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Instructor
Galina Grom
E-mail:
galina.grom
(at) physics.gatech.edu
I am available directly after lectures
to discuss any questions or concerns. Also, please feel free to e-mail me to
schedule any additional Q&A sessions.
Place and
Times
M, W, F 9:05-9:55
a.m.
L5, Howey Physics Building
Recommended textbook:
J. Marion and S.
Thornton, Classical Dynamics of Particles and Systems
Other books:
J. R. Taylor, Classical Mechanics
R. D. Gregory, Classical Mechanics
Homework
Homework assignments will be posted
on the Course Calendar (see below) on Wednesdays and will be due the following
Wednesday in class or in
my mailbox by 9:55 a.m. There will be about 10 homework assignments. The
solutions will be made available immediately after class (via a link on
the Course Calendar), so that no late homeworks will be accepted. Each homework solution will
remain available on-line for one week after the due date.
You can discuss
problems with each other, but the solutions have to be executed and submitted
individually. All students are expected to comply with the
academic honor code.
Grading
Homework 20%
Quizzes (4 total) 40%
Final exam 40%
Syllabus
Course Calendar
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08/20 L#1
Calculus of variations. Typical minimization problems. Euler's
equation. |
08/22 L#2
First integral of Euler's equation. |
08/24 L#3
Brachistochrone problem. |
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08/27 L#4
Lagrange multipliers |
08/29 L#5
Fermat's principle.
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08/31 L#6
Lagrangian formalism. Generalized coordinates. Degrees of
freedom. Constraints.
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09/03
Holiday |
09/05 L#7
Kinetic energy in terms of generalized coordinates and
velocities. Hamilton's principle |
09/07 L#8
Lagrange's equations of motion. Generalized momentum.
Generalized force. |
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09/10
Quiz#1 |
09/12 L#9
Lagrangian formalism applied to problem solving |
09/14 L#10
Lagrange multipliers and constraint forces |
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09/17 L#11
Energy function |
09/19 L#12
Energy function and total energy of a system: examples
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09/21 L#13
Symmetry and conservation principles |
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09/24 L#14
Hamiltonian mechanics |
09/26 L#15
Ignorable (cyclic) coordinates in Hamilton's formalism.
Hamiltonian phase space |
09/28
L#16 Liouville's theorem |
|
10/01 L#17
Chapter 12 Coupled oscillations: Two coupled harmonic
oscillators |
10/03 L#18
General theory of small oscillations |
10/05 L#19
Normal modes |
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10/08
Student recess |
10/10
Quiz#2 |
10/12 L#20
Example: double pendulum |
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10/15
L#21 Orthogonality of normal modes |
10/17 L#22
Normal coordinates
Homework #6,
Solutions
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10/19 L#23
Degenerate modes |
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10/22 L#24
Linear triatomic molecule |
10/24 L#25
N point masses connected by a string |
10/26 L#26 |
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10/29 L#27
Chapter 13: Continuous systems, waves |
10/31 L#28
Homework #7 is
due |
11/01 L#29 |
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11/05 Quiz
#3 |
11/07 |
11/09 |
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11/12 |
11/14
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11/16 |
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11/19 |
11/21 |
11/23
Holiday |
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11/26 |
11/28 |
11/30 |
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12/03 |
12/05 |
12/07 |
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12/10
2:50 p.m. Final exam |
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