Mechanics

I have withdrawn from the subject KNE112 Engineering Mechanics, because I can get credit for having done similar subjects.

Someone asked me, "is that because you are a mechanic?"

The answer is no. Being "a mechanic", (Certificate III in Automotive Mechanical - Light Vehicle AUR31009), working on cars etc, is very different to a academic subject in mechanics.

A mechanic is taught only very simple theory on weights, forces, torque etc. Most of what a mechanic knows comes intuatively along with experience. A longer bar increases leverage, a heavy thing is harder to lift etc. (Forces felt in your own body often). But don't dis the mechanic, because he will know these things very well. Many people don't even know which way to turn a bolt.

The Diploma of Mechanical Engineering I did (at Tafe) is more similar to my current studies. In engineering mechanics, we calculate the forces in a beam, moments of inertia, tension in a rope, forces on a mass due to gravity and centrifugal acceleration etc. If a car weighed 950kg and was traveling at 140km/h on a banked circular road of radius 500M, what angle does the banked road need to be to maintain the cars position with minimal forces on the tyres?