Handbook 1996 : Faculty of Science (Volume 4 page 227)
Physics subject : Next:640-243 | Prev:640-227 | Search | Help
640-241 "Classical Mechanics and Relativity" appears differently in several places - choose the one you want:
1. Physics, Faculty of Science (v4, p227) : Next:640-243 | Prev:640-227
Credit points: 9.5
Coordinator: Dr. L Allen
Prerequisite: Physics 640-121+122 or 141+142 (before 1996: 640-120 or 640-140): Mathematics 618-121 or 618-142 (before 1996: 618-101); Mathematics 618-122 or 618-200 or 618-211 (before 1996: 618-102); Mathematics 618-132 or 618-130.
Contact: 26 lectures and 13 1-hour tutorials
Timetable: Second semester
Objectives:
By the completion of this course, the student should:
- appreciate the difficulties faced by physics at the end of the 19th century, and understand the basic principles of Einstein's theory of special relativity;
- be able to apply the principle of special relativity to simple problems, including the analysis of collisions and other phenomena involving high-speed particles;
- understand the basic principles of the Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations of classical mechanics;
- be able to apply Lagrangian and Hamiltonian techniques to the solution of some key problems;
- appreciate the power of classical mechanics and relativity in understanding the physical universe.
Content:
Brief review of Newtonian mechanics for a system of particles. Galilean Relativity; non-inertial frames and inertial forces. Einstein's Special Relativity: problems of 19th century physics; Einstein's postulates; Lorentz transformations; modifications to kinematics and Newtonian mechanics; four-vector formulation of particle mechanics. Einstein's General Relativity: qualitative introduction. Lagrangian formulation of mechanics: constraints, generalized coordinates, the Lagrangian, Lagrange's equations; Hamilton's variational principle, the action; applications selected from: central force problem, systems of coupled linear oscillators, motion of a top. Hamiltonian formulation of mechanics; canonically conjugate momenta, the Hamiltonian, Hamilton's equations, phase space, Poisson brackets; the use of the Hamiltonian in quantum theory.
Assessment:
A 3-hour end-of-semester written examination.
Prescribed texts:
1. Physics, Faculty of Science (v4, p227) : Next:640-243 | Prev:640-227
2. Physics, Faculty of Educ(Parkville) (v5, p158) : Next:640-243 | Prev:640-162
Credit points: 9.5
Coordinator: Dr L Allen.
Prerequisite: Physics 640-121+122 or 141+142 (before 1996: 640-120 or 640-140): Mathematics 618-121 or 618-142 (before 1996: 618-101); Mathematics 618-122 or 618-200 or 618-211 (before 1996: 618-102); Mathematics 618-132 or 618-130.
Contact: 26 lectures and 13 1-hour tutorials
Timetable: Second semester
Objectives:
By the completion of this course, the student should:
- appreciate the difficulties faced by physics at the end of the 19th century, and understand the basic principles of Einstein's theory of special relativity;
- be able to apply the principle of special relativity to simple problems, including the analysis of collisions and other phenomena involving high-speed particles;
- understand the basic principles of the Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations of classical mechanics;
- be able to apply Lagrangian and Hamiltonian techniques to the solution of some key problems;
- appreciate the power of classical mechanics and relativity in understanding the physical universe.
Content:
Brief review of Newtonian mechanics for a system of particles. Galilean Relativity; non-inertial frames and inertial forces. Einstein's Special Relativity: problems of 19th century physics; Einstein's postulates; Lorentz transformations; modifications to kinematics and Newtonian mechanics; four-vector formulation of particle mechanics. Einstein's General Relativity: qualitative introduction. Lagrangian formulation of mechanics: constraints, generalized coordinates, the Lagrangian, Lagrange's equations; Hamilton's variational principle, the action; applications selected from: central force problem, systems of coupled linear oscillators, motion of a top. Hamiltonian formulation of mechanics; canonically conjugate momenta, the Hamiltonian, Hamilton's equations, phase space, Poisson brackets; the use of the Hamiltonian in quantum theory.
Assessment:
A 3-hour end-of-semester written examination.
Prescribed texts:
* Note that COORDINATOR, PREREQUISITES differs from the maintainer's version above. A log of variations is available.
2. Physics, Faculty of Educ(Parkville) (v5, p158) : Next:640-243 | Prev:640-162
Status: Official 1996 Date created: Oct 9 1995 Last modified: Oct 9 1995 Authorised by: Academic Registrar Email enquiries: Course_Information@registrar.unimelb.edu.au
Maintained by: School of Physics, Faculty of Science.
Copyright © University of Melbourne 1995,1996.