PHY 3221: Intermediate Mechanics --  Spring 2005

Syllabus

Lectures: MWF 9:05 -- 9:55, UPL 110.

Lecturer: Nick Bonesteel
Office: 609 Keen (Physics Department); A313 Magnet Lab
Tel.: (850) 644-7805
E-mail: bonestee@magnet.fsu.edu

Office Hours:  Office hours will be held immediately after class on MWF 10:15 -- 11:15 in 609 Keen.  Additional office hours will be held on Thursdays from 2:30 -- 3:30.  If these times are not convenient, please feel free to contact me at any time to arrange an appointment.  (The best way to do this is by e-mail.)

Prerequisites: PHY 2048C

Corequisites: MAP 2302 or MAP 3305

Text: J.B. Marion and S.T. Thornton, Classical Dynamics of Particles and Systems, Fifth Edition (Brooks Cole, 2004). 

Course Web Page: http://www.physics.fsu.edu/courses/spring05/phy3221

Course Topics:  

  • Mathematical Background
  • Newtonian Mechanics of a Single Particle
  • Oscillations
  • Nonlinear Oscillations and Chaos
  • Gravitation
  • Central-Force Motion
  • Dynamics of a System of Particles
  • Motion in a Noninertial Reference Frame
  • Dynamics of Rigid Bodies

 

Homework:  Problem sets will be assigned every Friday, and will be due at the beginning of class on the following Friday.  Solutions will be posted on this website. No late homework will be accepted except for the case of excused absences (see below).    Discussion of the homework among students is encouraged, but each student should hand in his/her own solutions.  Since a significant portion of your final grade will come from these weekly assignments, homework will be accepted and graded only if written in a neat and orderly fashion, and if the answers are justified by showing complete work.

 

Exams: There will be two 50 minute midterm exams, tentatively scheduled for Friday, Feb.18 and Friday, March 25, and a final exam.

 

Grading: Course grades will be determined by your performance on the assigned problem sets, the two midterm exams, and the final exam.  The percentage contribution of each to the overall grade will be as follows:

 

  • Homework (40%)
  • First Midterm (15%)
  • Second Midterm (15%)
  • Final Exam (30%)

 

I anticipate using the following grading scale: A(100-90) B(89-80) C(79-70) D(69-60) F(<60).  Class participation will be a relevant factor in determining the final grade for those cases that fall on the borderline between grade ranges.

 

 

Homework Assignments:

 

  • HW#1:   Marion & Thornton, Chap. 1; Problems 7, 9, 10, 22, 31.  Due: Friday, Jan 14.  (Solution)
  • HW#2:   Marion & Thornton, Chap. 2; Problems 3, 6, 8, 14, 32.   Due: Friday, Jan 21.  (Solution)
  • HW#3:   Click here for pdf.    Due: Friday, Jan. 28.  (Solution)
  • HW#4:   Marion & Thornton, Chap. 2; Problems 24, 26, 52 (Parts (a),(b),(c) and (d) only), Chap.3; Problems 1,2.   Due: Friday, Feb. 4.  (Solution)
  • HW#5:   Click here for pdf.     Due: Friday, Feb. 11.  (Solution)
  • HW#6:   Click here for pdf.     Due: Friday, Feb. 18.  (Solution)
  • MIDTERM #1  --- Friday, Feb. 25.  (Links to previous exam with solutions: 2003, 2002)
  • HW#7:   Click here for pdf.     Due: Friday, Mar. 4.   (Solution)

(Click here to go directly to the Java applets for the driven damped pendulum at Michael Cross’s online chaos course Chaos on the Web.)

  • HW#8:  Marion & Thornton, Chap. 4; Problems 17, 19; Chap. 5; Problems 7, 13.   Due: Friday, Mar. 18.  (Solution)
  • HW#9:  Marion & Thornton, Chap. 5; Problems 3, 9, 15, 20.    Due: Friday, Mar. 25.   (Solution)
  • HW#10:  Marion & Thornton, Chap. 8; Problems 10, 14, 21, 23, 24.    Due: Friday, Apr. 1.    (extended to Monday, Apr. 4.)   (Solution)
  • MIDTERM#2 --- Monday, Apr. 11.  The exam will cover Chapters 5 (Gravitation) & 8 (Central Force Motion)   (Equation sheet)
  • HW#11:  Marion & Thornton, Chap. 9; Problems 2, 4, 6, 7, 10.    Due: Friday, Apr. 15.    (Note:  Problem 9-10 has been moved to HW#12).  (Solution)
  • HW#12:   Marion & Thornton, Chap. 9; Problems 10, 23, 32, 34, Chap. 10; Problems 1,3.   Due: Friday, Apr. 22.  (Solution)

 

FINAL EXAM: 110 UPL, Wednesday, Apr.  27.  12:30 – 2:30 PM

 

The exam will consist of 5 problems and will cover Chapters 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 9 of  M&T.

2 of the 5 problems will cover material from Chapter 9.

(Chairs will be provided!)

 

 

 

Interesting Web Pages:

 

Absence: Please inform me in advance of any excused absence (e.g., religious holiday) on the day an assignment is due. If the absence is known in advance, you can hand the homework in early.  Missed assignments due to unexpected absences will be handled on a case by case basis.

                                                               

ADA Statement: Students with disabilities needing academic accommodation should: (1) register with and provide documentation to the Student Disability Resource Center; (2) bring a letter to the instructor indicating the need for accommodation and what type. Please do this during the first week of class.

Honor Code: Students are expected to uphold the Academic Honor Code published in the Florida State University Bulletin and the Student Handbook. The Academic Honor Systems of Florida State University is based on the premise that each student has the responsibility to (1) uphold the highest standards of academic integrity in the student's own work, (2) refuse to tolerate violations of academic integrity in the university community, and (3) foster a high sense of integrity and social responsibility on the part of the university community.