Analytical Mechanics

Fall 2009 PHYS 0070 S01

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Instructor: James M. Valles Jr.

Please check the Detailed Class Information for up to date information about this course.

Information on meeting times for this course can be found on Course Schedule at http://selfservice.brown.edu

Course Description

A mathematically more rigorous introduction to Newtonian mechanics than PHYS 0050. For first-year students and sophomores who have studied physics previously and have completed a year of calculus. Lectures, conferences, and laboratory. Six hours of attendance. Prerequisites: high school physics and calculus or written permission.

Instructor's Description

Course topics include: Kinematics, Newton\'s Laws and Forces, Forces in Accelerating Reference Frames, Energy, Momentum, Angular Momentum, Rotational Dynamics for Rigid Bodies, Planetary Motion, Relativistic kinematics, Lorentz transformations

Through this course on mechanics, students will develop general capacities to
+ analyze sophisticated physical phenomena using differential and integral calculus
+ describe rotations and angular dynamics using vectors
+ employ simple approximation techniques, such as Taylor Series expansions, for the solution of physics problems
+ identify the fundamental principles controlling a phenomenon and apply them to describe it
+ solve problems and understand physical phenomena by transforming to different frames of reference

Assignments and Grading

10 problem sets (20%)
2 to 3 midterm exams (40%)
1 Final Exam (20%)
5 laboratory reports (20%)

Readings and Required Texts

An Introduction to Mechanics, by Kleppner and Kolenkow

Additional Meetings/Labs

About 10 laboratory meetings for the execution of 5 experiments. Optional weekly conference meetings.