Physics 608 Syllabus

Fall 2015

INSTRUCTOR:

Arlette Baljon, phone: 4-2051, office: Physics136

TEXT:

"Classical Mechanics", H. Goldstein, C. Poole, J. Safko –3rd ed. (Allison Wesley, New York 2001)

OTHER TEXTS:

“Classical Dynamics of Particles and Systems", J. B. Marion, S. T. Thornton, 4th ed. (Hartcourt College Publishers)

“Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos”, S. H. Strogatz (Perseus Press, Boston 2000)

OUTLINE:

Motion of a single particle and a system of particles: free and constraint. Dissipative Forces. Variational Principles, Lagrange’s and Hamilton Equations. Cyclic Coordinates and Conservation Theorems. Canonical Transformations and  Hamilton-Jacobi Method.  The Central Force Problem and Planetary Motion.  Finite and Infinite Rotations, Euler Angles, and the Coriolis Effect.  Coupled Oscillators and Normal Coordinates.  The Damped Driven Pendulum and Josephson Junction. Classical Chaos, Strange Attractors, and the KAM Theorem.  Bifurcations, Liaponov Exponents, and Poincare Maps. Fractals.

PREREQUISITES:

Physics 340B and 350. Students must satisfy course prerequisites (or their equivalents). Graduate standing or permission from instructor.

        OFFICE HOURS:

Monday and Wednesday 13.00-14.00 and by appointment.

HOMEWORK:

Weekly reading assignments. A short quiz will be given in class. You will earn 1 point if you have more than 50% right.  Lowest score will be dropped. 

PROBLEM SOLVING:

Class time will be used for problem solving sessions on Aug 27, Sept 8, 15 , 22, 29; Oct 13, 22, 29; Nov 5, 12 or 17; Dec 1, 10.

COMPUTATIONAL PROBLEMS

Two sets of computational problems will be handed out.

EXAMS:

A midterm and a final exam. An equation sheet is allowed, written on two sides.

GRADES:

A total of 100 points can be earned. 10 for reading quizzes,  20 total for computational problems, 28 points for the midterm and 42 for the final.

A 90 points; A- 86 points; B+ 79 points; B 75 points; B- 71 points; C+ 64 points; C 60 points; C- 56 points.

 

Reading Assignments:

Goldstein

Lecture on material

September 2

Chap 1, All

Aug 24 and 31

September 14

Chap 2, All

Sept 9

September 21

Chap 3, Sections 1,2,3,4,5,6,7

Sept 16

September 30

Chap 3, Section 8 and Chap 4, Sections 1,2,3,4

Sept 28

October 7

Chap 4, Sections 6,7,8,9,10

Oct 5

October 21

Chap 6, Sections 1,2,3,4

Oct 12 and 19

October 28

Chap 6, Sections 5,6

Oct 26

November 4

Chap 8, Sections 1,2,3,5,6

Nov 2

November 16

Chap 9, Sections 1,2,3,4

Nov 9

November 23

Chap 10, Sections 1,2,3,4,5,6

COMPUTATIONAL PROBLEMSET 1 DUE

Nov 18

December 7

Chap 11, Sections 1,2,3,4,5,6

Nov 30 and Dec 2

December 20 at noon

COMPUTATIONAL PROBLEM SET 2 DUE

 

There will be no class on Sept 23, Nov 11, and Dec 9.  Students are encouraged to work on the computational problems instead. 

Exams:

 

 

Oct 14

Midterm

Chapters 1-4 (see reading assignments for covered material)

Dec 14

(15.30-17.30)

Final

Chapters 6,8,9,10, and 11 (see reading assignments for covered material)

 

 

Outcomes: Upon completion of the course students should be able to:

1)      Explain and apply the concepts of classical mechanics both qualitatively and quantitatively.

2)      Identify what equations are needed to analyze a physical question, including those not previously seen.

3)      Recognize the connections between topics discussed in this Classical Mechanics class and other classes taken as part of the curriculum.

4)      Analyze experiments performed using simple computer simulations.

5)      Recognize how the knowledge obtained in this class can be of use in their future professional live.