Mechanics - Physics 35100
Spring 2019
Syllabus
Vectors, Rotations, Coordinate transformations
Galilean symmetry, law of inertia
Newton’s laws, motion of point particles
Momentum, angular momentum
Energy, collisions
Oscillations
Calculus of variations
Lagrangian mechanics
Central force motion, planetary motion
Non-inertial frames
Rigid body dynamics
Hamiltonian mechanics
Coupled oscillations, elements of continuum mechanics
Instructor: Sebastian Franco
E-mail: sfranco@ccny.cuny.edy
Office: Marshak Science Building, 315
Office hours: Mon, Wed 3:15 pm - 4:15 pm
u But feel free to pass by my office or write an e-mail if you have questions!
Lectures
Mondays and Wednesdays, 12:20 pm to 1:55 pm
Room: MR 408
Books
Recommended
“Classical Dynamics of Particles and Systems”, Stephen T. Thornton, Jerry B. Marion
“Classical Mechanics” (3rd Edition), Herbert Goldstein, Charles P. Poole Jr., John L.
Safko
“Classical Mechanics”, John R. Taylor
Additional
Suggestions
“Analytical Mechanics”, Louis N. Hand, Janet D. Finch
“Analytical Mechanics”, Grant R. Fowles, George L. Cassiday
“Mechanics”, L. D. Landau, E.M. Lifshitz
Online
Resources
“Lectures on Classical Dynamics”, David Tong, University of Cambridge
http://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk/user/tong/dynamics.html
“Classical Mechanics”, Lenny Susskind, Stanford University
http://online.stanford.edu/course/classical-mechanics
Lecture notes available in:
http://www.lecture-notes.co.uk/susskind/classical-mechanics/
The pace of the course will be adapted and adjusted as we proceed, allowing time for problems
and review. No definite time schedule will be offered at this time.
General
Information
Cheating and plagiarism: Cheating in homework, exams or in any under any circumstances
is a serious offence that will result in severe academic consequences.
Exams: one Midterm exam and one comprehensive Final.
Grades: Your letter grade will be based on a numerical score to be computed as follows:
o Homework 30%
o Midterm 30%
o Final 40%
No single contribution will guarantee you pass the course, so you are strongly advised to
take advantage of all of them.
Main communications will be through e-mail.
The instructor reserves the right to make changes during the semester as he sees fit for the
course and announce them as they occur. It is the students’ responsibility to remain informed
about the course and be alert of any changes or new information.
Last Updated: 01/18/2019 11:13