Course description: This course will present an introduction to advanced classical mechanics. Familiarity with the material at the level of a upper-division course in mechanics or dynamics is assumed.
Enrollment: The course is open to any SJSU student; others should enroll through Open University.
Textbooks: Mechanics (Vol. 1, Third Edition), L.D. Landau and E.M. Lifshitz, Butterworth-Heinemann, ISBN: 0750628960
Homework and Exams: Exercises will be assigned continuously; go here to download the full set. Homework will count for 25% of the course grade; it is due at the beginning of each class and late homework will not be accepted. You may fax in your homework or send it by e-mail (PDF files only) so long as it arrives by the start of class. There will be three exams, two midterm exams and a final exam; each exam counts for 25% of the grade.
Programming: Some of the exercises will require simple computer work (e.g., plotting functions). You may use any computers and software at your disposal but I recommend using Matlab, especially if you plan to take Computational Physics (Physics 240) in the Spring. The student edition of Matlab is available from the bookstore.
Ethics: Your
own commitment to learning, as evidenced by your enrollment at
Disabilities:
If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, or if
you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please
make an appointment with me as soon as possible, or see me during office hours.
Presidential Directive 97-03 requires that students with disabilities register
with DRC to establish a record of their disability.
Emergencies: If you hear a continuous alarm or are told to evacuate the building, walk quickly to the nearest stairway at the end of each hall. Do not use the elevator. Take your personal belongings with you. Be quiet and follow instructions. Move away from the building and do not return until informed by police or coordinators.
|
Lecture |
Topics |
Homework Due |
Sections |
Date |
|
1 |
Introduction; Generalized Coordinates |
None |
1 |
Aug. 25 |
|
2 |
Principle of Least Action |
1.2 |
2,3 |
Aug. 30 |
|
3 |
Galilean Relativity, Free particle dynamics |
1.5 |
4 |
Sep. 1 |
|
4 |
Lagrangian of a system of particles |
1.3 |
5 |
Sep. 6 |
|
5 |
Energy; Momentum |
1.8 |
6, 7 |
Sep. 8 |
|
6 |
Center of Mass; Angular Momentum |
2.3 |
8, 9 |
Sep. 13 |
|
7 |
Motion in 1D; Period of oscillation |
2.4 |
11, 12 |
Sep. 15 |
|
8 |
Reduced Mass, Motion in a Central Field |
3.2 |
13, 14 |
Sep. 20 |
|
9 |
Kepler's Problem |
3.3 |
15 |
Sep. 22 |
|
10 |
FIRST MIDTERM |
3.5 |
Chapters 1 to 3 |
Sep. 27 |
|
11 |
Disintegration; Elastic collisions |
None |
16, 17 |
Sep. 29 |
|
12 |
Free & Forced Oscillations |
4.2 |
21, 22 |
Oct. 4 |
|
13 |
Damped Oscillations (Free & Forced) |
5.3 |
25, 26 |
Oct. 6 |
|
14 |
Parametric Resonance |
5.4 |
27 |
Oct. 11 |
|
15 |
Non-linear oscillations |
5.11 |
28, 29 |
Oct. 13 |
|
16 |
Small Vibrations (Hamill) |
5.12 |
--- |
Oct. 18 |
|
17 |
Small Vibrations (Hamill) |
TBA |
--- |
Oct. 20 |
|
18 |
Small Vibrations (Hamill) |
TBA |
--- |
Oct. 25 |
|
19 |
SECOND MIDTERM |
TBA |
Chaps. 4 & 5 |
Oct. 27 |
|
20 |
Angular velocity; Inertial tensor |
None |
31, 32 |
Nov. 1 |
|
21 |
Rigid body rotation |
6.1 |
33, 34 |
Nov. 3 |
|
22 |
Eulerian angles; Euler's equations |
M&W matrices |
35, 36 |
Nov. 8 |
|
23 |
Asymmetric Top |
6.2 |
37 |
Nov. 10 |
|
24 |
Non-inertial Frames |
6.4 |
39 |
Nov. 15 |
|
25 |
|
6.7 |
40, 41, 42 |
Nov. 17 |
|
26 |
Canonical Transformations |
7.3 |
45,46 |
Nov. 22 |
|
-- |
THANKSGIVING |
None |
--- |
Nov. 24 |
|
27 |
Hamilton-Jacobi Equations |
7.4 |
47 |
Nov. 29 |
|
28 |
Separation of Variables |
7.5 |
48 |
Dec. 1 |
|
29 |
Misc. topics of Hamiltonian Dynamics |
7.6 |
Various |
Dec. 6 |
|
30 |
Leeway |
7.1 |
--- |
Dec. 8 |
FINAL EXAM: Tuesday, December 13th, 1715-1930
Send comments to: algarcia@algarcia.org