Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2026

Dynamics (Face-to-Face)

ME 2030-01

Course: ME 2030-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2026
Department: Engineering and Technology
CRN: 30778

Course Description

Kinematics and kinetics of particles and rigid bodies in plane motion. Work-energy and impulse-momentum principles. Prerequisite(s): ENGR 2010 and PHYS 2210

Learning Outcomes

Follow the course, students should be able to:

  1. Use kinematics to determine the position, velocity and acceleration of particles and rigid
    bodies.
  2. Use kinetics to evaluate the motion of particles and rigid bodies due to applied forces.
  3. Solve problems using work-energy principles.
  4. Solve problems involving impulse-momentum principles.
  5. Communicate engineering technical expertise through problem solving methods and calculations.

Required Texts

Beer, Ferdinand P., Johnston, E. Russell Jr., Cornwell, Phillip J., Self, Brian P. "Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Dynamics" (11th ed or newer.), New York, NY: McGraw Hill. (Hardcopy OR online via McGraw Hill Connect)

Course Requirements

Reading assignments: The readings should be completed before class on the day it is listed. "XX.X" refers to the chapter.section of the required textbook.
Homework assignments: Homework assignments are scheduled regularly throughout the semester and you should plan on completing roughly two or three problems per day of class to keep pace. If a homework assignment is turned in late, I will deduct 34% of the score for each day it is late.
In-Class Group assignments: ICG assignments are scheduled throughout the semester. These are timed group assignments that will be done in class. They will be open-notes, open-book, closed-internet.
Exams: There are 3 midterm exams scheduled and a final exam. The midterms will take place in class. I'm still evaluating whether I want the exams to be open/closed for notes and/or textbook. It may be different for each exam.

The students grade is based on the following assignment weighting distribution:
Category | Weighting
Homework | 10%
In-Class Group Assignments | 15%
Exams 1-3 | 45%
Final Exam | 30%

The following grading scale will be used in this class:
Grade | Range
A | 93% to 100%
A- | 90% to < 93%
B+ | 87% to < 90%
B | 83% to < 87%
B- | 80% to < 83%
C+ | 77% to < 80%
C | 73% to < 77%
C- | 70% to < 73%
D+ | 67% to < 70%
D | 60% to < 67%
F | 0% to < 60%

Attendance Policy

If you miss class, you are responsible for all of the material covered and any assignments due. Your attendance in class is required for ICG assignments and Exams on the day they are scheduled. If you need to miss class during an ICG assignment or Exam, you need to let me know in advance so I can approve the absence and schedule a means for you to take the ICG assignment/Exam. Any absence not excused in advance will result in a zero grade for that assignment/exam, with the exception of an emergency. In case of an emergency that coincides with an ICG assignment or Exam, you should contact me as soon as practical after the emergency is remedied so that we can determine a means to make-up the assignment/Exam. 

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

If a homework assignment is turned in late, I will deduct 34% of the score for each day it is late. ICG Assignments and Exams will not be accepted late.

Communication and Office Hours

Email is a very inefficient method of communication for technical questions. It is too easy for misunderstandings about technical info to occur through email communication. Therefore, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you do not email me technical questions, but seek time in class or during office hours for a live discussion of technical topics. This is sufficient support for getting your technical questions answered. I'll still answer such emails, just note that getting technical help that way is ill-advised. However, you still need to plan ahead and be on top of your work. The night before an assignment is due or the night before an exam is the wrong time to realize you have a question about how to do it.

Please, do email me with questions regarding class structure or for personal emergencies and needs.

Make sure you attempt problems with a rigorous college try before coming to office hours seeking help on the problem.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Classmates

We have an additional student in the class this year. He/she goes by several names: "ChatGPT", "Bard", "Gemini", and there are others. These are the AI bots you all know. How does AI fit into the classroom? The same way every other student does. You are welcome to ask him/her any questions you like, just as you would any other student in the course, as you work on homework and study. However, when it comes to turning in your assignments, you are representing the work you submit as YOUR WORK. In light of this, I have just two policies, that if violated, constitute grounds of academic dishonesty:

  1. ABSOLUTELY NO copying and pasting of any work from any other student (including AI). You are welcome to look at work/calculations produced by others in the course to see how they did something or to try to find issues with your own work (or with theirs). But you cannot blindly copy their work. This does not mean you cannot implement the same approach as someone else with your work, it just means that your intent when collaborating with others must be to understand the approach and why the problem is solved the way they did. If your intent is to get some content that you can use on the problem to get credit, that is considered cheating. Almost always, you should attempt a problem before collaborating with others for help.
  2. ABSOLUTELY NO use of AI on exams or ICG assignments. Both exams and ICG assignments are done in class, so I'll be able to enforce/check the no AI rule.

If you can follow these two policies, we'll be in a good position to have a fantastic semester, with AI as a friend in the classroom.

Course Outline

Particle Kinematics
  • Rectilinear Motion
  • Curvilinear Motion
  • Non-Rectangular Components
Particle Kinetics
  • Newton's Second Law and Linear Momentum
  • Angular Momentum and Orbital Motion
  • Work and Energy
  • Conservation of Energy
  • Impulse and Momentum
  • Impacts
Systems of Particles
  • Newton's Second Law and Momentum Principles
  • Energy and Momentum Methods
  • Variable Systems of Particles
Rigid-Body Kinematics
  • Kinematics of Rigid Bodies
  • Plane Motion
  • Motion Relative to a Rotating Reference Frame
Rigid-Body Kinetics
  • Kinetics of a Rigid Body
  • Constrained Plane Motion

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Religious / Conscience Belief Accommodation

RELIGIOUS / CONSCIENCE BELIEF ACCOMMODATION: In accordance with SUU Policy 6.7 Student Belief Accommodation, students may request, in writing, that their faculty accommodate their sincerely held religious or conscience beliefs. Students should provide their faculty with sufficient advanced notice, if possible within the first five (5) business days of the semester or session, or thereafter with good cause for requesting an accommodation after the first five (5) business days.

Faculty must provide a schedule accommodation or excuse an absence, in any course, for students to observe or participate in religious holidays or an organized activity conducted under the auspices of the student’s religious tradition or religious organization.

In courses that are required for graduation or for an academic major, a faculty member may accommodate a religious or conscience belief by modifying an assignment or examination if its content conflicts with the student’s belief. Faculty may decline the accommodation if it would fundamentally alter the course requirements. If declined, the student may request review by a neutral arbiter using the Belief Accommodation Request Form: https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv&layout_id=5

Questions go to Assistant Provost Jake Johnson at johnsonj@suu.edu.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.