Theoretical mechanics in higher education (from Arhimed to SC “Buran”) Yuriy G.Martynenko Russia Domestic industry is currently
experiencing a vital shortage of scientific and technical professionals capable
of solving emerging pivotal technical problems at the state-of-the-art
level. College graduates lack of
expertise is primarily attributed to an overall decline of the physical and
mathematical education that emerged in the last quarter of the 20th Century. It
is indubitable that the sustainable development of any country is not simply
defined by its natural resources but predominantly by the nation-wide
educational level. An overall educational
crisis is driven by convergence of objective reasons such as a world economic
crisis, intellectual migration and unprestigious engineering job societal
positioning and subjective reasons linked to economic globalization and
competitive frenzy of industrialized countries to establish technological
dominance via intentional leveraging the educational systems of potential
competitors toward a diminished state. Furthermore, an existing
inter-departmental competition within any high education institution leads to
substantiation of curricula not favoring the physical-mathematical disciplines. Nowadays phenomenon is that many college
graduates with a somewhat narrow field of expertise are quite frequently left
unoccupied since the new technologies are already leaving thousands of experts
unemployed. As a vivid example, recent satellite navigation systems market
introduction transformed previously in demand jobs in gyroscopic specialty into
an unnecessary archaic. Only in-depth fundamental knowledge base remaining
invariant within the frame of the modern informational explosion provides
recent college graduates an adaptation means toward any practical activity
deviation. Core essence of the natural-sciences
disciplines evolution is far from being trivial. It is a paramount task of
today to prepare true experts of tomorrow ready for new technologies to come.
Moreover, presently both mathematics and physics turned into complicated
inter-linked conglomerates of separate sciences. Modern mathematics superabstractionism
can easily lead to a lack of understanding between two professionals working in
different fields of mathematics. At the same time a substantial side of
‘pure mathematics’ fundamentals start to disappear substituted by
casuistic exercises in formal manipulation of abstract concepts lacking any
solid meaningful ground. Even outstanding mathematicians are prone to mistakes
when considering simple problems. That
is what has elevated theoretical mechanics to a special place in a physical and
mathematical sciences cycle. An unprecedented role of the theoretical
mechanics as a logical linkage between the mathematical abstractionism and real
world physics was underlined by one of the outstanding scientists of the 20th
Century A.Yu.Ishlinsky who contributed invaluably to the development of the
gyroscopic and navigational systems for autonomous control of space vehicles.
It was Ishlinsky’s strongest belief that it is impossible to meet a state
demand in engineering and teaching professionals capable of driving a
scientific and technological progress without a full-scale comprehensive
physical and mathematical education. Consequently, A.Yu.Ishlinsky has valued
tremendously his duties as a Chairman of the Theoretical Mechanics
Scientific-Methodological Council at the USSR Ministry of the Higher and
Special Education which was established in 1964. As a Chairman of the SMC,
A.Yu.Ishlinsky has conceptualized (defined) its primary task as an improvement
in teaching of theoretical mechanics remaining to be a fundamental discipline
of the physical and mathematical cycle. Obviously, this work could not be
simply accomplished via directives from above. Instead it should be based on
collective (collaborative) experience and knowledge accumulated by various
university faculties which need to be thoroughly studied, synergized and
disseminated. Within the Council A.Yu.Ishlinky had managed to unite the leading
experts in mechanics, brilliants scientists and outstanding teachers. In theoretical mechanics SMC has been engaged
in the following activities: development of educational programs and curricula,
textbooks analysis and curricula studies, teaching methodology refinement, best
practice sharing and exchange of experience between the departments of
theoretical mechanics. It integration into educational process and necessity to
modernize the fundamental components of the theoretical mechanics has been
added to the list of the current SMC activities. Excluding
the theoretical mechanics, perceived as an independent natural sciences
discipline, from the base fundamental educational cycle jeopardize the
educational level of modern experts, deprive their intellectual foundation thus
subsiding the future expert’s generation potential to inspire the new
technological advances. Having few separate mechanics-related sections covered
within the generic physics course does not compensate the need of full-scale
advanced (comprehensive) courses delivered at the state-of-the-art level by
professional educators. To
reiterate the importance of mechanics, it is crucial to emphasize that many
major discoveries in the history of mankind have been made upon solving
mechanical problems. For example, Kepler’s discovery of the elliptical
orbital planetary motion has led to the revelation of the law of universal
gravitation. Theoretical
mechanics principles and methodology as well as its computational algorithms
have penetrated across-the-board into all areas of technology, biology,
medicine and even non-technical disciplines. Numerous modern purely
mathematical disciplines have been originated within the classical mechanics
framework. Therefore, theoretical mechanics being a bridge between the
fundamental disciplines (advanced mathematics and physics) and the engineering disciplines
(strength of materials, material science, theory of machines and mechanisms and
hydraulics) provides powerful means towards formation of the physical and
mathematical modeling mentality of the students. It
is imperative to address the proper positioning of mechanics within the 20th
Century science infrastructure. Presently it is counterfactual to consider
mechanics as a simple branch of physics or mathematics (or ‘branch of
analysis’ as it was proposed by renowned Lagrange at the end of the 18th
Century in his famous ‘Analytical Mechanics’ publication). Mechanics has currently emerged to become an
independent science stirring modern scientific and technological progress.
