Physics 382 Spring 2009


Classical Mechanics 2


Final Exam is Tuesday May 12 at 9AM to 11 am in ARC 105

Note later starting time. Exam will be a GRE-style practice for mechanics problems.

Attendance is mandatory (except for graduate students). There may be donuts.


Welcome to Classical Mechanics. We will meet Tuesdays and Thursdays during 4th period (1:40 to 3:00 pm) in xxx xxx on Busch.
There is an assigned text for the class Classical Mechanics by Taylor . It is really a very good text. I found it much more readable than the average 300-level textbook.

Instructors

Amitabh Lath, Serin 324
136 Frelinghuysen Rd, Piscataway NJ 08854
(732)445-5853.
lath -at- physics.rutgers.edu
Office Hours: By appointment (send me email).

Grader: Mr. Yanan Geng

Syllabus

We will cover six basic topics.
  • Non-Intertial Frames (including coriolis force) Ch9
  • Ridgid Body rotation Ch 10
  • Hamiltonian Mechanics Ch 13
  • Scattering and Collisions Ch 14
  • Oscillations and Normal Modes Ch 11
  • Special Relativity Ch 15
    This course will proceed more like a graduate course than an undergraduate one. There will not be strict adherence to a syllabus or timetable, we will spend as much (or as little) time on a topic as required to master it. These topics have been chosen because they are the building blocks of further study in physics and engineering. If you intend to take the physics GRE they will be required knowledge.
    If time remains at the end of the semester we may tackle special topics such as the Statistical Mechanics and/or The Wave Equation.

    Homework

    Homeworks will be assigned every Tuesday, and will be due in one week (exceptions as noted). Here is the homework list . Here is a directory with homework solutions .

    Homework help

    Please do the homework by yourself. I encourage you to work in "study groups" and discuss problems with your friends, but do try the problem yourself FIRST. If you get stuck, send email (to me, your friends, etc.). I will respond as soon as I can. Remember, doing the problems is the only way to learn the material. Homework hints here.

    Exams

    We will cover six basic topics, and after each one or two I will give out a take-home exam with a few (2 or 3) problems. The total number of take home exams will depend on the rate of progress. I latex'ed and pdf'ed exam 1, it is here. We will have a final exam with six problems, one on each of the basic topics above.

    Grading

    The grades will be assigned as follows
  • Homeworks: 15%
  • Take home exams: 45 %
  • Final Exam: 40% The online gradebook is here

    Office Hours

    I will be in my office on Fridays, 10 am to noon, feel free to drop by (Serin West, room 324 on Busch Campus). Send email before coming, if it's a minor problem we may be able to clear it up.

    Extras

    Hints for homeworks, exam prep stuff, computer programs, and other miscellaneous items will appear here.

    Grade Book

    There is a gradebook set up on the web for this course. here

    Students with Disabilities

    Please consult me as early as possible if you have a disability that might interfere with an optimal learning experience.
    Also, please consult the website on disabilities . The University has coordinators for students with disabilities.
    Amit &
    Last modified: Tue Apr 28 11:43:50 EDT 2009