PHY523: Advanced Mechanics

Instructor

Edward Lipson (Room 305 Physics Building, x9107)

Office hours: by appointment

Textbook

Analytical Mechanics by G. R. Fowles and G. L. Cassiday, 7th ed., 2005

Location and Times

Room 105 Physics Building; TTh 11:00 a.m.-12:20 p.m.

Course Description

This course, which is aimed towards preparing students for graduate school in Physics, is based on the later chapters (see third column in the table below) of the Fowles and Cassiday text. The first two lectures will review essentials from the earlier chapters of this book. Then the advanced material that is the subject of PHY523 will begin with the penultimate chapter on Lagrangian Mechanics and related methods, before turning back to the two preceding chapters on rotational motion. Lagrangian (and related) methods, which are fundamental and elegant, offer alternative ways to solve problems. In general, the course will emphasize problem solving, but ample time will be devoted to derivations and understanding of the essential physics. All, or nearly all, assigned problems will be solved in class, once graded homework is returned. There are useful appendices at the back of the book. Note that there are answers in the back for many of the odd-numbered problems.

Homework

Normally, homework will be assigned on the Tuesday, collected on the following Tuesday, and graded and returned on the Thursday. For your solutions, do not simply provide a stream of equations. Rather, you should start almost all problems with a clearly labeled diagram that defines the essential variables (and sometimes constants) in the problem. Then use words to explain the logic and flow, as you transition through your equations. Notice how solutions to example problems are presented in the textbook (as well as the main textual material), and use that style as a model (you can be somewhat more terse, though, since this is not for publication). For clarity, place a rectangular outline box around each of your answers. Some students find it helpful to start each solution with a paraphrased statement of the problem; this modest investment of time increases the chances that the problem will be understood properly and solved correctly. You should do your homework on your own. However, if you need occasional assistance from classmates or other persons, or from other resources besides the text and your class notes, you should make explicit acknowledgment of that at the end of each such problem. Some of the problems in this course will be rather challenging. Therefore, you are strongly encouraged to get an early start on each problem set (e.g., the day the problem set is assigned). Do not wait till the evening before the due date to start the assignment.
 

Final Examination

As mentioned in class, the conditions for the final examination are: "closed book and closed notes; one 2-sided handwritten crib sheet permitted; and scientific calculator provided (if needed)." The crib sheet should contain only expository material (equations, derivations, definitions, and defining figures, such as for Euler angles) from the course textbook and class notes; it should not contain solutions to homework problems or solutions to example problems in the text. The crib sheet, which should be entirely handwritten, will be turned in with your blue books, but will be available to you to pick up and retain, for future reference, for a limited time starting early next semester, from the department office (room 201); or you may wish to retain a copy for reference. The final examination will be weighted towards the material after the midterm, but you remain responsible for material covered prior to that examination, much of which is fundamental to the later material. For examination date, time, and location information, see last row of the table below.
 

Grading

The grading will be allocated as follows: 25% homework, 35% midterm exam, and 40% final exam. 

Academic Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

Students who are in need of disability-related academic accommodations must register with the Office of Disability Services (ODS), 804 University Avenue, Room 309, 315-443-4498. Students with authorized disability-related accommodations should provide a current Accommodation Authorization Letter from ODS to the instructor and review those accommodations with the instructor. Accommodations, such as exam administration, are not provided retroactively; therefore, planning for accommodations as early as possible is necessary.

No. 

Date

Chapter/Topic [#Lectures]

Problem Sets & Remarks

1

Aug 31 T 

Review [2]

2

Sep 2 Th

3

Sep 7 T

10. Lagrangian Mechanics [5]

Sep 9 Th

no class

4

Sep 14 T

5

Sep 16 Th

6

Sep 21 T

7

Sep 23 Th

8

Sep 28 T

8. Mechanics of Rigid Bodies -- Planar Motion [7]

9

Sep 30 Th

10

Oct 5 T

11

Oct 7 Th

12

Oct 12 T

13

Oct 14 Th

14

Oct 19 T

Midterm exam [1]

15

Oct 21 Th

16

Oct 26 T

17

Oct 28 Th

18

Nov 2 T

19

Nov 4 Th

20

Nov 9 T

21

Nov 11 Th

22

Nov 16 T

23

Nov 18 Th

24

Nov 23 T

11. Dynamics of Oscillating Systems [5]

Nov 25 Th

Thanksgiving Break -- no class

25

Nov 30 T

26

Dec 2 Th

27

Dec 7 T

28

Dec 9 Th

Dec 16 Th

Final Exam

12:45-2:45 pm; room 105 Physics