	Physics 5200: Mechanical Phenomena
	Winter 2003

	Monday, Wednesday, Friday 3:00 - 3:55 PM Room: Phy 177

Instructor:

Boris Nadgorny (389 Physics), 313-577-2757.

Office Hours:

M, W: 4 pm - 5 pm or by appointment.

Text:

An Introduction To Mechanics , Kleppner/ Kolenkow (McGraw-Hill)

Other Possible Supplemental Books:
The Feynman Lectures on Physics (good introduction)
Barger and Olsson, Classical Mechanics, A Modern perspective (good problems)
Symon, Mechanis; Marion, Classical Dynamics, (standard texts)
Taylor and Wheeler, Spacetime Physics (Relativity)

Course Description:

PHY 5200 course is devoted to the study of mechanics of particles and solid bodies in the presence of forces and/or fields. Mechanics is indispensable for physicists and engineers, and is widely used in many areas of modern science. Without a solid grasp of mechanics it almost impossible to learn and understand all other areas of science, such as astronomy, quantum mechanics, statistical and thermal physics, optics, atomic, high energy and nuclear physics, condensed matter physics, and the list goes on… It is also widely used in architecture and construction, car, plane, and ship design, and space exploration. Therefore, a thorough knowledge of mechanics is of utmost importance to an aspiring scientist or engineer. In addition, the course will give an introduction to the special theory of relativity, which helps one to understand the relationship and the meaning of time and space.

Course Objectives:

The principal objectives of this introductory course are for you to learn fundamental concepts of mechanics and to develop the problem-solving skills to apply these fundamentals. Since professional scientists and engineers must be proficient problem solvers, and it is impossible to really understand any area of physics without solving problems, homework assignments are an integral part of this course. Sufficient knowledge of calculus (especially differential equations) is required.

Homework:

Homework will be assigned weekly on the first class of the week and are due in a week. It is acceptable (and can be very useful) to discuss homework problems with each other and compare different possible solutions. However, copied homework will not be credited. On the day the homework is due it will either be collected, or a quiz will be giving on one of the homework problems. Therefore, no make up homework/quizzes will be possible. One homework/quiz (with the lowest score) in the course of the semester can be discarded.

Bonus Problems:

Bonus problems (typically qualitative problems) will be given to students in class. Students will discuss them with each other and ask the lecturer additional questions. By the end of the class the students will have to answer the question based on their assessment of the arguments.

Grades:

First Exam	20%
Midterm	20%
Final Exam	35%
Homework	25%
Bonus Problems	10%
Total	110%

Note that the maximum score possible is 110%

Course Outline:

Mathematical introduction: (Ch. 1)
Vectors, derivatives
Different coordinate systems (Cartesian, polar, spherical, cylindrical)
Kinematics (velocity and acceleration in different frames, motion in one dimension)
Units, dimensionless analysis
Examples of laws in one and two dimensions (Ch. 2-3)
Newton’s Laws, Forces in Physics
Momentum: Conservation, Mass Flow
Dynamics of systems of Particles
Center of Mass
Work and Energy (Ch.4-5)
Work and Energy, Energy Conservation, Power
Potential energy and Force
The Gradient
Force as the gradient
One-dimensional motion
Small Oscillations
Particle Collision
Angular momentum (Ch. 6, Ch.7 Supplemental)
Conservation of Angular momentum, Torque
Moment of Inertia,
Dynamics of a rigid body
Pendulum
Angular velocity
The gyroscope
Accelerated (non-inertial) systems (Ch. 8 Supplemental)
The Galilean Transformation
Uniform Acceleration
Earth as Non-inertial System, The Corioulis force
Central Force Motion (Ch.9)
The energy conservation and energy diagrams
Planetary motion
Kepler’s Laws
Oscillations and waves (Ch. 10)
Harmonic Oscillator
Resonance
Damped Oscillations
Forced Oscillators
Wave motion
Special Relativity (Ch. 11-13)
Kinematics: Galilean Transformation, Simultaneity,
Lorenz Transformations, Timelike and Spacelike Intervals, Doppler Effect
Dynamics: Relativistic Energy and Momentum, Scattering, Compton Effect,
Mass and Energy, Light Pressure