PHYS 3318 - Analytical Mechanics

(PBS-AS, PHS-AS, SMR-AS)

Spring. 4 credits. Student option grading.

Prerequisite: intro sequence in Physics (1116, 2217, 2218, or 1112, 2213, 2214). Intended for: students with exceptional background in physics/math. Makes use of Fourier analysis, linear differential equations, linear algebra, and vector analysis.

Staff.

Covers Newtonian mechanics of particles and systems of particles, including Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations, conservation laws from symmetries, with applications to two-body orbits in a central force, systems undergoing small amplitude oscillations, rigid body motion, motion in non-inertial reference frames, perturbation theory, and nonlinear behavior. Both analytical and numerical methods for solving problems in mechanics are covered. At the level of Classical Mechanics by Goldstein, Mechanics by Landau and Lifshitz, and Analytical Mechanics by Hand and Finch.