physics 410:
Classical mechanics
spring 2009 schedule
- instructor: alessandra buonanno
- class room: phy 1402
- lecture days: mon & wed 11:00am -
11:50am; fri 10:00am - 11:50am
- first day of class: january 26
- last day of class: may 11
contact info
- office room: phy 4212
- e-mail: buonanno@umd.edu
- phone: (301) 405 1440
- office hours: wed 12:00 noon -1:00 pm
grader
- grader: kwan-yuet ho (stephen)
- office room: phy 4223
- e-mail: stephenhky@yahoo.com.hk
- phone: (301) 405 6192
- office hours: mon 2:00-2:50pm and friday
3:00-3:50pm
textbooks
the required textbook is "classical dynamics of particles and
systems" by
thornton and marion (5th edition).
recommended textbooks are "classical mechanics" by goldstein (3th
edition);
the "lectures on physics" by feynman (vol 1); "classical mechanics" by
taylor.
prerequisite
The course assumes prior exposure to fourier analysis, linear
differential
equations, linear algebra and vector analysis. physics 374 (or
equivalent)
is required.
homeworks
homeworks will be assigned once per week. solutions will be posted
on the
course webpage.
homework rules
- late homeworks are accepted only under serious circumstances
(to be discussed before due day)
- you are encouraged to discuss homeworks with other students,
however the work you turn in should be your own formulation and
reflection
- use of previous solutions is not allowed
(violation of this rule is cause for failure of the course)
- homework sets must show reasoning leading to the final
answers in a clear and readable fashion to obtain credit
- please, include your name and staple the pages together
exams
there will be two midterm exams and a final exam.
(tentative) first midterm exam on march 6, second
midterm exam on april 17.
grading
the course grade will be based on the homeworks and exams.
homework: 40%
midterm exams: 30%
final exam:
30%
academic integrity
the university has approved a code of academic integrity available
on
the web.
the code prohibits students from cheating on exams, plagiarizing
papers, submitting
the same paper for credit in two courses without authorization, buying
papers, submitting
fraudulent documents, and forging signatures. the university
senate requires that students
include the following signed statement on each examination or
assignment: “i pledge on my
honor that i have not given or received any unauthorized assistance on
this examination
(or assignment).” compliance with the code is administered by a
student honor council,
which strives to promote a “community of trust” on the college park
campus. allegations
of academic dishonesty can be reported directly to the honor council
(314-9154) by any
member of the campus community.
course description
The following topics will be covered during the course (tentative)
- review of newton mechanics
- small oscillations
- non-linear dynamics
- gravitation
- lagrangian formulation of mechanics
- hamiltonian formulation of mechanics
- central force motion
- rigid bodies
- relativistic mechanics
references of lectures jan
26, 28, 30:
- read chapters 1, 2 of marion's book
references
of lectures feb 2, 4, 6:
- read chapter 2 of marion's book
references of lectures feb
9, 11, 13, 16, 18:
- read chapter 3 of marion's book
references of lectures feb
18, 20, 23:
- read chapter 5 of marion's book
references
of lectures feb 25, 27, mar 9:
- read chapter 6 of marion's book
references
of lectures mar 11, 13:
- read chapter 7 of marion's book
lecture mar 2 canceled
because of inclement weather
lecture mar 4:
- review lecture in view of midterm exam
lecture mar 6:
references
of lectures mar 23, 25, 27, 30:
- read chapter 7 of marion's book
references
of lectures apr 1, 3, 6:
- read chapter 8 of marion's book
references
of lectures apr 8, 10, 13, 20:
- read chapter 9 of marion's book
lecture apr 15:
review lecture in view of midterm exam
lecture apr 17:
references
of lectures apr 22, 24, 27:
- read chapter 10 of marion's book
references
of lectures apr 29, may 1, 4:
- read chapter 11 of marion's book
references
of lectures may 6, 8:
- read chapter 14 of marion's book
lecture may 11:
review lecture in view of final
exam
homeworks
on lectures jan 28, 30, feb 2, 4, 6:
(assigned on january 28, due on february 9)
- problems
2.2, 2.17, 2.25, 2.29, 2.32
from marion's book
- solutions
homeworks
on lectures feb 9, 11, 13, 16:
(assigned on february 10, due on february 18)
- problems
3.1, 3.2, 3.18, 3.30 and 3.43
from marion's book
- solutions
homeworks
on lectures feb 18, 20, 23, 25:
(assigned on february 18, due on february 25)
- problems
5.3, 5.8, 5.10 and 5.15
from marion's book
- solutions
homeworks
on lectures feb 27, mar 2, 9:
(assigned on february 27, due on march 11)
- problems
6.4 and 6.7
from marion's book
- solutions
homeworks
on lectures mar 9, 11, 13, 23, 25, 27:
(assigned on march 23, due on march 30)
- problems
7.3, 7.7, 7.12, 7.28, 7.33 from marion's book
- solutions
homeworks
on lectures mar 30, apr 1, 3, 6:
(assigned on march 30, due on april 8)
- problems
8.5, 8.16, 8.30, 8.47 from marion's book
- solutions
homeworks
on lectures apr 8, 10, 13:
(assigned on april 10, due on april 20)
- problems
9.1, 9.9, 9.15, 9.24 from marion's book
- solutions
homeworks
on lectures apr 22, 24, 27:
(assigned on april 22, due on april 29)
- problems
10.6, 10.8, 10.12 from marion's book
- solutions
homeworks
on lectures apr 29, may 1, 4:
(assigned on april 29, due on may 6)
- problems
11.1, 11.6, 11.7, 11.11 from marion's book
- solutions
homeworks
on lectures may 6, 8:
(assigned on may 6, due on may 11)
- problems
14.11, 14.13, 14.16 from marion's book
- solutions
questions and comments may be sent to
buonanno@umd.edu
last modified on 5/11/2009