Download CLASSICAL MECHANICS II - Makerere University Courses

CLASSICAL MECHANICS II
1. Course Name :
Classical Mechanics II
2. Course Code
:
PHY2102
3. Credit hours
:
3
4. Course Description
This course is offered to undergraduate physics majors, in the Bachelor of Science programme of
Makerere University. The course builds on classical mechanics I. It describes the motion of bodies or
systems of bodies more explicitly from different considerations of position.
The following are the major topics:
 Waves and Wave Motion
 Superposition and Interference of Waves
 Special Relativity
 The Lagrangian and Hamiltonian
 Moving coordinate Systems
 Rigid Bodies
5.
Course Objectives:
At the end of the course the student should be able to:
 Derive equations of motion for various systems
 Identify types of motion such as wave motion or linear or rotation motion.
 Solve problems involving motion of bodies.
 Characterise bodies in terms of their position, momentum and energy.
6.
Course Outline:
Waves and Wave Motion
The wave equations; waves on strings; particles; waves in fluids; the general wave quation; solution of the wave
equation; boundary conditions; Fourier series; waves in a rectangular box.
Superposition and Interference of Waves
Wave packets; phase and group velocities; de Broglie waves; energy density and intensity.
Special Relativity
Lorentz transformation matrix; space and time four vectors; force and energy in relativistic mechanics
The Lagrangian and Hamiltonian
Generalized coordinates; Lagrangian formulation and applications; Hamiltonian and application to simple problems
including central orbits and small oscillations; canonical coordinates and applications.
Moving coordinate Systems
Non-inertial frames; coordinate systems; velocity; acceleration; coriolis and centripetal forces.
Rigid Bodies
Kinetic energy and angular momentum about a fixed axis; equation of motion and conservation laws.
Rotating frames of Reference
Inertia tensor, Euler’s (Cartesian and spherical) equations of motion; spin and procession – the top and the
gyroscope.
7. Reading List
Spiegel M.R. “Theoretical Mechanics” Schaum Series.
Symon K. R. “Classical Mechanics” 2nd Edition.
Scars F. W. Zemansky M. W. and Young H.N. “College Physics” 7 th edition.