PHY 520: Classical Dynamics
Gerhard
Müller
Tue./Thu. 8:00-9:15, Room 305, East Hall
Topic
Outline
- Introduction
- Dynamical systems with one degree of freedom
- Dynamical systems with two or more degrees of freedom
- Lagrangian mechanics
- Two-body central-force problem
- Dynamics in rotating frames of reference
- Dynamics of rigid bodies
- Hamiltonian mechanics
- Deterministic chaos
- Relativistic mechanics
First class meets on Thursday
09/04/08.
Format
This course will not follow any particular textbook. Students may
use any
graduate text on classical dynamics for reference. Some useful texts,
old
ones and new ones, are listed below.
One emphasis in this course will be on the training of
problem-solving
skills. Exercises on specific themes will be discussed in every class.
Some
of the exercises will be worked out in class. Others will be assigned
as
homework problems (six homework problems per week with a deadline of at
least
one week ahead, additional problems with the deadline at the end of the
semester).
Grade points can be earned as follows:
- Every homework problem earns a maximum of 20 points if it is
handed
in before the deadline.
- On-time class attendance earns 20 points.
- (a) Any homework problem which is handed in after the deadline
earns
a maximum of 10 points. (b) Any additional problem handed in any time
will
earn a maximum of 5 to 20 points, depending on the degree of
difficulty.
(c) Any graded problem may be handed in again any time with a revised
solution;
additional points may be awarded.
You can earn a 100% score by options 1 and 2 alone if you attend class
regularly
and on time, and if you hand in all homework with correct solutions
before
the deadlines. Option 3 is meant to substitute points for missed
classes and
deadlines or incorrect solutions.
Some Relevant Textbooks
- H. Goldstein: Classical Mechanics. Addison Wesley, 1981.
- I. Percival and D. Richards: Introduction to Dynamics.
Cambridge
University Press, 1982.
- L. D. Landau and E. M. Lifshitz: Mechanics. Pergamon
Press,
1976.
- J. V. José and E. J. Saletan: Classical Dynamics: A
Contemporary
Approach. Cambridge University Press, 1998.
- J. L. McCauley: Classical Mechanics: Transformation, Flows,
Integrable
and Chaotic Dynamics. Cambridge University Press, 1997.
- D. T. Greenwood: Classical Dynamics. Dover
Publications
1997.
- J. B. Kogut: Introduction to
Relativity. Harcourt/Academic Press 2001.
Some Relevant Monographs
- V. I. Arnold: Mathematical Methods of Classical Mechanics.
Springer-Verlag,
1978.
- A. J. Lichtenberg and M. A. Lieberman: Regular and Stochastic
Motion.
Springer-Verlag, 1983.
- R. C. Hilborn: Chaos and Nonlinear Dynamics. An Introduction
for
Scientists and Engineers. 2nd edition. Oxford University Press 2000.
- R. C. Hilborn and N. B. Tufillaro (Eds.): Chaos and Nonlinear
Dynamics.
(collection of reprinted articles) AAPT Publication, 1999.
- M. Tabor: Chaos and Integrability in Nonlinear Dynamics - An
Introduction.
Wiley, 1989.