Course Description
A review of vectors and elementary Newtonian mechanics, conservation laws, motion of a single particle, retarding forces, oscillations, noninertial reference frames, and Newtonian gravitation.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students must satisfactorily complete additional
assignments and/or term projects related to course material.
Athena Title
MECHANICS I
Undergraduate Prerequisite
PHYS 3700 and PHYS 3900 and MATH 2700 and (MATH 2270 or MATH 2500 or MATH 3510 or MATH 3510H)
Graduate Prerequisite
PHYS 3700 and PHYS 3900 and MATH 2700 and (MATH 2270 or MATH 2500 or MATH 3510 or MATH 3510H)
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
This course introduces the subject of Theoretical Mechanics and its application to single-particle motion. Students will master fundamental concepts, including Newton's Laws of Motion, the Law of Universal Gravitation, and conservation of energy; they will apply these concepts to the study of single-particle motion in various physical contexts, and they will learn and apply various analytical and numerical techniques to solve for the motion of a single particle.
Topical Outline
Reviw of vectors and coordinate systems; review of elementary Newtonian mechanics of a particle, retarded motion, oscillatory motion, motion in a noninertial frame of reference, gravitational fields.
Syllabus