Department of Physics, University of
Utah
Course Number: Physics 4410 (4)
Course Title: Classical Mechanics
- REPRESENTATIVE TEXTBOOK
- Classical Dynamics of Particles and Systems, Marion and Thornton, (Saunders)
- COURSE DESCRIPTION
- The classical mechanics course will study dynamical systems generally, including discrete,
conservative and non-conservative examples. The utility of a more general Lagrangian
formulation of mechanics, and the important role of symmetries will be stressed. Through case
studies, the student will develop a language and technique for a theoretical and experimental
understanding of chaos. The special role played by linear systems will be a theme of this course,
culminating in the treatment of continuous systems, and providing a transition to electrodynamics.
- PRE-REQUISITE
- PHYCS 3220 or 3310, MATH 1260 or 2210 and 2250
- OTHER COMMENTS
- None
- MANDATORY TOPICS (approximately 2 weeks each)
- Topic 1:
- Dynamical Systems
- Topic 2:
- Simple Examples
- Topic 3:
- Linear Oscillators
- Topic 4:
- Strongly Nonlinear Systems
- Topic 5:
- Generalized Mechanics
- Topic 6:
- Non-inertial Frames and Rigid Body Motion
- Topic 7:
- Normal Modes and Continuous Systems
- Links to exisiting web page for this course:
- Current does not exist.
-
Prepared by Bill Sutherland (3/4/99)