Physics 3344 2009

Syllabus

  1. Math preliminaries
    Marion Ch 1: mostly vector calculus, rotation matrices, and notation
  2. Newton's laws for a single particle
    Marion Ch 2: particle motion with damping forces (friction and wind resistance); simple differential equations; conservation laws
  3. Oscillatory motion
    Marion Ch 3: oscillating systmes with friction and driving forces; more differential equations, Fourier Series
  4. Calculus of variations
    Marion Ch 6: minimizing with respect to functions; Euler equations; constraints
  5. Lagrangian dynamics
    Marion Ch 7: principle of least action; Lagrange's equations; constraints; symmetries and conservation laws; Hamilton's equations
  6. Other topics
    Time permitting, some material on gravitation (Marion Ch 5 and 8), motion of rigid bodies (Marion Ch 11), coupled oscillations (Marion Ch 12)
References to Marion are to the 4th edition.
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