PH435/535 - CAPSTONES IN PHYSICS: CLASSICAL MECHANICS
Spring 2010
Course Information
General:
In the paradigm sequence you have studied (and are studying)
selected examples of key physical phenomena that occur repeatedly in
different areas of physics. The characteristic behavior associated
with central forces, for example, may be found in classical orbital
mechanics, atomic physics, and electrostatics. In this capstone, we
will concentrate on classical mechanics, stepping back to consider
the general principles that allow one to deal with broad classes of
physical situations. We will revisit some of the paradigms you have
already seen, but we will also investigate many more examples.
The goals of this course are:
- to help you understand and enjoy some of the fundamental ideas
that form the intellectual foundation of physics;
- to provide the "tactical tools" needed to (i) size up a novel
physical system, (ii) obtain the equation(s) of motion, and (iii)
solve the equation(s) of motion to predict the behavior of the
system from given initial conditions.
The course will comprise three main parts. The first is a survey
of the methods of Newtonian mechanics with applications to single
particle motion and simple collisions. The next will be an
introduction to the Lagrangian and Hamiltonian methods of deriving
equations of motion. Finally, we will develop and apply the method of
normal coordinates to deal with problems involving coupled
oscillators.
Course Work:
- Homework will be due each Wednesday.
- Homework should be turned in before class on the day it is
due. The solutions will be posted promptly, after which homework
is considered late. If your homework is late, I may grade it if
you have an acceptable excuse, I may scale it as exp(-N) where N
is the number of days past due.
- Science is inherently a social and collaborative effort, each
scientist building on the work of others. Nevertheless, each
student must ultimately be responsible for his or her own
education. Therefore, you will be expected to abide by a number of
ground rules.
- We strongly encourage students to work with each other,
more advanced students, the TA, and the professor, when they
get stuck on assignments (including computer work). However,
each student is expected to turn in assignments that have been
independently written up. In other words, the final synthesis
must be entirely your own. This applies also to, and especially
to, computer generated worksheets. If you work with someone on
a computer project, do not get locked in to writing the
solution together. You will end up turning in the same
assignment.
- Homework solutions from previous years are very strictly
off limits. You are on your honor not to use them, and not to
share your homework solutions with other students. Allow
faculty to use their time interacting with you, rather than
continually thinking up new assignments. Besides, if you don't
do the work yourself, it will show up very clearly on exams
later. Likewise, the solutions are for your use only. You may
make one copy and keep it in your personal files.
- Sources must be appropriately documented. If you find a
homework problem worked out somewhere (other than homework
solutions from previous years), you may certainly use that
resource, just make sure you reference it properly. If someone
else helps you solve a problem, reference that too. In a
research paper, the appropriate reference would be Jane Doe,
(private communication).
- Plagiarism – representing someone else's work as
your own – is unethical, but collaboration and exchange
of ideas is healthy. You can avoid collaborative efforts taking
on the look of plagiarism by acknowledging sources and by
writing up your work independently.
- If you find that you have worked on a problem for 1/2 hour
without making any forward progress, it would be a good idea to
stop and seek help.
Office Hours:
David McIntyre
|
Weniger 463
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MW 10-11, F 11-12 |
Course Evaluation:
PH435:
Final exam: 45%. Midterm exam 30%. Homework 25%.
PH535: Final exam: 35%. Midterm exam 20%. Homework 25%
Paper 20%
FINAL EXAM: Tuesday, June 8, 2:00 pm
PH535 Paper
A short paper on a topic of your choosing is required. It should
include a brief introduction, a calculation, and some comment on why
the calculation is useful or interesting. It can be an extension of
some problem assigned in the text or the resources, and should be
handed in and presented as a 10-minute talk on the final day of
class. A topic should be proposed in writing by May 7. The
level of effort expected is approximately equivalent to 1-2 week's
homework. Some guidelines should help
avoid pitfalls. If any member of the PH435 class is interested in
this option, please talk to me.
Textbook:
- J. R. Taylor, Classical Mechanics, Univ. Sci. Books, 2005.
Students with Special Needs:
Students with documented disabilities who may need accomodations,
who have any emergency medical information which the instructor
should know of, or who need special arrangements in the event of
evacuation, should make an appointment with the instructor as early
as possible, no later than the first week of the term.
If you have comments or suggestions, email me at
mcintyre@ucs.orst.edu
Last Update: 3/24/10
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© David McIntyre, Department of Physics, Oregon State University, 2010.