Physics 410 -
Spring 2008
Department of
Physics
University of
Maryland
Instructor: Dr. Alessandra
Buonanno
Room 4212 Physics Building,
Phone: (301) 405-1440
E-mail:
buonanno@umd.edu
Office
Hours: W
12:00 noon -1:00 p.m. or by appointment.
Course Title: Classical
Mechanics
(4 credits)
Grader: Paratma Sri Bhupal Dev
Room
4219 Physics Building, Phone: (301) 405-6073
E-mail: bhupal@physics.umd.edu
Office
Hours: F 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. or by
appointment.
Textbooks: The
required textbook is Classical Dynamics of
Particles and Systems byThornton
and Marion (Thomson), 5th Edition
Recommended textbooks are Classical Mechanics by H. Goldstein, 3th
Edition;
The Lectures on Physics by R. Feynman (vol
1).
Prerequisite: The
course assumes prior exposure to Fourier
analysis, linear differential
equations, linear algebra and vector analysis. Physics 374 (or
equivalent)
is required.
Lectures:
MW: 11:00 a.m.-11:50 a.m., Phys. 0405
F: 10:00 a.m. -11:50 a.m., Phys. 4220
Homeworks: Homework
will be assigned at the beginning
of each new topic and they are due
in one week. Solutions will be either posted on the course webpage or
will be given
in class.
Exams: There will be two
midterms and a final. The midterms will
be given during lecture periods
Grading: Your
grade for the course will be based on
the following percentages:
Homework: 40%
Midterm exams: 30%
Final exam: 30%
Academic Integrity:
The University has approved a
Code of Academic Integrity available on the web.
The Code
prohibits students from cheating on exams, plagiarizing papers,
submitting
the same paper for credit in two courses without
authorization, buying papers, submitting
fraudulent documents, and
forging signatures. The University Senate requires that students
include the following
signed statement on each examination or assignment: “I pledge on my
honor that I have not given or received any unauthorized assistance on
this examination
(or assignment).” Compliance with the code is administered by a
Student Honor Council,
which strives to
promote a “community of trust” on the College park Campus.
Allegations
of academic dishonesty can be reported directly to the
Honor Council (314-9154) by any member
of the campus community.
Course Description:
The following topics will be
covered during the course (tentative)
1. Review of Newton mechanics
2. Small oscillations
3. Non-linear dynamics
4. Gravitation
5. Lagrangian formulation of mechanics
6. Hamiltonian formulation of mechanics
7. Central force motion
8. Rigid bodies
9 . Relativistic mechanics