Course Meeting Times
Lectures: 2 sessions / week, 1 hour / session
Recitations: 1 session / week, 1 hour / session
Prerequisites
8.01 Physics I: Classical Mechanics and 18.02 Calculus II: Multivariable Calculus.
Description
This course is a broad, theoretical treatment of classical mechanics, useful in its own right for treating complex dynamical problems, but essential to understanding the foundations of quantum mechanics and statistical physics.
Class Objectives
-
Classical Mechanics Power Tools
- How to solve the really hard problems with relative ease through Lagrangian Mechanics
-
Preparation for Statistical Mechanics and Quantum Physics
- The theoretical foundation for advanced physics lies in Hamiltonian Mechanics
Textbook
Required
Landau, Lev D., and Evgenij M. Lifshitz. Mechanics: Course of Theoretical Physics. Vol. 1. 3rd ed. Butterworth-Heinemann, 1976. ISBN: 9780750628969. [Preview with Google Books]
Suggested
Thornton, Stephen T., and Jerry B. Marion. Classical Dynamics of Particles and Systems. Cengage Learning India, 2012. ISBN: 9788131518472.
Goldstein, Herbert, John Safko, and Charles P. Poole. Classical Mechanics. Pearson, 2013. ISBN: 9781292026558.
Course Outline
| LEC # | TOPICS |
|---|---|
| 1–4 | Lagrangian Mechanics |
| 5–6 | Conserved Quantities |
| 7–10 | Orbits and Scattering |
| 11–12 | Oscillations |
| 13–14 | Tricky Potentials |
| 15–19 | Hamiltonian Mechanics |
Assignments
There are 4 problem sets. Doing them is critical to getting the most of this class. Try them alone, then in a group, then ask an upperclassman, then email the Teaching Assistant.
Project
The project problem should look impossible given only 8.01 Physics I, but will not be so bad by week 2 or 3! Do it alone (without help from the internet) whenever you like. Turn it in with the last problem set or earlier for bonus credit).
Grading
Seventy percent of the class grade is based on the Assignments and 30% on the Project.
