Physics 33-332
Physical Mechanics II

Spring 2004


Meeting Times and Places

Lectures:
MWF
1:30pm to 2:20pm
WEH 7316
Recitations:
W
8:30am to 9:20am
DH 1212

Instructor

Prof. C. Morningstar
Office: Wean Hall 8313
Phone: (412) 268-2728
e-mail: cmorning@andrew.cmu.edu
Course complete.

Course Overview

Physical Mechanics II is the second course in a two-semester sequence on advanced classical mechanics for physics majors. The course will begin with a review of coordinate systems, frames of reference, Newton's laws, and the concepts of energy, momentum, and angular momentum. Motion in noninertial reference frames and perturbation theory will then be studied, followed by the dynamics of rigid bodies, coupled oscillations, and nonlinear oscillations and chaos. Time permitting, Hamiltonian dynamics will be introduced. As in the first semester, this course is a quantitative one and will require the use of advanced mathematics to solve more difficult physical problems.

Students will be graded based on three mid-term tests, six homework assignments, recitation attendance and performance, and a comprehensive final exam.


Prerequisites

  • 33-331 Physical Mechanics I (and its prerequisites)

Text Book

Jerry B. Marion and Stephen T. Thorton,
    Classical Dynamics of Particles and Systems
        Fifth Edition (Harcourt)
      (available at the book store -- fourth edition is still okay)

Office Hours

  • Any time my door is open.
  • Questions submitted via email are welcome at any time.

Other recommended texts

  • John R. Taylor, Classical Mechanics, Pre-Publication Edition (University Science)
  • D.G. Ivey and J.N.P. Hume, Physics, Volume 1 (Wiley & Sons)
  • H. Goldstein, Classical Mechanics, Second Edition (Addison-Wesley)
  • P.A. Tipler, Physics for scientists and engineers, Volume 1 Fourth Edition (Freeman)


Course outline

Syllabus   (Portable Document Format)   (Postscript Format)

Grader

Hee Kyoung Ko
Office: DH A327
Phone: (412) 268-6205
e-mail: hkko@andrew.cmu.edu


Assignments, solutions, and hand-outs are available on this web site usually in either Portable Document Format (PDF) or in Postscript (PS) format. To view PDF files, you will need the freely-available Adobe Acrobat Reader which can be installed as a plug-in or helper application for your browser. To view Postscript file, you will need the freely-available GSview and Ghostscript.


HyperPhysics Intro

HyperPhysics Mechanics

How Things Work

How Stuff Works

Mathematics Assistance

The Particle Adventure

Department of Physics Homepage