Physics 311 - Theoretical Mechanics II - Spring Semester 2008

Course Information

Undergraduate Theoretical Mechanics II (3 credits)

Classes: Tuesday and Thursday 0900-1020 in 114 Watanabe Hall, UHM

See schedule below, subject to change.

Particle dynamics, rigid body dynamics, planetary motion. Prerequisite Physics 310 or equivalent.

General Information and Comments:

  • The text will be
    • ``Classical Dynamics of Particles and Systems'' by Thornton and Marion, Fifth Edition, Thomson (2004). Website http://info.brookscole.com/thornton
  • The pace will be about 1-2 weeks per chapter. We covered chapters 1-7 in the Fall and will do 8-14 in the Spring.
    • 1: Mathematical Introduction
    • 2: Newtonian Mechanics - Single Particle
    • 3: Oscillations
    • 4: Non-linear Oscillations and Chaos
    • 5: Gravitation
    • 6: Some Methods in the Calculus of Variations
    • 7: Hamilton's Principle - Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Dynamics
    • 8: Central Force Motion
    • 9: Dynamics of a System of Particles
    • 10:  Motion in a Non-Inertial Reference Frame
    • 11: Dynamics of Rigid Bodies
    • 12: Couple Oscillations
    • 13: Continuous Systems; Waves
    • 14: Special Relativity

 

  • Please read the Chapter 8 before 15 January.
  • Class attendance required (or -1 grade).
  • Homework requires thinking; no copied old solutions accepted. Think of solving these problems as a game, a mental exercise, a workout like going to the gymnasium. The point is in stewing about the problems, not so much getting the precise answer... it is the mental struggle which is the real learning goal, learning to think like a physicist.
  • Classes will alternate between lectures and problem solving.
  • Because this is a small class, we will run it in an informal style. Coming to class unprepared will not work. You need to put aside time to at least quickly read the chapter before class. It takes me an hour to read a chapter, it is not light reading.
  • Everyone needs an email account.
  • Homework procedure: present homework on due date, shown below.
  • Grades will be 30% class participation and homework, 40% midterms (dates TBD), and 30% final paper and/or exam.

 

Week

Month

Date

Day

Topic in Class

Hwk #

Due at this date

1

January

 15

Tu

Chapter 8

 

Read Chapter 8

 

 

 17

Th

 

1

8-2, 11

2

 

 22

Tu

 

2

8-13, 22

 

 

 24

Th

 

3

8-34, 35

3

 

 29

Tu

 

4

8-44

 

 

 31

Th

Chapter 9

 

Read Chapter 9

4

February

  5

Tu

 

5

9-2, 5, 13

 

 

  7

Th

 

6

9-22, 25, 42

5

 

12

Tu

 

7

9-50, 63

 

 

14

Th

 

 

 

6

 

19

Tu

First Exam

 

Chapters 8 & 9

 

 

21

Th

Chapter 10

 

Read Chapter 10

7

 

26

Tu

 

 

10-1, 6, 13

 

 

28

Th

 

 

10-15, 18

8

March

  4

Tu

 

 

 

 

 

  6

Th

Chapter 11

 

Read Chapter 11

9

 

11

Tu

 

 

11- 4, 5, 15

 

 

13

Th

 

 

11-17, 18, 22

10

 

18

Tu

 

 

11-28, 29, 33

 

 

20

Th

Second Exam

 

Chapters 10 & 11

11

 

25

Tu

Spring Break

 

 

 

 

27

Th

Spring Break

 

 

12

April

1

Tu

Chapter 12

 

Read Chapter 12

 

 

3

Th

 

 

12-10, 12, 13

13

 

8

Tu

 

 

12-22, 24

 

 

10

Th

Chapter 13

 

Read Chapter 13

14

 

15

Tu

 

 

13-1, 9, 14

 

 

17

Th

 

 

13-17, 20, 22

15

 

22

Tu

Chapter 14

 

Read Chapter 14

 

 

24

Th

 

 

14-1 ,3, 7

16

May

29

Tu

 

 

14-20, 30, 42

 

 

1

Th

 

 

 

17

 

6

Tu

Review

 

 

 

 

8

Th

Study Period

 

 

18

 

15

Th

Final Exam

 

09:45-11:45

 

 

 

 

 

teacher: Prof. John G. Learned
office: 327 Watanabe Hall, UHM
office phone: (808)-956-2964
email: jgl@phys.hawaii.edu
office hours: after class, until lunch time, and other times by appointment.