Mechanics as a science is not only famous for its historical achievements but
for the breakthroughs and phenomenal, stunning results of modern days as well.
It is impossible to successfully execute other natural sciences achievements
without synergizing those with the developments in mechanics. Unfortunately, it is a modern day misconception
imposed by the mass media that mechanics is an outlived archaic science with no
room for future discoveries. This is further misconceptualized by a
high-ranking scientists and officials claiming that the experimental and
research work in mechanics can be easily substituted by virtual numerical
experimentation and thus unnecessary. Thus the proponents of this erroneous
point of view believe that the modern specialized computer software packages
made redundant whole sections of mechanics. In particular, it refers to the uselessness of the
study of solid mechanics, as well as packages based on finite element method
allow us to calculate the strength characteristics of any design. Not in any
way denying the fantastic possibilities of modern computers, it is necessary to
mention the terrible disasters that were the result of improper use of
computing means. Verification of the results of any numerical calculation must
be carried out by experts freely owning basic mechanical laws. Examples
of the decision of the same mechanical problem by means of different packages
of the licensed programs and reception thus opposite results are already known. As
example of rough blossoming of mechanics designing and creation problems
robotic systems which are on crossing of different sciences – mechanics,
electronics, computer science, cybernetics serve. They have caused to a life new, a knowledge boundary
region – so-called «mechatronics » (from words of
"mechanic" and "electronics"). Various types of mobile robots are already
created and are at a perfection stage, beginning from one-wheeled devices to multilegged and
biped walking machine. Even
more amazing prospects are opened for development biomechatronical systems. Biomechatronics is the new science which purpose
is studying of interaction of biological organisms with integrated mechatronic
modules. Mechanics
is a key area of scientific and technological progress. Without the mechanics
development it is impossible to solve the problems of improvement of the reliability
of structures and facilities, to prevent man-made disasters, the causes which
tend to be incompetent, not only the operating staff, but also developers. Fundamental
knowledge can enter the legitimate promotion of original scientific
achievements, have a solid foundation for the struggle against pseudoscience,
the activity which has recently increased significantly. On pages of newspapers
and magazines, on the Internet and on TV there is an advertising of the
doubtful medical devices curing of hundreds of illnesses at once, promises of
power abundance at the expense of use torsion fields, energy of vacuum and a
gravitational field. The
pseudo science far is not harmless, as carrying out of pseudoscientific
researches absorbs considerable material resources. Only absence of
corresponding fundamental formation at officials from a science it is possible
to explain decision-making on carrying out of experiment obviously doomed to
failure on the satellite
"Jubilee" started in
May, 2008. On this small satellite the tests of «mover without emission
of jet mass», developed in one well-known scientific research institute,
were conducted. The details of the
flight results of the satellite "Jubilee" are absent, although in
April 2009 a very "modest" message about "the ambiguity of the
results of this experiment” is appeared. In
fact, the developed engine represents an inertia drive, traction force which
"created" by the internal forces that arise when "the movement
within the apparatus of liquid or solid working body in a definite path, shaped
like a tornado»(?). In the framework of modern physics, which recognizes
the existence of four fundamental force fields, no opportunities to speed up
moving objects without any external forces or reactive thrust does not exist. From the basic theorem of theoretical
mechanics of the motion of the center of mass of a mechanical system it follows
that, for any movement of the working body within the satellite
"Jubilee" its center of mass will move along a trajectory that can be
predicted with a high accuracy from well-known and well-tested equations
describing motion of bodies in near-Earth space under the action of external
gravitational, electromagnetic and aerodynamic forces. It
triumphs of celestial mechanics, whose creation was initiated more than three
centuries ago, have made a significant contribution to the formation of dogma
of experimental studies - to recognize only such as scientific methodology,
which ensures the reproducibility of experimental results, when and wherever
they were received. It is from
this dogma implies failure astrology, telepathy and other such
"sciences". The
first triumph of celestial mechanics was the solution by Speaking
about the problems of teaching theoretical mechanics, which is considered by
