynamics, there is the inherent cohesion of particles and behaviour that portray mechanical behaviour at the atomic level. This also is a superior achievement in the quantum mechanics which stands out to overpower classical mechanics in the field of mechanics.

The important message to note for PNG is that we have a pool of talents who are our people.
Civil engineering vs mechanical engineering. – Picture from reviewadda.com

Mechanics trends in technology
Much of the engineering fields such as the mechanical and the civil engineering is based on the Isaac Newtons laws of motion, according to Wikipedia. It also further ascertains that in natural sciences mechanics is related to thermodynamics.
In the above instance, it can be seen that, an understanding of the quantum mechanics in the wave motions of a single particle in the wave function as allowed for in the Schrodinger’s equations as well as matrix mechanics for finite dimension state space for systems is single most desired. This then, will give the much needed mathematical and computational advantage to determine the permanent stature and life of the engineering structure.
According to the world’s encyclopedia, the advanced applications of mechanical fields are in mechanical engineering, construction engineering, materials science and engineering, civil engineering, aerospace engineering, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, nuclear engineering, structural engineering and bioengineering.
As mentioned earlier and as affirmed by ProfMarichamy “mechanics is the study of bodies which are in motion or rest condition under the action of force.”

Emerging innovations in technology
Again, according to Wikipedia, there are some innovations made in the field of mechanics that play a very crucial role to capture sunlight for use as absorbers of solar energy. This was developed by Prof Ping Cheng from Shanghai Jiao Tong University in collaboration with Prof Zhuomin M Zang from Georgia Institute of Technology.
It has nanostructures of pyramids that are made of bismuth telluride over a thin reagent to absorb incident solar radiation or the ray of the sunlight that directly falls on it.
This is a perfect absorber that accounts at nano-levels of the wavelength of sunlight to nano magnitudes that incidents on it. It is published on the Ennomotive titled Six Amazing Mechanical Engineering Innovations that could be Industry Game Changers.
The important message to note for PNG is that we have a pool of talents who are our people. It is good to have some of our world reknown scientists and engineers to shape this country so PNG can rise using scientific, enginnering and technological innovations as its platform. There may be no other way.
Further more, It is encouraging to see that our Education department is getting into focusing on producing those innovators who could innovate and invent new artefacts and knowledge that can be of commercial value to sustain this nation.
It has to be remembered at the end of the day, it is not what you have that matters, but it is by what you give that you are remembered.

My prayer for PNG today is: The unconditional love of God holds people together. Everyone is a part of a body of Christ. No one should dictate and dominate anyone but all will be part-takers.
Next week: Radiations in Technology