PHY 5246: Theoretical Dynamics, Fall 2006

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 (before colloquium).  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 3221 (Advanced Mechanics) or equivalent.

Text: Goldstein, Poole, and Safko, Classical Mechanics (Third Edition), (Addison-Wesley, 2002).

Reference books:

  • Landau and Lifshitz, Mechanics, Course of Theoretical Physics, Vol. 1 (Third Edition), (Pergamon Press, 1976).
  • Jose and Saletan, Classical Dynamics: A Contemporary Approach, (Cambridge University Press, 1998).
     

Course Web Page: http://www.physics.fsu.edu/courses/fall06/phy5246

Course Topics:  

  1. Survey of Elementary Principles
  2. Variational Principle and Lagrange's Equations
  3. The Two-Body Central Force Problem
  4. Kinematics of Rigid Body Motion
  5. The Rigid Body Equations of Motion
  6. Small Oscillations
  7. The Hamilton Equations of Motion
  8. Canonical Transformations
  9. Hamilton-Jacobi Theory

 

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

 

  • Homework (30%)
  • First Midterm (20%)
  • Second Midterm (20%)
  • Final Exam (30%)

 

Problem sets will be assigned once a week.  All problems have to be solved and turned in at the given deadline.  Discussion of the homework among students is encouraged, but each student should hand in his/her own solutions.  


Homework Assignments:

  • HW#1:  GPS, Chap. 1; Problems 2, 3, 13, 17  &  4, 14  Due: Friday, Sep. 1 (NOW DUE:  Friday, Sep. 8.  Note two added problems.)  (Solution)
  • HW#2:  GPS, Chap. 1; Problems 8, 9, 16, 21, 22  Due: Friday, Sep. 15.  (Solution)
  • HW#3:  Click here for pdf.  Due: Friday, Sep. 22.  (Solution)
  • HW#4:  Click here for pdf.  Due: Friday, Sep. 29.   (CORRECTION:  The second problem should be GPS, Prob. 18, pg. 67 --- not Prob. 16 --- see corrected pdf file). (Solution)
  • HW#5:  GPS, Chap. 3; Problems 11, 14, 20, 21, 22.  Due: Friday, Oct. 6.  (Solution)
  • HW#6:  GPS, Chap. 3; Problems 28, 30, 31, 32.  Due: Friday, Oct. 13.  (NOW DUE: Monday, Oct. 16.)  (Solution)
  • MIDTERM#1   (Solution):  Friday, Oct. 20.  The exam will begin at 8:30 AM and will cover Chapter 1, 2 and 3.
  • HW#7:  GPS, Chap. 4; Problems 3, 7, 14, 15, 17.  Due: Friday, Oct. 27.  (NOW DUE: Monday, Oct. 30.)  (Solution)
  • HW#8:  GPS, Chap. 4; Problem 21; Chap. 5; Problems 15, 17, 21.  Due: Monday, Nov. 6.  (Solution)
  • HW#9:  Click here for pdf.  Due: Monday, Nov. 13.  (Solution)
  • MIDTERM#2  (Solution):  Wednesday,  Nov. 22.  The exam will begin at 8:30 AM and will cover Chapters 4 and 5.
  • HW#10:  Click here for pdf.  Due: Monday, Nov. 27.  (Solution)
  • HW#11:  GPS, Chap. 6, Problem 8; Chap. 8, Problems 15, 17; Chap. 9, Problem 31.  Due: Monday, Dec. 4.  (Solution)
  • HW#12:  Click here for pdf.  Due: Friday, Dec. 8.   (Solution)

The FINAL EXAM is scheduled for Thursday,  Dec. 14, 10:00am - 12:00pm.

Midterm and Final Exams from Previous Years:

 

 

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.