Mechanics - Physics 35100
Spring 2022
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
Lectures: Mon, Wed 2:00 pm - 3:40 pm
Office hours: Mon, Wed 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm (but feel free to drop me)
ü But feel free to write an e-mail if you have questions!
Lectures
• Mondays and Wednesdays, 2:00 pm to 3:40 pm. In person
• Room: TBD
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”, Deepto Chakrabarty, Peter Dourmashkin, Michelle Tomasik,
Anna Frebel, Vladan Vuletic, MIT
https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/physics/8-01sc-classical-mechanics-fall-201…
• “Classical Mechanics II”, Matthew Evans, MIT
https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/physics/8-223-classical-mechanics-ii-januar…
• “Classical Mechanics III”, Iain Steward, MIT
https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/physics/8-09-classical-mechanics-iii-fall-2…
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: 02/01/2022 09:24