Mechanics and Special Relativity 1100-1ENMTWZGL2
The aim of this course is to make students familiar with the Newton, Lagrange and Hamiltonian formalisms for description of dynamics of mechanical systems. The lecture assumes that the students have basic knowledge of the calculus. The special emphasis will be put on the contemporary problems of mechanics. The Special Theory of Relativity will be presented with elements of relativistic kinematics and dynamics.
The lecture includes laboratory demonstrations of various mechanical phenomena.
Program::
1. Description of movement in inertial and non-inertial frames
2. Newton theory of dynamics of a system of material points
3. Concept of work, kinetic and potential energy
4. Conservation laws
5. Reaction forces, Lagrange equations of the first order
6. Lagrange equations of the second order
7. Dynamics of rigid bodies
8. Hamilton approach to mechanics
9. Applications of Newton, Lagrange, and Hamilton formalisms to various mechanical problems (two body problem, harmonic oscillator, solitons)
10. Basics of non-linear dynamics and chaos
11. Basics of the special theory of relativity
12. Kinematics and dynamics of relativistic systems
13. Foundations of the elasticity theory and mechanics of liquids
Recommendations for students wanted to attend this lecture -- basic knowledge the calculus and algebra
This instruction is a synopsis of the Polish version.
Description by Jacek A. Majewski, December 2009; edited by Krzysztof Turzynski, November 2012.
Type of course
Mode
Learning outcomes
A student understands Lagrangian and Hamiltonian description of mechanical systems, applies theoretical methods to solve problems and communicates his results to fellow students.
Assessment criteria
A student must obtain 50% of all the points assigned to midterm exams, homework problems, and lecture tests. If less than 50% of all these points is obtained, a student must obtain at least 50% of points during the written exam, and then take the oral exam. It is allowed to be absent during 3 exercise sessions.
Bibliography
1. John R. Taylor, Classical Mechanics, University Science Books (2005)
2. Oliver Davis Johns, Analytical Mechanics for Relativity and Quantum Mechanics, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2005.
3. J. V. Jose, E. J. Saletan, Classical Dynamics, Cambridge University Press, 1998.
4. R. P. Feynman, R. B. Leighton, M. Sands, Feynman Lecture on Physics, Vol. I, 2nd edition, Addison Wesley, 2005.
Additional information
Information on level of this course, year of study and semester when the course unit is delivered, types and amount of class hours - can be found in course structure diagrams of apropriate study programmes. This course is related to the following study programmes:
- Nuclear Power Engineering and Nuclear Chemistry, full time 3 year programme leading to B. Sc. Degree
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: