Intermediate Mechanics I

PHYSICS 2300: Intermediate Mechanics I

Vectors and kinematics; foundations of Newtonian mechanics; momentum, work, and energy; conservative and nonconservative forces; potentials; angular momentum; rotation about a fixed axis; rigid body motion; noninertial systems and fictitious forces.
Prereq: A grade of C+ or above in 1251, 1251H, 1261, or 1271. Concur: Math 2153, 2162.01, 2162.02, 2173, 2182H, or 4182H.
Credit Hours
4

Course Information

Textbooks:
Introduction to Classical Mechanics, by David Morin.  –  Physics 2300 covers the first half of this book, and Physics 2301 covers the second half. 

Basic Training in Mathematics, by R. Shankar 

Course topics:

  • Math methods (Taylor series, complex numbers, Fourier series, Jacobians, calculus of variables)
  • Statics - balancing forces and torques
  • Using F=ma
    • Newton's laws
    • Free-body diagrams
    • Projectile motion
    • Motion in a plane, polar coordinates
  • Oscillations
    • Linear differential equations
    • Simple harmonic motion
    • Damped harmonic motion
    • Driven (and damped) harmonic motion
    • Coupled oscillators
  • Conservation of energy and momentum
    • Conservation of energy in one dimension
    • Small oscillations
    • Conservation of energy in three dimensions
    • Gravity
    • Momentum
    • The center of mass frame
    • Collisions
    • Inherently inelastic processes
  • The Lagrangian method
    • The Euler-Lagrange equations
    • The principle of stationary action
    • Forces of constraint
    • Change of coordinates
    • Conservation laws
    • Noether's theorem
    • Small oscillations
  • Central forces
    • Conservation of angular momentum
    • The effective potential
    • Solving the equations of motion
    • Gravity, Kepler's laws

 

Semester(s) Offered:

Autumn
Spring

Course Filters:

Physics Courses
Undergraduate