640-244 Classical Mechanics

Note

Credit cannot be gained for both 640-244 and either (the subject 640-221 listed in the 1995 and 1996 Handbooks) or (the subject 640-241 listed in the 1995 and 1996 Handbooks).

Credit Points

Coordinator

Prerequisites

Physics 640-121 + 640-122 or 640-141 + 640-142; Mathematics 620-111 or 620-121 or 620-142; Mathematics 620-112 or 620-122 or 620-200 or 620-211; Mathematics 620-132 or 620-130.

(For subjects completed prior to 1998, the Mathematics and Statistics departmental code 620- should be replaced by the superseded Mathematics departmental code 618-)

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

Mechanics is the oldest and the most widely applied science. Although limitations of Newtonian mechanics are illustrated in Special Relativity, modern approaches to classical mechanics have demonstrated great power and beauty. This subject will illustrate the power of classical mechanics in understanding the physical universe.

Topics discussed include: A brief summary of Newtonian mechanics for a system of particles. Galilean Relativity; non-inertial frames and inertial forces. Lagrangian formulation of mechanics: constraints, generalised 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 2-hour end-of-semester written examination plus tests and/or assignments, set during the semester, which may account for up to 20% of the final marks.

Prescribed Texts

• Arya A P, Introduction to Classical Mechanics. Allyn & Bacon.