Graduate
Physics Course P531
Fall 2008, Section 531001 (3 credit hours)
P531 Classical
Mechanics
Class Meets: Tu and Tr 12:40-13:55,
Rm 306 Nielsen
Instructor: Yuri
Kamyshkov
Office Hours: Please, e-mail or call for
appointment
Office:
Ayres Hall 226D, tel: (865) 974-6777
Email: kamyshkov@utk.edu
This web page: http://web.utk.edu/~kamyshko/P531/P531_Fall2008.html
Class notes: 1
, 2 , 3 ,
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18,
19, 20
*
Required Book: L. D. Landau and E. M.
Lifshitz
Course of Theoretical Physics. Mechanics
(Third Edition ),
ISBN 978-0750628969
"Required" means that you should have it
because:
- lectures and notation will follow closely this
book
- some homework will come from this book
- it is an excellent and inexpensive text
* For special relativity part:
L.D. Landau and E.M. Lifshitz, The Classical Theory of Fields
Course of Theoretical Physics Volume 2, ISBN 0 7506 2768 9
Chapters 1-2, Special Relativity pp. 1-42
L.B. Okun, The Concept of Mass, Physics Today, June 1989, pp.
31-36.
* For nonlinear dynamics and chaos
part:
Michael Tabor, Chaos and Integrability in Nonlinear Dynamics
(An Introduction), ISBN 0 471 82728 2,
Chapters 1-5, Non-linear dynamics and chaos
J. Jose and E. Soletan Classical Dynamics ,
Cambridge University, 1998, ISBN 0 521 63636 1
* Additional Useful Books:
H. Goldstein, J. L. Safko, C. P. Poole Classical Mechanics
(Third Edition).
ISBN 978-0201657029 . This is a new edition of
the famous H. Goldstein's book,
the traditional and comprehensive course of graduate Classical
Mechanics.
Covers all topics including special relativity and non-linear dynamics.
V.I. Arnold
Mathematical Methods of Classical Mechanics (Second Edition)
ISBN 0-387-96890-3. Modern mathematical formulation of the Classical
Mechanics.
J. B. Marion and S. T. Thonton Classical Dynamics of
Particles and Systems
(5-th Edition), ISBN 978-0534408961.
Good text on classical mechanics if
refreshing at undergraduate level is needed.
* Prereqs:
In P531 class I will assume that everyone had
studied before the Newton's
Laws and classical mechanics at undergraduate level, e.g. in a course
like P311/312
at UT or in equivalent. If your background is
inadequate,
you may like to consider taking courses P311/312 first.
Also, the level of full
undergraduate advanced math courses will be
assumed. Taking graduate courses
P571/P572 "Mathematical Methods
in Physics I and II" in parallel might be useful as well.
* P531
Syllabus:
The specific sequence of topics will
closely follow
the contents of L&L
with few lectures at the end on non-linear
dynamics and special relativity.
- Variational formulation, Lagrange formalism,
constraints
- Conservation laws
- Integration of the equations of motion,
central force
- Particle decays and collisions
- Small oscillations
- Rigid-body motion, constraints
- Motion in non-inertial frame of reference
- Hamilton’s equations, canonical transformations
- Hamilton-Jacobi theory and action-angle variables
- Non-linear dynamics, integrability, and chaos
- Special relativity
Find here
detailed class schedule and syllabus in .pdf format
* Grading etc.: There will be 7 homework assignments, 2
in-class exams and a final test.
Homework and exams each will count for
~ 50% of your final grade. Books, class-notes,
and homeworks will not
be allowed at the tests, however you can bring a calculator, a
mathematical book
of formulas, tables, and integrals, and two pages with any
formulas
you think you might need. Each homework will be due in ~2 weeks after
assignment
and must be turned in before the indicated deadline.
Homework
turned in after the
deadline might not receive the corresponding full
credit.
You are welcome to do HW in
the study groups, but all tests will be individual. Solutions for the
most difficult
problems can be discussed in the
class.
You are welcome to contact your instructor in
any case when you feel
you
need help. Do not hesitate to call me at any time. However,
the most
efficient
way to resolve your immediate problems or questions with me is an
e-mail
(to kamyshkov@utk.edu ). Use
it
at any time including evening hours and weekends.
For the overall grade on the scale of maximum of 100% : >70%
will correspond to C;
>75% to C+; >80% to B; >85% to B+; and
>90% to A.
Final 2-hour exam will be on Thursday December 4 from 12:30 to 2:30 pm
at
the
Rm 306 at Nielsen Physics Bldg.
*
Useful
link:
Note very useful web page http://electron9.phys.utk.edu/exam/Default.htm
that contains
archives of problems from previous years for Classical Mechanics,
E&M, and Quantum
Mechanics as well as other useful information.
This page was last updated on August 15, 2008.
Please send comments to Yuri Kamyshkov .