some scientists as archaic part of science, it is appropriate to recall the
words of Henri Poincare, uttered more than 100 years ago when a new quantum
mechanics has appeared: "Teachers can not resist the temptation to tell
his disciples that classical mechanics has outlived its time and is suitable
only for the old fool Laplace. This creates the scornful relation to classical mechanics, without which it
is impossible to understand the new mechanics". Despite
the seeming simplicity of the original provisions and the basic laws of
classical mechanics, their assimilation requires a good knowledge of
mathematics and a clear mechanical thinking. Systematic grounds mechanics
requires the construction and use of complete and coherent system of primary
concepts of mechanics. These
concepts are space, time, inertia, interaction, measures which are distance,
duration, weight and strength, needed to be clearly spelled out in teaching. There are many examples of
misunderstandings and misinterpretations in the question about the source of
classical mechanics, it is sufficient to refer to the occasional different
interpretations of the inertial forces. Only scientific foundation of grounds of mechanics can
resolve in many discussions is very controversial, to fully clear up the
seemingly hopelessly knotty questions. Of
course, the development of modern science clarifies the limits of applicability
of the theoretical and mechanical models. In this regard an important step was
taken recently at the conclusion of the experiment to verify Einstein’s
general theory of relativity (GTR). This
experiment called Gravity Probe B and its preparation was begun at The
idea of experiment is simple enough and uses in conducting three things: a
gyroscope (spinning ball), a telescope and a fixed star. According to classical
mechanics in the absence of external moments rotating ball remains unchanged in
the space direction of the axis of rotation. According to general relativity near a massive
rotating body (the Earth) due to the curvature of space axis of the gyroscope
starts a precession. The angular velocity of the geodetic precession Ω is defined by formula of L.I.Schiff (1960). The
predictions of general relativity give the following quantities: the deflection
axis of the gyroscope for the year due to the curvature of space (the first
term in L.I.Schiff formula) 6,6 arc. sec. to the North, the deviation of the gyroscope axis due
to Lense-Thirring effect (second term in this formula) 0,042 arc. sec.
with the direction of rotation of the Earth. Disturbing moments
acting on the rotor of the most accurate to date of electrostatic gyroscope
installed at the Earth’s surface, causing the drift of the axis of
rotation of the rotor, which is many orders of magnitude greater than the
angular velocity of the geodetic precession. Therefore, for the registration of this drift it was
decided to use a cryogenic (refrigerated to a temperature of 2.6 К close to absolute zero) gyroscope placed on board the
low-flying satellite. In addition, the satellite is set a telescope directed at
the star in the constellation Pegasus. Preparatory work for the described experiment took more than 40 years. Requirements for cryogenic gyroscope were so high that it has raised questions about whether they are achievable in principle. In 1967 the French physicist Raymond Mathey was the first who solved the problem of the thermodynamic barrier for non-contact precision gyroscope, determined by the thermal motion of molecules and leads to its drift. It was shown by Mathey that for accurate registration of the main relativistic precession it is not sufficient the accuracy of an ideal gyroscope with temperature superconducting niobium. V.F.Zhuravlev shown that Mathey erred when improperly used to model the movement of warm crystal lattice theory of Dulong and Petit of thermal conductivity of the gyroscope, unworkable in the vicinity of absolute zero. Built with the help of Debye's theory, this model shows that the error does not fall as the square root of the absolute temperature (the result of Mathey), as well as the square of the temperature, so that when the temperature drops to 100 times the error is not reduced by 10 times, like Mathey, and 10000 times, which makes the thermodynamic barrier is irrelevant. Gravity Probe B was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Solution of problems of scientific
and technical progress requires the use of the latest achievements of the
various areas of science, among which one of the main places occupies the
mechanics. Only well-educated
professionals who have deep fundamental knowledge can introduce these
achievements. Serious science education can not be
a luxury but a reduction in physical and mathematical components destroy
education and deprive our country of opportunity to be among the leaders of
scientific and technological progress. That is why it seems useful to create and support specialized training
programs to address the innovation challenges of scientific and technical
progress. |
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